Thoracic Surgery Service is covered by a fourth year resident and a cardiac surgery resident. On this service, the fourth year resident is exposed to and performs thoracoscopy, lung resection, esophageal resection, upper endoscopy, and bronchoscopy. Esophageal manometry and gastrointestinal physiology are additional components of this service. Also, there is exposure to the advanced laparoscopic technique of Nissen fundoplication.

Cardiac Service is covered by a third year general surgery resident, who rotates with two cardiac surgery residents. A third year resident from general surgery covers one of several cardiac surgery operating rooms acting primarily as first assistant on open heart procedures. The technique of opening and closing the chest, harvesting of veins, and vascular anastomoses are learned. Pre- and postoperative care of cardiac patients in the intensive care unit is an important part of the educational experience.


Pediatric Surgery rotation consists of a one or two-month rotation at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. This provides all of the required experience in pediatric surgery. It involves not only pre- and postoperative care, but also outpatient care, as well as the management of common and complex pediatric surgical patients. The operative experience includes repair of pediatric hernias, pyloromyotomy, and the more common pediatric surgical cases.

Plastic Surgery During the first year of residency, a one-month rotation is spent on plastic surgery. The unique aspects of this rotation include the management of patients with myocutaneous flaps and breast reconstruction and the management of wounds and minor burns. Learning the aspects of wound healing, as well as suture techniques, are important components of this rotation.

Neurosurgery Service First year residents also spend one month on the neurosurgery service caring for neurosurgical patients preoperatively and postoperatively and managing care in the intensive care unit under the direct supervision of a pulmonary/critical care attending.

Emergency Room First year residents spend one month in the emergency room seeing emergency medical and surgical patients in the outpatient and preoperative setting.

Burn Surgery rotation consists of a one-month rotation at West Penn Hospital during the second year. This rotation provides all of the required experience in burns, including preoperative management, operative management (debridement, escharotomies, fasciotomies, and skin grafting), and postoperative management.