From the Director of the Residency Program:
Welcome to the University of Florida Pediatric Surgery Training Program!

We were honored to be the first ACGME-accredited, University-based pediatric surgery training program in Florida. We are in the match every other year as a single resident program allowing maximal exposure to index cases. The intensive two-year training program includes all aspects of pediatric surgery. In the first year, residents spend up to 2 months on electives which include neonatology and pediatric critical care. The second year is spent entirely on the pediatric surgery service. Further opportunities in pediatric congenital heart surgery and pediatric urology may be made available as desired by the resident.
The Division of Pediatric Surgery at UF was established in 1967 under the leadership of Dr. James L. Talbert after his arrival from Johns Hopkins Hospital. Our division has three full-time, board-certified pediatric surgeons, excellent clinical outcomes and basic science research programs, and a significant educational focus. The graduates of our residency program have gone on to pursue academic surgical careers.
In addition to the traditional realms in pediatric surgery, highlights of our program include special expertise in minimally invasive techniques, neonatal surgery, ECMO, burn and trauma care, and oncologic surgery. The operative experience is rigorous and rewarding. We have productive clinical research programs in which residents are encouraged to participate. Residents are present in faculty clinic once a week, to establish a solid outpatient care and work-up perspective.
The organized didactic component of the residency includes a weekly case conference and a subject conference, which is based on the required contents from the American Board of Surgery, and the SCORE curriculum.
Additionally, there is a twice-monthly divisional morbidity and mortality conference. Multi-disciplinary conferences that the pediatric surgery residents attend are pathology, tumor board, ECMO M&M, and PICU case conferences.
Applications are accepted through ERAS and unless specified, we participate in the match through the NRMP. Applicants must have completed training in an ACGME-accredited residency in general surgery, or scheduled to have done so at the time of starting the residency.
Gainesville is a terrific place to live, with wonderful opportunities for you and your family. Beaches and world-renowned amusement parks are easy weekend getaways, within a two hours’ drive. The Gainesville public school system is excellent, and the college environment is stimulating and fun. We welcome queries and would be delighted to answer any questions.
For more information regarding the Pediatric Surgery Residency Program, please contact me at 352.273.8825 or janice.taylor@surgery.ufl.edu.
Janice Taylor, MD, MEd
Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery
Program Director, Pediatric Surgery Residency Program
Program Mission
Patient care: To provide timely, high quality, cutting edge care to children requiring surgery.
Education: To teach and train all levels of learners in pediatric surgery, from medical students through fellows, and provide a safe and pleasant environment to learn and to be mentored.
Research: To engage in educational, quality, basic science/translational, outcomes-based clinical (local, national, and global) research with the aim to improve care for the pediatric patient requiring surgery.
Program Aims
Prepare all trainees for successful completion of ABS certification in pediatric surgery on the first attempt. Graduate fellows who are safe and technically competent in a broad spectrum of pediatric surgery disease processes as evidenced by all fellows achieving level four or higher on all patient care milestones by graduation.

Our Alumni
Listen to some of our graduates as they recount their time here and how it’s shaped their careers.
UF Pediatric Surgery Residency Graduates
Year | Name | General Surgery Residency Training | Current |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Russell Hawkins, MD | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 2022-24 pediatric surgery resident |
2022 | Faidah Badru, MD | St. Louis University St. Louis, MO | West Virginia University/Charleston Area Medical Center Charleston, WV |
2020 | Kevin Johnson, MD | Mayo Clinic Phoenix, AZ | University of Chicago Chicago, IL |
2018 | Faraz Khan, MBBS | Wayne State University Detroit, MI | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA |
2016 | Daniel Solomon, MD | Yale-New Haven Hospital New Haven, CT | Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT |
2015 | Constance Lee, MD |
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL |
Kaiser Permanente Southern California Los Angeles, CA |
2014 | Ana Ruzic, MD |
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY |
international humanitarian work |
2013 | Anne Kim, MD | University of California – Davis Sacramento, CA | Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Cleveland, OH |
2012 | Ami Shah, MD | University of Illinois Chicago, IL | Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL |
2011 | Belinda Dickie, MD, PhD |
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, Canada |
Boston Children’s Hospital Boston, MA |
2010 | Scott Anderson, MD | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | University of Alabama – Birmingham Birmingham, AL |
2009 | Heather Paddock, MD |
University of Florida
Jacksonville, FL |
eConsultant, RubiconMD |