Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program
Our program is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) as a three-year clinical program with one new resident per year. Residents receive training in adult and pediatric cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
Requirements
Successful completion of a five-year general surgery residency program in an ACGME-approved site in the United States.
Foreign candidates must be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and have a J1 visa. They must be ABS certified or eligible and they must be eligible for a Kentucky State Medical License.
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure uses the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). For licensing information please visit the Kentucky Medical Board’s website.
Hands-on skills labs
CT surgeons regularly perform high-risk procedures for which critical perioperative events that contribute to adverse patient outcomes must be recognized and treated rapidly; thus, the acuity of techniques often cannot be taught to trainees electively. With the additional pressure to maximize operating room efficiency and reduce patient operative time, this is the very environment where trainees learn surgical skills on patients for the first time. Gretel Monreal, director of cardiovascular and thoracic simulation labs, has 28 years of experience designing and coordinating unique skills labs. These labs enable trainees to perform technically challenging procedures using new devices and techniques in a low-pressure and fun environment where mistakes are permissible and easily corrected under the careful guidance of the preceptors and industry sponsors. In partnership with industry sponsors, we have expanded our innovative educational program from two skills labs in 2015 to 30 labs in 2024.
Program Details
Application and Interview Process
Applicants must have their files completed for screening prior to receiving an invitation to interview. Applications must be submitted using ERAS.
A completed ERAS application contains the following documents:
1
ERAS application
The Residency Program is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender or age.
Eras Application aboutStipends & Benefits
| Post Graduate Level | Anual | Monthly |
| 1 | $61,867.64 | $5,155.64 |
| 2 | $64,179.69 | $5,348.31 |
| 3 | $66,251.94 | $5,521.00 |
| 4 | $69,244.93 | $5,770.41 |
| 5 | $72,601.03 | $6,050.09 |
| 6 | $75,877.94 | $6,323.16 |
| 7 | $79,034.94 | $6,586.25 |
| 8 | $83,236.00 | $6,936.33 |
Interns and residents receive four weeks vacation upon approval of the unit director. The dates will be determined by the administrative chief resident who may also consult the attending staff. This vacation may be divided into as many as two parts.
Malpractice coverage is provided by UofL, VAH or private affiliated hospitals under terms of your contract. However, this coverage does not apply to any off-duty activities of employment.
Single and family coverage is available to all residents. You may sign up for insurance at general orientation. For more information, call 852-6555.
Each resident receives free of charge, life insurance for the value of twice the annual salary. Workers compensation, accidental death and dismemberment insurance are also provided. For details, call UofL at 852-7105.
Each member of the house staff has the following privileges:
- Medical School library usage; photocopy at minimum charge; research librarian assistance
- Faculty discount for higher-priced seats for football games
- Free membership to Health Sciences Campus Fitness Center located in the parking garage
- A free annual PPD may be obtained from the Student Health Services, first floor of ACB, every weekday except Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Free UofL parking stickers (details in general orientation).
- One lab coat is provided for each new resident
- Dedicated resident computer workstations are located in the residency office and department library
- The Department of Emergency Medicine Library has a collection of textbooks and journals in emergency medicine and other specialties. Residents are welcome to borrow these materials. The lending procedure is based on the honor system.
In order to receive any of the above-listed fringe benefits, each resident must have a university identification card, issued on orientation day.
The Department of Emergency pays for resident membership to the following organizations:
- American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
- Kentucky College of Emergency Physicians (KCEP)
- American Association of Emergency Medicine (AAEM)
- Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM)
All memberships include journal subscription. Please visit individual organization websites (appendix) for additional benefits.
Any resident presenting a paper at an approved national or regional meeting may have travel defrayed by the department. Please contact Carolyn Gunn for the rules and regulations regarding travel.