About the Program
The mission of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery General Surgery Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine is to create a diverse cadre of clinically adroit, academically inquisitive, culturally competent, empathetic, and selfaware master surgeons equipped to lead. We aspire to provide unparalleled exposure and opportunity through which our graduates are prepared to advance surgical practice, scientific discovery, education, and service.
At Baylor, we believe the best surgeons are shaped by both exceptional clinical breadth and intentional mentorship. Ours is a program where residents are challenged, supported, and truly known. Here, your goals are taken seriously, your development is personal to us, and your training is designed to help you become the surgeon you aspire to be.
Life in Houston
Our Culture
We offer a personalized training experience through four distinct tracks aligned with your career ambitions: a 5-year Track for residents pursuing high-impact surgical practice; a 7-year Research Track with two dedicated non-clinical research years for future academic leaders; a unique 7-year Global Surgery Track with two immersive years preparing surgeons for work in resource-limited or austere settings; and a 7-year Innovation Track for those seeking careers at the intersection of clinical care, industry, and device design.
Our graduates complete training fully prepared for their next steps, consistently matching into the nation’s most competitive fellowships and entering practice with the technical mastery, judgment, and leadership to make an immediate impact.
General Surgery Tracks
Our program offers four categorical General Surgery tracks, each designed to support different career interests while providing a shared foundation of rigorous, high-quality surgical training. Regardless of track, all residents train within the same collaborative community, share a common clinical core, and benefit from a culture focused on mentorship, growth, and progressive responsibility.
5-Year Track (NRMP# 1716440C0) (Four positions per year) – Our 5-year track provides comprehensive training across a diverse and high-volume network of clinical sites, preparing residents for confident, independent practice in general surgery. Residents gain broad and deep exposure to all major surgical subspecialties while training in distinct and complementary environments, including Ben Taub Hospital, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, CommonSpirit–Penrose Hospital, and Baylor Medicine–The Woodlands. Across all sites, residents are supported by faculty who are deeply invested in their development. Through structured coaching and progressive autonomy, trainees build technical skill, clinical judgment, and operative confidence while caring for a complex and diverse patient population.
7-Year Research Track (NRMP#1716440C1) (Five positions per year) – The 7-year Research Track is designed for residents interested in academic surgery and investigative careers. This pathway includes two fully protected research years, allowing for meaningful engagement in basic science, translational research, or surgical education. Residents are supported through structured mentorship and access to a wide range of collaborative opportunities, including Baylor-based T32 programs and national research partnerships. The experience is individualized, with the goal of helping each trainee develop the skills, relationships, and scholarly foundation needed for a sustained academic career.
7-Year Innovation Track (NRMP #1716440C3) (One position per year) – The 7-year Innovation Track is intended for residents interested in advancing surgery through technology, design, and entrepreneurship. Residents complete two dedicated innovation years, using insights from their clinical training to identify unmet needs and develop practical solutions. Trainees work alongside multidisciplinary teams—including surgeons, engineers, and designers—to prototype and refine new technologies. The curriculum includes exposure to product development, 3D printing, regulatory strategy, intellectual property, and commercialization, providing a foundation for careers at the intersection of surgery and innovation.
7-Year Global Track (NRMP#1716440C2) (One position per year) – Baylor’s Global Surgery Track is an NRMP-recognized program focused on preparing surgeons for work in resource-variable settings, both domestically and internationally. This 7-year, individualized pathway includes two dedicated years of global surgery training, integrating rural U.S. and international experiences with a strong general surgery foundation. Residents train across disciplines and settings, gaining exposure to the breadth of surgical care required in resource-limited environments. The track includes close mentorship, opportunities for global partnerships, and engagement with organizations such as Baylor Global Health and Texas Children’s Global, supporting the development of surgeons committed to equity, access, and impact.
Innovation Track
Global Surgery Track
Rotations
Our general surgery residents are exposed to an extraordinarily broad range of clinical opportunities during their clinical rotations at a total of six major hospital affiliates. Residents rotate at two public hospitals - Ben Taub Hospital and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and four private hospitals - Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Texas Children's Hospital, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Penrose-St. Francis Hospital in Colorado. Our general surgery residency program also provides basic surgical training to preliminary residents in the sub-specialties of neurosurgery, otolaryngology, urology and plastic surgery.
Research
Because understanding the basics of research is a core competency for all practicing surgeons, our training program has developed a core didactic lecture series and set of research opportunities that provide all of our residents with exposure to the fundamentals of research. This research training module is integrated into the overarching curriculum across each of our four training tracks.
During the five-year training period, residents spend an average of 25 months at the private hospitals and 35 months at the public hospitals. The affiliated hospitals are full-service, and numerous teaching seminars and conferences are held at each one. Clinical rotations at all five hospitals offer extensive patient contact.
Operative Experience
Research Experience
Simulation Core
The Simulation Core is a vital resource for training residents and fellows in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques, and provides continuing education for practicing surgeons. As an AAALAC-accredited facility, we ensure all procedures follow federal and institutional guidelines. The laboratories serve as a comprehensive resource for surgical learning and training residents and fellows in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques, continuing medical education for practicing surgeons, and core laboratory support for CME organizations and the biomedical industry. Accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, the laboratories further serve as an ideal site for pre-clinical studies in compliance with federal and institutional guidelines.
Applicant Information
Applications are submitted through the AAMC’s Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). While all applicants are reviewed holistically, each track is designed to support different interests and career goals, and successful applicants often demonstrate alignment with the focus of their selected pathway. Additional details about application review, track-specific characteristics, and the interview process can be found below.
Non-Research Track Resident Research and Scholarly Activities
Although not all surgeons need to be trained to be independent researchers, understanding the basics of research is a core competency for all practicing surgeons. Therefore, our training program has developed learning opportunities for all residents to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of research. The department also provides mentorship and resources to optimize resident participation in research projects and scholarly activity. All junior residents will have the opportunity to be matched with research resident and faculty mentors and to become involved in our large portfolio of ongoing clinical, translational and/or basic science research projects. Residents will also have access to a core of departmental experts in clinical study design and analysis, biostatistics and scientific writing.