Didactic Curriculum
Structured to provide the PA resident with a solid foundation of fundamental knowledge in which to develop and hone clinical acumen in the care of the surgical patient. The didactic curriculum includes live lectures every Friday from 8a – 8:45a, knot tying/suturing/incision & drainage/biopsy, non-invasive airway/chest tube/US-guided central line, fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery skills, ostomy sitting & troubleshooting, blunt & penetrating trauma, robotic surgery, stapler & energy devices, wound vac, palliative care, & root cause analysis. PA Fellows are also expected to attend Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Morbidity & Morality Conferences, and other conferences organized by the Department of Surgery.
Clinical Curriculum
PA Residents will be expected to perform daily rounds, thoroughly examine patients, present patients articulately and accurately, formulate and implement the plan of care, perform therapeutic procedures, and participate and become proficient in all aspects of care of the surgical patient. The goal of the clinical curriculum is to foster and instruct the PA Resident so that they develop proficient clinical skills in the pre-, peri-, & post-operative care of surgical patients. All clinical activities of the PA Resident will be supervised by instructors.
PA Residents will rotate through the following core rotations:
- Acute Care Surgery (ACS)
- Breast, Melanoma, Sarcoma, & Endocrine Surgery (BMSE)
- Burn Surgery
- Colorectal Surgery/Minimally Invasive Surgery (GI Surgery)
- Pancreatic, Liver, & Biliary Surgery (PBS)
- Pediatric Surgery
- Surgical Intensive Care (SICU)
- Thoracic Surgery (TCV)
- Trauma Surgery
- Transplant Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
Each rotation will last four/five weeks, with the first two weeks of the resident’s first respective rotation spent shadowing senior interns & residents. Each new rotation will start on the first of each respective calendar month.
PA Residents will have the opportunity to take two elective rotations by repeating a core rotation or rotating on one of the following services: Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Urology, Ear, Nose & Throat, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Abdominal Wall Surgery, etc.