University of Southern California-Los Angeles General Medical Center USC-LA General Program

Program Identity & Fit

USC/LA General is a high-volume, university-affiliated integrated cardiothoracic (I-6) program built around Vaughn Starnes' and Craig Baker's Cardiovascular Institute, offering ABTS-track certification through six years spanning a public safety-net Level 1 trauma center (LA General), a tertiary/quaternary university hospital (Keck), a pediatric cardiac surgery site (CHLA), and a community hospital (USC Arcadia). The curriculum front-loads early cardiothoracic exposure alongside a full general surgery base, structured simulation training (including a fresh tissue dissection lab and PGY1 boot camp), and access to the NIH-funded R38 StARR pathway for residents who want a formal, protected research year toward a surgeon-scientist track. The program's identity is defined by extreme case volume and breadth across a massive underserved county population plus complex quaternary referrals, positioning graduates for competitive academic or high-acuity cardiothoracic practice rather than community-volume careers. It values residents who can handle early operative autonomy in a resource-heavy safety-net environment while engaging with a nationally prominent academic/research infrastructure.