Message from the General Surgery Program Director
Welcome from the Program Director
Creighton University has a long and proud tradition of training physicians in General Surgery. We appreciate your consideration and I look forward to telling you more about our program. Despite the incredible pace of change in the world of modern medicine, Creighton has remained a high-quality opportunity for young surgeons seeking success.
Each year, we receive between 900-1100 applications for our 5 categorical and 2 preliminary training positions. Our goal is to attract and train surgeons to meet the full spectrum of surgical practice. We train surgeons who are competent to enter direct practice while being competitive for fellowship training. Residents from our Urology residency program also train alongside our residents during portions of their first year. In addition, we will soon be welcoming rotators from Anesthesia and Orthopedic Surgery. Our residents develop a high degree of camaraderie during their time at Creighton, and we are proud of the close bond our residents develop during their training.
Graduates from our program are well-equipped to directly enter practice in General Surgery. Our case volumes are robust and chief residents routinely graduate with 1200–1400 cases each year exceeding the American Board of Surgery and ACGME requirements. While Creighton supports three surgical fellowship programs in Colorectal Surgery, Head and Neck, and Global Surgery, fellows in these programs do not compete with our residents for cases. Residents who have pursued fellowship training have done well in competitive matches including cardiothoracic surgery, transplant surgery, minimally invasive/bariatric surgery, and colorectal surgery among others.
We regularly reassess our didactic curriculum to ensure our residents are well-prepared for the written and oral board exams. We utilize the SCORE curriculum and provide the TrueLearn and ABSITE Quest question banks to all residents. Our didactic curriculum is aligned with SCORE and resident driven with substantial faculty support and involvement. We have an excellent first-time pass rate for the American Board of Surgery examinations. Residents have five hours of weekly protected time which includes Morbidity and Mortality conference, Grand Rounds, and didactics. Mock orals are offered twice yearly along with quarterly journal club. Our simulation curriculum continues to evolve, and residents have access to laparoscopic box simulators, robotic simulators, and endoscopy simulators. We hold a yearly cadaver lab and offer the ASSET course.
In addition to our didactic curriculum, professional development is a priority for our program. Our PGY-5 and PGY-4 residents participate in PEARLS, a longitudinal professional and leadership development program. We routinely sponsor residents to attend the American College of Surgeons Residents as Teachers and Leaders course and American College of Surgeons Leadership and Advocacy Summit. Our residents are expected to develop both their education and leadership skills during training. We similarly emphasize faculty development in these areas and dedicate time to training faculty in providing effective feedback to our trainees.
All residents receive a foundation in surgical research through a two-year longitudinal research curriculum. Participation in research projects is encouraged but not required. There is substantial support from the Department and Program to develop, present, and publish original research. Our current and past residents have been very successful in these endeavors and are well-published. Residents now have an option to take a dedicated research year following either their clinical PGY-2 or PGY-3 year. This year is fully funded by the Department of Surgery and includes mentoring from internal and external faculty.
Creighton University believes in the idea of “cura personalis” – care for the entire person. We strive for our trainees to learn not only about the diseases we treat but the critical importance of caring for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. We believe in dedication to promoting human dignity, and being open to and accepting a person’s religious, spiritual, and cultural development. We believe this mindset is fundamental to create great surgeons.
Omaha and Creighton are wonderful places to live and learn. We have an outstanding group of residents and faculty, and we look forward to continuing a long tradition of training outstanding surgeons to care for the entire person. We look forward to meeting you!
Neil Patel, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Program Director - General Surgery Residency Program
Creighton University Medical Center
