HCA HealthONE/Sky Ridge Medical Center Program

The HCA HealthONE/Sky Ridge Medical Center General Surgery Residency Program is a dynamic and comprehensive training program designed to develop future physician leaders in surgery. The program, which is ACGME accredited, spans five years and offers residents a robust clinical experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The facilities at Sky Ridge Medical Center are modern and fully equipped, supporting a diverse range of surgical specialties.

The mission of the program is fundamentally rooted in the commitment to human life improvement. The program aims to foster an educational environment that emphasizes individualized learning, promoting the professional growth of residents through various hands-on experiences and strong mentorship from a dedicated faculty. Each faculty member is committed to fulfilling the residents' clinical and educational needs while ensuring a supportive learning environment that is inclusive of diverse cultures and values (1).

Program Structure and Curriculum

The General Surgery Residency Program comprises various rotations, exposing residents to a wide array of surgical specialties. Residents can anticipate substantial hands-on surgical experience, particularly within the operating room, supplemented by simulation training. This immersive approach ensures mastery of surgical techniques through repetition and the accumulation of experience. Furthermore, residents participate in research and scholarly activities, which include authoring articles and presenting findings at local, national, and international conferences (1, 3).

Conference Schedule and Educational Activities

Conferences play a critical role in the educational framework of the residency program. Residents are mandated to attend regular conferences that include:

• Didactic teaching sessions led by faculty and residents
• Journal Club
• Surgical morbidity and mortality conferences
• Medical Grand Rounds

These conferences ensure residents remain engaged in continual learning and quality improvement, solidifying their understanding of surgical practice and patient care (1, 3).

Salary and Benefits

The residency program offers a comprehensive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid malpractice insurance
• Life and/or disability insurance
• 24-hour access to meals at no charge
• Free parking options at the facility

This benefits package reflects the program's commitment to supporting its residents throughout their training (1, 3).

Application Process and Requirements

Interested applicants can apply to the program through the ERAS system. The application process typically starts in July, corresponding with available positions for the following July. The program is notably competitive and typically looks for candidates with strong USMLE or COMLEX scores. Specifically, minimum thresholds include a USMLE Step 2 minimum score of 235 and a COMLEX Level 2 minimum score of 534; however, a holistic review of applications takes place (1, 3).

Regarding international applicants, it is important to note that the program does not currently accept foreign medical graduates or sponsor visas (1, 3).

Unique Features of the Program

A distinctive aspect of the General Surgery Residency Program at Sky Ridge is its focus on robotic surgery. The center hosts eight Xi robotic systems and has a dedicated robotic operating room wing. The program also features a five-year robotic curriculum that provides residents with early exposure to robotic procedures and allows for graded autonomy in robotic surgery (1, 3).

Training Sites and Patient Demographics

The primary training site is HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge, which is a community hospital equipped with 284 beds, serving a diverse patient population that spans all ages and backgrounds. The vast spectrum of cases contributes significantly to a rich learning environment. As residents advance in their training, they will engage in rotations across different facilities in the Denver area, further enhancing exposure to varied surgical procedures and patient demographics (1, 3).