Prospective Resident Information

LLUMC Surgical Education

2008-2009 Application Cycle Interview Dates

• Friday, November 21, 1008
• Friday, December 5, 2008
• Friday, December 12, 2008

Program Highlights:

• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) conducted its regularly scheduled site review in February 2008. LLUMC's General Surgery Residency Program received a full 5-year accreditation at that time and received 2 commendations and 0 citations.
• Over 75% of our graduates go on to fellowship programs. For a detailed look at those programs, click here.
• LLUMC offers a Medical Simulation Center, and the General Surgery Residency Program has a laparoscopic skills lab within. Residents train on a scheduled basis but are able to go to the skills lab on their own for individual work. As a requirement for graduation, residents must attain a passing score on the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery exam offered during the Chief year.
• The opportunity, but not the obligation, to do outside research. Each categorical resident has a one-month Research rotation during his or her intern year, and there is a research requirement during the five years of the residency program. Residents work closely with Dr. Gerry Gollin, Associate Program Director for Research, to, at minimum, successfully complete a research project that meets the program requirements. However, some residents make arrangements to off one or two years from the residency (generally after the PGY 2 year) to work in a lab on a research project. When this time off is arranged well in advance, the program guarantees the resident will be able to return to the program.
• In addition to common general surgical procedures, the typical resident can expect to complete major pancreatic resections, advanced hepatobiliary procedures (including liver resections and multiorgan donor harvests), major oncologic procedures (including major GI resections, pelvic exenteration, cytoreduction/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), limb sparing major resection for sarcoma, melanoma resections, etc), open and endovascular operations, operations for blunt and penetrating trauma, thoracic procedures, and the breadth of endocrine procedures.
• The pediatric surgery experience is especially rich, since the NICU is one of the largest in the United States, and there is no pediatric surgical fellowship at LLU.

Application Information:

We participate in the National Residency Match Program and are accepting applications through ERAS. For your ERAS application file to be complete, we must have the following items: application, personal statement, three letters of recommendation, USMLE Part I board scores, transcripts, and a Dean's letter.

Applications for both categorical and preliminary residency positions are accepted beginning in September of each year. Once applications are reviewed, notification of offers for interviews will be distributed via email. Interviews are mandatory and by invitation only.

Our program generally DOES NOT ACCEPT International Medical Graduates at the PGY-1 level unless the applicant has completed an extensive volunteer research project with our program in Loma Linda. As a general rule, we do not sponsor H-1 or J-1 visas at the PGY-1 level.

Financial Benefits of the LLUMC General Surgery Residency:

$1,000 EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT FROM LLUMC!

The House Staff Office at LLUMC offers what we believe is one of the most generous reimbursement packages offered by any academic medical center in California! As of July 1, 2006, a $1,000 Educational Benefit per academic year for residents went into effect. * subject to budget approval

For PGY 1-2 years, $2000 total funds are reserved for USMLE Step 3, California Medical License application and fee, and DEA license. If a resident has already taken USMLE or has a license, these funds can be used for other purposes.

For PGY3+ years, funds are reserved to pay for license renewal. Any other funds may be used for books, journals, electronic subscriptions, meetings or conferences, PDA, or medical equipment (subject to Program Director approval).

• Specific restrictions apply, but this is basically an additional $1000 annually tax free!!
  The residency program reimburses residents up to $750 per occurrence to travel to meetings to present original research conducted while a resident in our program.
• Chief Residents receive a $1500 stipend during their Chief year to reimburse for such items as travel to an approved educational meeting, registration and/or travel to Board review courses, fees associated with Board exams, etc. (subject to Program Director approval)
• At the beginning of PGY 3, categorical residents are provided custom loupes.