Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Program

The General Surgery Residency program at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital is a fully accredited five-year program designed to offer comprehensive surgical training combined with an additional required year dedicated entirely to surgical research. This program aims to foster competent surgeons equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and humanistic values to deliver exceptional patient care.

Throughout the residency, six first-year categorical positions and two non-designated preliminary surgery positions are offered. Furthermore, designated preliminary surgery residents receive one year of general surgical training, which is specifically tailored to residents accepted into the urology and interventional radiology programs at Beaumont Hospital. This structure not only provides diversity in exposure to various surgical fields but also enhances collaborative learning.

Mission and Aims

The overarching mission of the program is to train culturally competent surgeons capable of providing the highest levels of surgical care. The program emphasizes critical care, patient education, and the management of prevalent surgical issues in the participating communities. Key objectives include:

• Preparing residents for surgical practice with progressive responsibility in high-functioning surgical critical care environments.
• Fostering lifelong learning and the ability to evaluate medical evidence critically.
• Encouraging residents to maintain overall personal well-being and resilience through their training journey.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency curriculum is structured across six postgraduate years:

First Year (PGY-I)

The PGY-I year includes essential training in general surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical intensive care, thoracic surgery, urology, and colorectal surgery, as well as night float rotations and breast surgery.4

Second Year (PGY-II)

During this year, residents further develop operative skills with rotations primarily in general surgery, colorectal, surgical intensive care, peripheral vascular, and thoracic surgery, along with night float duties.5

Third Year (PGY-III)

This year focuses on mentorship and in-depth surgical teaching, placing an emphasis on one-on-one learning with experienced surgical educators.6

Fourth Year (PGY-IV)

The mandatory research year fully engages residents in hypothesis-driven projects, allowing them to complement clinical practice with scholarly research activities.7

Fifth Year (PGY-V)

Residents assume a senior role, managing clinical responsibilities across various services, including additional clinic responsibilities for continuity of care.8

Sixth Year (PGY-VI)

The final year emphasizes acute care surgery and a regular outpatient staff clinic to solidify residents' autonomy in clinical decision-making.9

Educational Activities

The educational structure integrates various methods to facilitate learning, including:

• Didactic sessions, including ABSITE reviews and anatomy labs.
• Protected educational time reserved for grand rounds and morbidity conferences.
• Access to a comprehensive medical library for independent study.10

Research Opportunities

The program prioritizes research and scholarly activities. The Beaumont Research Institute, adjacent to the hospital, supports both clinical and laboratory research with dedicated faculty involvement. The fourth-year research experience is supported with funding for resident projects, allowing for the dissemination of findings at national conferences and publications.

Residents

The program emphasizes the importance of community and support among residents, fostering a positive culture and camaraderie, which are vital for success during rigorous training.11

Visa Sponsorship

Corewell Health supports various visa types for international medical graduates, including but not limited to J-1 visas, allowing them to participate in the residency program. The program is also known to be friendly towards international medical graduates, promoting diversity within its residency cohort.12

Application Process

The program requires a completed ERAS application, three letters of recommendation, a medical school transcript, a CV, and USMLE scores. Applicants should be aware of competitiveness in terms of available spots and the quality of applicants. Although the program welcomes DO and IMG applicants, their applications are assessed rigorously alongside other prospective residents.13