University of Florida Program

Program Identity & Fit

The University of Florida General Surgery Residency is a seven-year academic program built around a mandatory 2-3 year dedicated research block for categorical residents, positioning it firmly within the surgeon-scientist training tradition rather than a purely clinical track. Clinical training spans Shands, the VA, pediatric, transplant, burn, and trauma/acute care services, giving residents exposure to the full breadth of tertiary and quaternary general surgery. Research infrastructure is substantial and NIH-funded, including multiple T32 mechanisms (vascular surgeon-scientist ITVSS, molecular biology in burns/trauma), a dedicated Research Advisory Committee, and pathways to MPH, MS in Clinical Research, or PhD alongside residency. The program explicitly frames its mission as producing "clinically excellent, broadly trained general surgeons" who are competitive both for fellowship and for academic surgical careers, with research mentorship treated as a core structural pillar rather than an elective add-on.