Welcome to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UNDSMHS) Surgical Residency Program. This is a university-based surgical training program which prepares residents for entry into either the private practice of general surgery or an academic surgical career. The surgical residency program is based in two of the largest cities of North Dakota, Grand Forks and Fargo. In Grand Forks clinical facilities are located at the Altru Health System, a 277 acute care hospital located adjacent to the University of North Dakota main campus. In Fargo the clinical facilities are based at the VA Medical Center a 109 bed hospital which is also the location of the Southeast Campus of the UNDSMHS. While in Fargo residents also rotate for four months at the MeritCare Health System and one month at the Dakota Innovis Hospital. In addition during the fourth year, residents spend six months at the Orlando Regional Healthcare System in Orlando, Florida for trauma, pediatrics and burn rotations. There are also a number of elective rotations available at outside institutions. The administrative offices for the department of surgery are located in the UNDSOM&HS building on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks.
The surgical residency program is structured to provide all of the essential aspects of surgical residency training including broad based surgical knowledge and technical skills, excellent clinical experience and state-of-the-art surgical technology. The residency program also emphasizes and is well positioned to prepare trainees for the practice of rural surgery. While we have been recognized as a leader in rural surgery training for years, this program has recently been formalized with a designated rural surgery tract and individualized curriculum for residents who wish to practice in rural surgical environments. This is greatly facilitated in our program, as our residents are the only surgical trainees in general surgery or any of the surgical subspecialties. There are opportunities for both basic science and clinical research within the program and residents are encouraged and supported to participate in clinical research projects with a goal of submission of papers to regional and national meetings, with subsequent peer review publications. The primary goal of the residency program is to produce well-rounded, competent surgeons and leaders for communities in North Dakota and the nation. In addition to the rigorous pursuit of excellence in surgical education, the residency program is also designed to allow the resident staff adequate time to spend with their families and enjoy the many recreational opportunities in North Dakota and northern Minnesota.
This resident handbook is designed to contain all of the important information and policies of the surgical residency program. Every effort is made to include all important aspects of the residency training program although each institution that the residents rotate through has specific policies that the resident staff are responsible for. Each resident should read this handbook in detail and be familiar with all the policies contained within. The handbook is divided into four major sections which include: 1) Department of Surgery policies, 2) VA policies, 3) UNDSOM&HS policies and procedures and 4) other information. The handbook is updated annually and reviewed with the residents shortly after the beginning of each academic year. Questions, comments and suggestions for additions to this handbook from the resident staff are welcome.
Robert P. Sticca, M.D., FACS
Chairman, Program Director, and Professor
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Department of Surgery
