Resident Experience

The Department of Surgery offers both preliminary and categorical training programs in General Surgery, using the combined facilities of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in nearby White River Junction, Vermont.

Clinical experience

PGY-1

The first year consists of 12 one-month rotations on these services:

  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Community Surgery
  • General Surgery (VAMC)
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Night Emergency Trauma
  • Palliative Care
  • Robotics
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Transplantation Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery

PGY-2

The first 2 years of the program are designed to give each resident the basis for a final choice in a surgical career and a foundation of knowledge and experience upon which to build subsequent training. It is expected that upon completion of this 2-year core, residents will have acquired considerable skill and confidence in the management of critically ill patients and facility in basic surgical techniques.

The second year consists of 6 two-month rotations on these services:

  • Colorectal Surgery
  • General Surgery-Community-Based (Concord)
  • General Surgery-Laparoscopic
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Night Emergency Trauma
  • Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

PGY-3

The PGY-3 residents receive training in Pediatric Surgery in addition to extensive exposure to the traditional areas of General Surgery including endoscopy and colorectal surgery. The PGY-3 resident serves as the senior resident for the majority of rotations in this training year.

The third year consists of 4 three-month rotations on these services:

  • Breast Disease/Surgical Oncology
  • General Surgery Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
  • General Surgery-Community-based (Concord)
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • The remainder of the year is spent in electives tailored to individual resident goals

PGY-4

In the fourth year, residents are expected to lead and manage their clinical teams, participate in complex operations and begin to develop skill sets as teaching assistants. In addition to scheduled rotations, PGY-4 residents can arrange elective months in their fields of interest.

  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Community Surgery
  • General Surgery Community
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Night Emergency Trauma
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Transplant Surgery

PGY-5

During the fifth year of the program, the 5 Chief Residents have responsibility for:

  • General Surgery
  • General Surgery Breast Disease/Surgical Oncology
  • Acute care and trauma surgery
  • General Surgery/ Colorectal Surgery
  • Additional flexibility in training based on resident career goals.

Didactics

Resident education is a core focus of our program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Each service holds a variety of educational sessions throughout the week ranging from preoperative conferences to interdisciplinary tumor boards. On Friday mornings residents have protected time from 7 am to noon to attend formal lectures. Below is a description of conferences available to residents during this time.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Presented by residents each week.

Grand Rounds

Presented by guest lecturers, visiting professors, or faculty from the Department of Surgery including subspecialty divisions.

Clinical and Basic Science Lectures

Resident didactic sessions with topics based on SCORE curriculum taught in mock oral format with pre and post session ABSITE review questions.

Simulation Lab

A robust simulation experience with dedicated time on Friday mornings free of clinical activity has been ongoing for several years. This provides the opportunity to practice surgical skills including FLS and FES training and open surgical technique (such as vascular and GI anastomosis) in the Patient Safety and Training Center. Residents have 24/7 access to this facility for individual development.

Journal Club

Monthly meeting where selected articles in current surgical journals are discussed. Provides a forum to discuss advances in surgery and develop a systematic approach to critical evaluation of the literature. Discussions are facilitated by faculty, but are often resident-driven.

Research

Surgical Trainee Research Initiative and Evaluation (STRIVE) Program

The Department of Surgery launched the Surgical Trainee Research Initiative and Evaluation (STRIVE) Program in 2016 to support surgical research residents in pursuing their research goals. The program was developed by Kayla Moore and Dr. Philip Goodney based on findings from a participatory needs assessment conducted in April 2016 and responds to needs identified by prior year research residents and department leaders.

Learn more about STRIVE.

Publications

See the list below to learn about resident abstracts and publications

2025

  • Boudreau E, Sorensen M. Thyroid Cancer. The SCORE Portal. http://www.surgicalcore.org. Accepted for publication - July 2025
  • Jo A, Wilson MZ. “From Diversion to Permanence: Trends in Ostomy Creation in Rectal Cancer Surgery.” J Clin Med. 2025; 14(6):1913. doi: 10.3390/jcm14061913.
  • Cai M, Blythe N, Jo A, Wong SL, Mayo SW. “Electronic health record-integrated questionnaires in colorectal surgery patients as a new standard: Could preoperative bowel function be used to predict postoperative patient-reported outcomes?” J Surg Oncol. 2024;130(1):133-139. doi:10.1002/jso.27688.
  • Pitesa R, Paterson C, Flaherty M, Eteuati J, Hill AG. Complicated appendicitis in low- and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ANZ J Surg. 2025 Jun;95(6):1096-1107. doi: 10.1111/ans.70103. Epub 2025 Apr 26. PMID: 40285438; PMCID: PMC12227871
  • Johnston TM, Lamb CR, Jo A, Sierra Rodriguez CL, Mancini DJ, Martinez-Camblor P, Fernando Santos B. “Missed Opportunities for Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration (LCBDE): We Can Do Better.” Surg Endosc. Manuscript and revision submitted.
  • Jo A, Newton LE, Boudreau E, Weber D, Martinez-Camblor P, Bates MF, Sorensen, MJ. Comparing the Efficiency and Safety of Hospital-based vs Ambulatory Same-Day Total Thyroidectomy: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study. Surgery. Submitted and under review.
  • Jo A, Barthold LK, Jogdand AH, Anton ME, Riblet NB, Mayo SW. “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Perioperative Care Pathways in New Ileostomates: Can We Prevent Hospital Readmission? Pending submission to JACS.
  • Bordeau E, Jo A, Newton LE, Wright A, Martinez-Camblor P, Bates MF, Soresnsen M. Outcomes of Outpatient Thyroidectomy for High-Risk Patients: A Single-Site Retrospective Cohort Study. Pending submission to JACS
  • Boudreau E, MD; Matte R, MD; Wilke C, MD, FACS. Liver cirrhosis with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: A case report. Under review at The Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
  • Boudreau E, MD; Jo AJ, MD; Newton LE, MD; Martinez-Camblor P, PhD; Bates MF, MD; Sorensen MJ, MD. Outcomes of Outpatient Thyroidectomy for High-Risk Patients: A Single-Site Retrospective Cohort Study. Will be reviewed by NESS July 2025 prior to submission to JACS.
  • Jo AJ, MD; Newton LE, MD; Boudreau E, MD; Weber, D; Martinez-Camblor P, PhD; Bates MF, MD; Sorensen MJ, MD. Comparing the Safety and Efficiency of Outpatient Total Thyroidectomy in Hospital-based and ambulatory Surgery Center Settings: A Single-Site Retrospective Cohort Study. To be reviewed by Surgery.