Didactics
The educational curriculum includes multiple lectures and conferences each week. These cover all the essentials of general surgery. There is a weekly Morbidity and Mortality conference, weekly Grand Rounds, and frequent Visiting Professor and Chairman/Senior Faculty case conferences. There is also a monthly journal club to discuss highlighted articles in general surgery, and separate journal clubs in many of the subspecialty rotations.
Grand Rounds
Applied Science Course
(Thursday 7-8 a.m.)
This is a resident teaching conference that covers core principles in general surgery, following the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the SCORE Weekly Curriculum. Teaching is done by a senior resident, with a faculty member (with expertise in the topic) who moderates the discussion. There is assigned reading and a brief quiz, based on this reading, at the start of each conference. From November to January, sessions focus on preparing residents for the American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE).
General Surgery (Morbidity and Mortality) Conference
Surgical Skills Lab
(Monday 3-5 p.m., interns
Wednesday 9-11 a.m., R2-R5)
The Skills Lab provides an opportunity for residents to work on surgical, laparoscopic and robotic skills during 'protected time' (to minimize interruptions) in a supportive environment under faculty supervision. We follow the curriculum established by the American College of Surgeon/Association of Program Directors in Surgery. This includes a robust array of teaching modules that span all five years of residency training. In addition, interns have their own 'Surgical Olympics' at the beginning and end of their first year.
The Women's Guild Simulation Center is available to resident 24 hours a day. The Center contains a huge array of training equipment. There are state of the art virtual simulators for colonoscopy, bronchoscopy and other forms of endoscopy; 3-dimensional vascular anatomy simulators; fully equipped operating rooms and mannequins that are used for surgical critical care scenarios; and a Da Vinci Robotics simulator to help residents gain robotic surgery proficiency. Trainers are also available to help residents prepare for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) and the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FLS) examinations.
Journal Club
(First Tuesday of every month, 4-5 p.m.)
Interns are assigned articles selected by a PGY-4 or 5 resident to be presented to the group on specific topics. An attending is assigned to moderate the session and lead the discussion.
Other Didactics
In addition, there are a number of special lectures throughout the year that bring internationally renowned speakers to the Department of Surgery, as well as a wide range of conferences held for all residents in the institution which comprise a core curriculum.
All residents take the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination every year. The program provides a subscription to TrueLearn and SCORE for each resident. In addition, residents are given opportunities to practice for oral examinations.
All residents receive the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course, and many have the opportunity to become ATLS Instructors if they desire.
The ASSET (Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma) course uses human cadavers to teach surgical exposure of anatomic structures that when injured may pose a threat to life or limb. A course manual is distributed to students prior to taking the course to provide an overview of key surgical exposures in four key anatomic areas: extremities, head and neck, thoracic, and abdomen and pelvis.
The one-day, cadaver-based course follows this modular, body region approach. Each section begins with a short case-based overview followed by a hands-on exposure performed by students under the guidance of faculty. The student-to-faculty ratio is low, allowing extensive faculty guidance and interaction with students. The student assesses his or her ability to perform each exposure independently and is evaluated on knowledge and technical skills.
Have Questions or Need Help?
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the Cedars-Sinai Surgery Residency Program, please call or send us a message.
8700 Beverly Blvd.
North Tower, #8215
Los Angeles, CA 90048