Ochsner Clinic Foundation Program

The Ochsner Clinic Foundation General Surgery Residency Program offers a comprehensive 5-year ACGME-accredited training program designed to prepare residents for a wide range of career possibilities in general surgery. Their program emphasizes a nonpyramidal structure, accepting seven categorical PGY-1 interns and graduating seven chief residents. Located in the vibrant suburbs of New Orleans, Ochsner provides a unique blend of clinical training across multiple sites, including their main campus in New Orleans, which accounts for over 75% of the surgical experience, and rotations at Leonard Chabert Medical Center and the University Medical Center, a Level I trauma center. This diverse clinical exposure ensures residents graduate with extensive experience in general surgery, trauma/critical care, and subspecialty rotations.

The program is dedicated to a broad-based education and training, encompassing all facets of general surgery. Their mission is focused not only on clinical excellence but also on research activities, educational curriculum development, and providing fellowship and employment opportunities post-graduation. Residents can expect to engage in regular interactions and feedback sessions with program directors, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

The residency emphasizes early operative experience, with PGY-1 residents performing around 100 procedures moving towards a total of approximately 1,200 cases by the end of their training. The program also boasts a robust academic and educational framework, including weekly morbidity and mortality conferences, SCORE curriculum-based lectures, and multidisciplinary conferences across a range of specialties. Additionally, there is a significant focus on preparing residents for their board exams with mock oral scenarios and an annual in-training examination to evaluate knowledge and identify areas for curriculum improvement.

Ochsner's commitment to diversity and inclusion is palpable, with a dedicated effort to confront injustice, enhance minority opportunities, and ensure a supportive environment for all trainees, faculty, and staff. Their proactive stance includes educational initiatives on racial injustices and healthcare disparities, community outreach, a re-examination of the application screening process to broaden the diversity of residency applicants, and enhanced mentorship and support for underrepresented minorities.

For those considering applying, it's important to note the emphasis on building a strong foundation in general surgery while offering pathways to subspecialization, reflecting a balanced approach between community-based practice readiness and academic career preparation. The program outlines a clear commitment to providing comprehensive surgical training that is responsive to the needs of its residents and the communities they will serve.