University of Alabama Medical Center Program

The University of Alabama Medical Center Program offers a General Surgery Residency with a comprehensive training approach at a high-volume, level-one hospital, encompassing a wide range of opportunities including extensive robotic surgery training, international training opportunities, and research participation. The program is designed to prepare residents for a career as academic surgeons.

Resident training occurs across five facilities within the UAB Medical Center District. With over 40,000 operative procedures performed annually at UAB, residents gain experience in a broad array of complex cases, averaging 1,390 procedures over their residency. UAB Hospital serves as a significant hub for this training, providing exposure to the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.

The program offers several pathways including a Traditional Categorical Pathway, a Cardiothoracic Integrated Pathway, and a Military Match Pathway. It emphasizes its mission to train diverse residents towards clinical excellence and leadership in surgery.

For application, there are seven categorical positions available each year, which do not consider preliminary residents for PGY-1 positions. All applications are through ERAS, with a complete application including medical school transcripts, board scores, MSPE, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a curriculum vitae. The interview process will be virtual for the 2023-2024 Match Season, with specific dates provided for interview invitations.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) interested in the program must have a valid ECFMG certificate, have graduated from medical school within the past five years, and UAB supports the H-1B clinical Visa and hosts IMGs with a J-1 Visa.

The curriculum encompasses five clinical years, with the option for residents to complete two years of research, free of clinical duties. The operative experience is robust, with residents performing on average 1,360 procedures by 2023.

Moonlighting is allowed under specific conditions, ensuring it does not interfere with the educational goals or the resident's fitness for work. PGY1 and PGY2 residents and those with J-1 visas are not permitted to moonlight.

Residents have access to a wide range of resources through the American College of Surgeons and are encouraged to take advantage of them for their educational and training needs.

Notably, the program offers unique international training opportunities, particularly in Africa and Australia, providing residents with a chance to gain broad clinical and surgical experience in diverse healthcare settings.

The program is indeed competitive and provides detailed information regarding application deadlines, requirements, and interview processes for prospective residents. UAB sponsors visas, confirming its support for international applicants.