Resident physicians are given the opportunity to participate in many laparoscopic courses throughout the academic year. The courses scheduled for 2006 include the following:

* Laparoscopic ventral and incisional hernia
* Solid organ laparoscopic procedures

* Laparoscopic nephrectomy
* Laparoscopic procedures for esophageal reflux
* Laparoscopic and hand-assisted colorectal surgery
* Additional hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures
* Laparoscopic approaches to morbid obesity

Teaching Conferences
Teaching conferences are offered throughout the week for General Surgery residents and residents rotating from other departments. The following conferences are required:

* Basic Science - once a week
* Grand Rounds - includes Visiting Professors, Surgical Grand Rounds and Multidisciplinary Trauma Conference - each once a month
* Morbidity-Mortality/Quality Assurance - once a week
* Journal Club - once a month

Other conferences include:
* Minimal Access Conference
* Multidisciplinary Critical Care Conference
* Surgical Endocrine Conference
* Tumor Board

Instructional Courses Available to Residents
Instructional courses are held throughout the year under the direction of members of the Department of Surgery. Laparoscopic skills courses provide residents with the opportunity to practice laparoscopic procedures in a laboratory setting. These additional courses are available for community physicians as well as house officers:

* Sentinel lymph node biopsy techniques
* Laparoscopic approaches to morbid obesity
* Laparoscopic and hand-assisted colorectal surgery
* Percutaneous tracheostomy
* Inferior vena cava imaging and filter insertion
* Flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy
* Advanced Trauma Life Support
* Pediatric Advanced Life Support
* Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Educational Meetings
General Surgery residents are granted five work days per year to attend an approved educational meeting. All meeting determinations are made at the beginning of the academic year.

Library Services and the Information Resource Center
In addition to 24-hour-a-day access to the library in the General Surgery office with current surgical journals, Internet access and resident e-mail, the Information Resource Center at Carolinas Healthcare System is available for resident use. The Information Resource Center, located on the first floor of the Medical Education Building, provides comprehensive services to undergraduates, graduates and post-graduate healthcare providers in the eight counties associated with the Charlotte Area Health Education Center.