Rutgers Health/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Program

The Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Program at Robert WoodJohnson Medical School (RWJMS) is structured to provide anextensive training experience in the field of vascular surgery. Theprogram's unique integration with a five-year training modelemphasizes personalized and comprehensive education geared towarddeveloping competent vascular surgeons capable of both surgical andmedical management of vascular diseases.1

Program Structure

Designed as a five-year integrated residency (0+5 pathway), theprogram focuses on immersing residents in vascular surgery fromearly stages. During the first three years, residents will devote18 months to core surgical training and an additional 12 months tovascular-related rotations, setting the groundwork for the finaltwo years of dedicated vascular surgery training. This progressiveexposure allows trainees to develop advanced skills in a variety ofsurgical techniques as they move through different specialties,ranging from general surgery to trauma, and ultimately focusing onvascular-specific procedures.1

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is intentionally structured to encompass bothfoundational surgery as well as specialized vascular surgerytraining. A sample curriculum is as follows:

• PGY1: Vascular Surgery: 6 months, GeneralSurgery: 2 months, Trauma Surgery: 1 month, Acute Care Surgery: 1month, Colorectal Surgery: 1 month, Thoracic Surgery: 1 month
• PGY2: Vascular Surgery: 6 months, ThoracicSurgery: 2 months, Surgical Critical Care: 2 months, PlasticSurgery: 1 month, General Surgery: 1 month
• PGY3: Cardiac Surgery: 4 months,General/Vascular: Highland Park: 3 months, Outpatient VascularSurgery/Vascular Lab: 2 months, Transplant Surgery: 2 months,Surgical Critical Care: 1 month
• PGY4: Vascular Surgery: 12 months
• PGY5: Vascular Surgery: 12 months

Training Environment

Training primarily occurs at Robert Wood Johnson UniversityHospital, which is the flagship hospital of RWJBarnabas Health.This robust clinical environment facilitates a vast clinicalvolume, providing residents with extensive hands-on opportunitiesin both open surgical and endovascular procedures, under the directsupervision of experienced faculty members.1

Clinical Exposure

Residents will participate in diagnosing and managing a widearray of vascular conditions, which include but are not limited tocarotid, aortic, renal, and venous diseases. The program emphasizesnot only traditional surgical techniques but also advancedminimally invasive interventional procedures. All procedures areperformed in a state-of-the-art hybrid interventional suiteavailable at the hospital.1

Research and Educational Opportunities

The Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Program encouragesacademic development and actively supports participation in ongoingresearch. Residents are integrated into a rigorous didacticcurriculum which supports a strong educational foundation. Weeklyconferences include morbidity and mortality reviews, journal clubs,and vascular lab conferences, alongside extensive exposure toresearch opportunities.1

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program is particularly welcoming to international medicalgraduates (IMGs), with support provided for visa sponsorship, suchas J-1 and H-1B visas, ensuring that qualified applicants fromaround the world can participate in the program. This inclusivityhas contributed to its reputation as both competitive andaccommodating for diverse applicant backgrounds.1

Application Process

Applicants to the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency mustapply through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) andalso through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Anotable aspect is that participation in the match is highlycompetitive, with only one resident accepted per year. Specificrequirements may include limits on the year of graduation and afinite number of attempts on the USMLE Step exams. It is essentialfor applicants to be proactive in familiarizing themselves with anyunique application criteria.1

Final Reflections

Graduates of this residency program will emerge prepared toaddress complex vascular disorders competently and confidently,making them valuable assets in both academic and clinical settings.The strong pedagogical emphasis, along with a balance of clinicalexperience and research opportunities, prepares residentsexceptionally well for a successful career in vascularsurgery.1