St Agnes HealthCare Program

The Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital General Surgery Residency Program is a five-year, fully accredited program recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This program is known for its combination of academic rigor and community-based, university-affiliated training. As one of the oldest surgical residency programs in the United States, it is committed to providing patient-centered, high-quality surgical care.

Residents in the program will gain a broad-based surgical experience that includes general surgery and various surgical specialties. The training curriculum encompasses exposure to critical surgical procedures and management for critically ill surgical patients. Residents will rotate through diverse specialties including burn management, trauma, transplant, gastrointestinal endoscopy, vascular surgery, robotic surgery, and pediatric surgery. This comprehensive exposure enhances the residents' surgical skills and clinical decision-making abilities, preparing them for successful careers in surgery 1.

Training Environment and Rotations

The educational experience is enhanced through collaborative training at renowned institutions such as the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Children’s National Medical Center. The emphasis on teamwork and mentorship within the program allows residents to gain experience in various hospital settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, clinics, and critical care units 1.

Residents are entrusted with increased responsibilities throughout their training, allowing them to take an active role in preoperative, operative, and postoperative care of surgical patients. The program boasts a high volume of surgical cases, exceeding the requirements set for accreditation and board certification, thus ensuring that residents receive ample surgical training 1.

Stipend and Benefits

Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital offers a competitive salary structure for residents, starting at $59,684 for PGY 1 and increasing each year up to $69,984 for PGY 5. Additional benefits include three weeks of paid vacation, five paid sick days, and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. Furthermore, residents receive maternal and paternal paid leave and access to competitive resources including DynaMed and the Ovid database. Residents are also provided with paid memberships for SCORE and TrueLearn, and travel expenses for academic conferences are covered 1.

Additional educational benefits include access to robotic, laparoscopic, and endoscopy simulators, and opportunities to engage in written and oral board review courses. Participation in academic conferences is supported with protected time designated for activities such as morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences, lectures, grand rounds, and journal clubs 1.

Application Criteria and Competitiveness

The program accepts three categorical residents and four preliminary residents each year, with a strict application process through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Candidates must register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) to participate in the Match, and interviews will be conducted by invitation only. It’s important to note that three letters of recommendation are preferred, alongside a letter from the surgical chair if applicable. All applicants must complete ECFMG certification steps before the Match results are announced 1.

The residency program is described as highly competitive, attracting qualified candidates including both US and international medical graduates. It specifically offers sponsorship exclusively for J-1 visas, making it an appealing choice for international graduates seeking surgical training in the United States 1.

Ascension Saint Agnes values an enriching environment for surgical education, fostering the development of future leaders in surgery. The combination of a rigorous curriculum, diverse surgical specialties, and hands-on training opportunities helps to prepare residents for the multifaceted nature of surgical practice 1.