General Surgery Residency Program
For more than a century, we have built a strong tradition of training exceptional general surgeons through our extensive, hands-on learning program
Overview
For more than a century we've been training top-tier general surgeons through a comprehensive, hands-on educational experience. Graduates pursue diverse career paths, from clinical practice to prestigious fellowships, with many becoming leaders in academic surgery and national organizations.
Led by Matthew Benns, program director, Keith Miller, Farid Kehdy, Mahsa Javid, associate program directors and Kelly McMasters, chair for the Department of Surgery, our ACGME-accredited, five-year program emphasizes patient care, early operative exposure and surgical science. Residents benefit from autonomy, gaining significant operative experience across five major hospitals, including complex procedures in hepatobiliary, vascular, trauma and more. This real-world, patient-based training ensures residents graduate with the skills and confidence to excel as general surgeons or pursue competitive subspecialties.
With a robust case load and diverse clinical settings, our program produces graduates who are well-prepared for the evolving field of surgery.
Program Details
Application and Interview Process
Application Procedure
The following information outlines the process for medical students applying for a surgical internship, beginning September, continuing into a general surgery residency in March.
Applicants must have their files completed for screening prior to receiving an invitation to interview. Applications must be submitted using ERAS.
*While your letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Program Director, please send them via ERAS.
Interview Process
The General Surgery Review Committee will screen all applicants and invitations will be issued. Upon receipt of the invitation, please contact Machenize Eason (m.eason@louisville.edu) at 502-852-1895 to arrange your interview according to the following schedule:
November 22, 2024
December 6, 2024
January 10, 2025
Grand Rounds will be held virtually at 7:00 am and is optional for applicants.
Interviews will be conducted in-person as well as virtually beginning at 9:00 am.
Dr. Kelly M. McMasters, Department Chair, will give an overview of the program. Candidates will have 3 half-hour interviews with surgery faculty and current residents in addition to an interview with Dr. McMasters and the General Surgery Program Directors.
Internship dates run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
1
ERAS Application
Applicants must have their files completed for screening prior to receiving an invitation to interview. Applications must be submitted using ERAS.
ERAS Application about
2
MSPE letter (Dean's Letter) - after October 1st
While your letters of recommendation should be addressed to the program director, please send them via ERAS.
3
Three to five letters of recommendation
While your letters of recommendation should be addressed to the program director, please send them via ERAS.
4
USMLE I and II scores
5
Medical school transcript
Stipends & Benefits
| POST GRADUATE LEVEL | ANNUAL | MONTHLY |
|---|---|---|
| Post Graduate Level 1 | $59,488.12 | $4,957.34 |
| Post Graduate Level 2 | $61,711.24 | $5,142.60 |
| Post Graduate Level 3 | $63,703.79 | $5,308.65 |
| Post Graduate Level 4 | $66,581.66 | $5,548.47 |
| Post Graduate Level 5 | $69,808.68 | $5,817.39 |
| Post Graduate Level 6 | $72,959.56 | $6,079.96 |
| Post Graduate Level 7 | $75,995.13 | $6,332.93 |
| Post Graduate Level 8 | $80,034.62 | $6,669.55 |
| Stipend rates based on 3% increase for all PG levels. | ||
Term life insurance is provided for all residents, in the amount of $2,000 of life insurance for each $1,000 of annual stipend. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included.
The university offers a complete package of insurance coverage for our residents and their families, including health, dental, vision, prescription, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Life, Short Term Disability and Long Term Care. Single and family coverage is available at group rates. Several different plans at varying costs are available to choose from. Residents may choose Premium Conversion, which permits payment of premiums with automatic deduction of pre-tax dollars from the resident's monthly salary. Information regarding health insurance benefits can be found at Uofl HR.
The Faculty Practice Office in the Outpatient Care Center will provide an annual examination, including cleaning and up to four bitewing x-rays, to residents free of charge. Any additional services are the responsibility of the resident. Residents can call 852-5401 for information. Residents may also purchase, at group rates, dental insurance in both single and family plans.
All residents are covered by workers compensation for medical expenses and lost work time due to job-related illness or injury.
Long-term disability insurance is provided for residents, free of charge. Residents have the option of converting the coverage from group to individual at the end of their training and the option of purchasing additional coverage at very reduced rates.
Coverage is provided for all residents by either the University of Louisville or by the hospitals to which residents are assigned. This coverage applies to all assigned rotations that are part of residency training, as detailed on the reverse side of the resident agreement.
Hepatitis B immunization and an annual TB skin test are required and furnished free of charge to all residents. The Campus Health Services Office provides minor urgent medical care and immunizations, including boosters and TB testing. Personal counseling is also available. The Campus Health Services Office also serves as an on-site treatment facility for workers compensation related injuries and exposures including needle sticks and as the repository of resident immunization records and exposure data. The office is staffed by board-certified faculty physicians and faculty nurse practitioners who have extensive primary care and occupational exposure experience.
Commonwealth of Kentucky resident training licensure and renewal fees are paid by the department for the duration of surgical residency in the program.
General Surgery PGY-1s through PGY-5s are given five weeks paid vacation, which may be taken all at once or may be divided into two week periods.
**At the discretion of the program director, an additional two weeks may be permitted for personal or educational leave.
The University of Louisville Physician Placement Services provides free assistance to residents seeking practice opportunities in Kentucky. Call Jan Hurst at 1-800-821-1088.
Residents have library privileges at the Kornhauser Library and at all of the affiliated hospitals. Available services include electronic literature, searches and an Inter-library loan service.
Lab coats with embroidered names are provided to residents at the beginning of their training.
Residents are eligible to purchase student athletics tickets at reduced prices through the Athletics Department. Most faculty have season tickets to all major sports and are willing to share them with residents.
Additional benefits may include textbooks, professional dues, or funds for travel to educational meetings.
We have partnered with Planet Fitness for a reduced expense Black card for $15/month and no annual or initial feeds.