The PA Surgical Residency (PASR) Program is an intensive 12-month program, available to four residents per year, administered by the UF Department of Surgery. Clinical duties are performed at UF Health Shands Hospital.
The UF Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program (PASR) at UF Health Shands is one of the first of it’s kind in the country to provide specialized post-graduate training for physician assistants interested in pursuing a surgical career. This intensive 12-month didactic and clinical surgical training program ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a full spectrum of surgical subspecialties. Alongside the subspecialty experience, residents are given the opportunity to attend specialty workshops, gain hands-on teaching experience, and attend regular didactic curriculum.
The UF PASR is administered by Dr. Mazen Al-Mansour, Program Director, and Lilas Nassour, Program Coordinator.
We extend a warm welcome to both recent graduates of PA programs and experienced physician assistants seeking to redirect their career towards a surgical subspecialty. Our 12-month surgical residency is meticulously crafted to provide comprehensive exposure to various surgical specialties and to strengthen proficiency in pre-, peri-, and post-operative care for surgical patients.
It’s important to note that this program does not entail a full-time surgical first-assistant position. The day-to-day schedule and requirements for this role align with those of our traditional PGY-1 general surgery residents. For further details on the program curriculum, please click here.
The UF PASF is currently accepting applications for a Spring 2025 start. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2024. For more information on applying & the program requirements, click here.
Credentials Awarded
Upon successful completion of the program, a professional certificate will be awarded from the UF College of Medicine Department of Surgery.
Physician Assistant Post-Graduate Training at UF Health Shands
The Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program in the UF College of Medicine Department of Surgery was established in 2015. The residency program has since grown and showcased the importance of physician assistants to the Department of Surgery. Since 2015 the program has graduated 26 residents who have gone onto careers in a full spectrum of surgical specialties, including congenital heart surgery, surgical oncology, GI surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, etc., at highly renowned academic and private institutions including UF Health Shands, Moffit’s Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Orlando Health, Advent Health, etc.
Program Testimonials
“UF’s Surgical Physician Assistant Residency Program was the essential opportunity I needed to help me change my specialty from Family Practice to a Surgical PA who LOVES her job! The program was an invaluable clinical and didactic experience that provided me with the skills and the confidence I needed to land the job of my dreams!” 2017, Stacey Saxon, PA-C
“Looking back on my past year as a PA surgical Resident, I cannot believe how much I have seen, learned, and grown as both a person and practitioner. I truly believe that I would not have been exposed to or gotten to do half the things I did anywhere else. The complex patients and pathology seen here at UF has made me confident that I can take care of any surgical patient in the pre, intra, and post operative period whether it be on the floor or in the ICU. My technical skills and didactic knowledge were supplemented by weekly lectures and skills sessions along side the surgical residents. I was directly integrated into their training and everyday duties. Throughout my rotations, I found that I had a passion for surgical critical care and was able to further focus my training on this by completing my electives in the SICU. UF Health has such a great learning environment and supportive staff, that I decided to stay on staff in the Surgical ICU after completion of my residency. The training that I received as a resident made for a smooth transition into my new position with minimal additional training needed.” 2016, Christa Campbell, PA-C
“I really saw my surgical skills and confidence grow during my time spent with the thoracic and cardiovascular surgery service, that led to me getting my dream job!” 2015, John-Colby Carter, PA-C
“The PA surgical residency program at UF really helped develop my surgical skills. The program offers PAs a great balance of inpatient, outpatient, OR, and ICU experience where you work side by side with the general surgery residents. I had the opportunity to rotate with multiple different surgical specialties which helped me decide which surgical field I wanted to start my career in. The PA residents are also incorporated into the weekly surgery lectures and skills labs with the general surgery interns which greatly expanded my surgical knowledge. I feel very confident with the surgical training that I received from the program and as a result, I was able to secure an amazing position as a trauma/acute care surgery PA! Thank you to the entire surgery department at UF for helping me achieved my goals!”. 2015, Kelly David, PA-C
Contact Us
For more information about the Physician Assistant Surgical Fellowship program, contact:
Lilas Nassour, Fellowship Program Coordinator
University of Florida, Department of Surgery
Email: Lilas.Nassour@surgery.ufl.edu
Phone: +1 (352) 265-0916