Message from Dr. Behrns:

Department of Surgery Program Director

Welcome to General Surgery Residency Training Program in the Department of Surgery at the University of Florida. As you peruse this site, we trust that you will see the outstanding General Surgery training experience that the University of Florida offers!

The purpose of our program is to create a learning environment that focuses on objective-driven education to challenge learners and encourage critical thinking. An excellent didactic program provides the structure to acquire the depth and breathe of knowledge that will serve as the foundation for sound surgical judgment and evidence-based solutions. With a sound fund of knowledge our surgical trainee is prepared to deliver excellent patient care addressing the great diversity of pathology that exists at the University of Florida.

We have restructured the didactic program to meet the specific needs of trainees at different stages of education. Surgery 101 is a course for the PGY I resident who requires a broad-based introduction to surgical pathobiology and clinical problems. Our second year residents are enrolled in Surgery 201, which is focused on six core areas of general surgery education- gastrointestinal diseases, oncology and endocrine diseases, vascular/cardiovascular/thoracic diseases, pediatrics, transplantation, and trauma/critical care. Surgery 401 provides a structured learning environment in which our PGY III and IV residents critically examine time-honored and current surgical literature. Our chief residents participate in a self-designed, biweekly program, Surgery 501, in which the current surgical literature is closely examined under the guidance of an experienced faculty member. In addition, at the weekly Chair’s conference, the core competencies are discussed by the Chair, Program Director, and residents. These crucial topics often receive too little attention in standard texts, but they serve as a foundation by which we are evaluated. These mandatory, weekly educational sessions provide a structured format in which an intense reading program prepares each trainee.

In addition to a strong didactic program, we strengthen and test technical skills in the dry laboratory and through hands-on trainings sessions. We also provide state-of-the art surgical simulation that will prepare residents for surgery of the future. Although sound clinical skills emanate from an excellent fund of knowledge and superior clinical assessment, the highly-trained general surgery resident at the University of Florida benefits from individual technical instruction from many master surgeons. We seek to optimize clinical training such that each trainee experiences the vast scope of general surgical operations. Therefore, each trainee will meet and, in many cases, exceed the ACGME requirements for index cases.

We recognize that individuals choose general surgical training for different reasons and, therefore, have different goals. We strive to meet the individual interests of each trainee while adhering to the requirements set forth by governing bodies. If you wish to become an excellent community general surgeon or choose to devote additional years to surgical science and pursue an academic career, the training program at the University of Florida can meet your needs. Four (4) faculty members in the Division of General Surgery are NIH-funded and two training grants exist- one in the Laboratory of Inflammation Biology and Surgical Science and one in the Laboratory of Signal Transduction and Cancer. These training grants allow surgical residents two years of salary-protected time to study in their chosen field of research. Many of our trainees chose to extend their training through fellowship programs, and we seek to prepare trainees to obtain the most competitive positions.

In summary, our mission is to provide the best general surgical training by inculcating highly-motivated learners with a sound fund of knowledge that translates into superb clinical judgment and expert technical skill. Importantly, we instill in our trainees a purpose and commitment to the patient, confidence based on self-education for life-long learning, and professionalism that will allow them to adapt to the ever-changing environment of general surgery. We welcome your consideration of our program and are excited that you have chosen a stimulating career in general surgery.