University of Virginia Medical Center Program

Thoracic Surgery-Integrated Analyst Verified · Sep 15, 2026

University of Virginia Medical Center Program

University of Virginia Medical Center Program is a residency program specializing in Thoracic Surgery-Integrated, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, directed by John Kern and coordinated by Stephanie Kidd. The program accepts applications through October 11, 2027. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (434) 982-0332. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

UVA's Integrated (I-6) Thoracic Surgery Residency is a single-position-per-year academic pathway that trains medical school graduates directly into cardiothoracic surgery through full integration with UVA's general surgery training, advanced robotic cardiac/thoracic simulation (including cadaveric robotic mitral, coronary and aortic training), and a mandatory two-year protected research block supported by an NIH T32 grant. The program is explicitly oriented toward producing academic cardiothoracic surgeons and surgeon-scientists, offering access to named laboratories (Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research Lab, Ibrahim Laboratory), the Surgical Innovation Center, CTSN trial participation, and the Virginia Cardiac Services Initiative dataset. Graduates predominantly enter academic faculty positions or competitive practices, reflecting a program identity built around research-integrated surgical training rather than high-volume community practice. The program values residents who commit early to a focused research trajectory, engage with faculty mentors to design hypothesis-driven projects, and pursue academic leadership rather than immediate private-practice entry.

Who it fits

An applicant with a demonstrated cardiothoracic/cardiac surgery research trajectory (publications, lab experience, translational or device-oriented projects) who is committed at the outset of training to an academic surgeon-scientist career rather than exploring general surgery broadly before subspecializing.

Research intensity

Central - a mandatory two-year protected research block, NIH T32 funding, dedicated faculty-mentored laboratories, and a parallel Surgeon-Scientist Training Pathway make research integral to the program's identity, not optional.

Career orientation

Academic Medicine

Important

The program operates a separate NRMP match track (Surgeon-Scientist Training Pathway) specifically for applicants who have already committed to careers as independent surgeon-scientists pursuing NIH or extramural funding.

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