Providence General Surgery Residency Program - Residents

A Resident's View:

Stephen Yoo, M.D. (Fifth Year) - My first year of residency was a challenging year filled with many learning experiences. The duties of the ward were my primary responsibility. From pulling drains, to fluid management, to placing central lines, I became very comfortable in managing a surgical patient. I have my seniors and the faculty to thank for providing a family atmosphere so that I could gain such knowledge in a smooth and timely manner.
My away rotations included trauma at Sinai-Grace, one of the busiest trauma centers in the Metropolitan Detroit area, and burns at Detroit Receiving Hospital, where I was the senior who worked one-on-one with attendings in taking care of burn patients.

I gained knowledge in Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, and Urology with one month rotations in each. I also learned the management of critical surgical and medical patients with my one month rotation in the ICU.

Perhaps the most fulfilling part of my first year was the operative experience. Select weekend calls were set aside for "OR Calls" where my only responsibility was to assist in operative cases, often as the first assist. Breast biopsies, hernias, and appendectomy are all performed by first years as first assists.

Even with the many responsibilities, and calls every 4-5 days, the schedule allowed me ample time to spend with my wife and my 1 year old child.

At the conclusion of the first year I felt I had gained the confidence and the basic skills needed to excel as a surgical resident.

Paul Avenel, M.D. (Third Year) - After Hurricane Katrina, I was fortunate to have found a new residency/home as a PGY II at Providence Hospital. As such, my opinion is admittedly biased.  However, there are two facts about this program which cannot be overlooked and that I personally hold in the highest regard.  First, this surgical program has just received yet another five year accreditation.  This speaks volumes about this program's dedication to training the next generation of surgeons.  Secondly, the program emphasizes a close relationship between the residents and attendings both in and out of the operating room.  The staff surgeons and senior residents are very approachable and truly committed to teaching.  I would strongly encourage any qualified candidate interested in surgery to pay a visit to Providence Hospital and give this surgical program very serious consideration.