HCA HealthONE/Swedish Medical Center Program

The HCA HealthONE/Swedish Medical Center Surgery Residency Program in Englewood, Colorado, is designed for the cultivation of future surgical leaders by providing a comprehensive, high-quality educational environment. The program operates within a community-based Level I Trauma Center, renowned for managing complex trauma cases with a distinguished team of healthcare professionals.

The mission of the program is to train adept general surgeons who are not only ready to enter the workforce but are also equipped to pursue further fellowship training should they choose. The program aims to mold residents into well-trained surgeons ready to provide outstanding patient care.

Program Overview

As a member of the HCA Healthcare network, the program hosts a well-structured curriculum that includes an extensive range of clinical experiences across multiple surgical specialties. Swedish Medical Center is characterized by its state-of-the-art facilities, which includes 22 operating rooms, advanced surgical technology, and a dedicated residency space equipped with modern educational resources. The residency program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), ensuring compliance with high standards of surgical training.

The program supports robust research initiatives, with each resident required to produce one published research paper during the five years of the residency. Various research opportunities exist given the presence of a specialized trauma research department helping to enhance the residents’ academic experience.

Curriculum Highlights

The HCA HealthONE/Swedish Medical Center Surgery Residency Program curriculum is meticulously designed to provide residents with essential hands-on training and knowledge-based education. The following are notable components of the curriculum:

• Hands-on Skills Training: Residents engage in Fundamental Skills Training (FLS) and Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) certification, suturing skills sessions, and robotics training.
• Comprehensive Educational Features: These include Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification, mock oral board preparation, board review sessions, journal clubs, and annual ABSITE exams (American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination).

Rotation Schedule

Residents undertake clinical rotations in diverse surgical specialties, which include:

• Anesthesiology
• Plastic/Burn Surgery
• Breast Surgery
• Colorectal Surgery
• Head/Neck Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• General Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Surgical Intensive Care
• Vascular Surgery
• Urology
• Transplant Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Endoscopy
• Pediatric Surgery

Salary and Benefits

The program offers competitive compensation and benefits for residents. The annual salary accompanies a meal stipend of $950, allocated in two distributions throughout the year. New residents also receive an orientation stipend of $1,000. The benefits provided include:

• 160 hours of vacation per year
• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• HCA stock purchase plan
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Funding for attending conferences and additional professional development activities
• Access to a fitness center

Application Requirements

The program is accessible to international medical graduates who meet specific criteria. Applicants must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) at the time of application; however, U.S. clinical experience is not mandatory but preferred. The program does not sponsor visas directly, as ECFMG only caters to visa sponsorship for international medical graduates. In addition, applicants should be no more than two years post-graduation to be considered competitive.

Unique Features

This residency program stands out as 69% of its graduates secure successful fellowship placements in esteemed institutions, such as Duke and the Baylor College of Medicine, for advanced specialty training post-residency. Incorporating quality feedback from residents to continually enhance the educational experience showcases the program's commitment to excellence and adaptability in surgical training.