Surgery Core Clerkship

The Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, under the leadership of Clerkship Director Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil, welcomes medical students and physician assistant students to the core surgery clerkship.

The mission of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery is to inspire the next generation of surgeons by providing learners with a comprehensive, balanced surgical experience that fosters the development of essential surgical knowledge, technical skills, and professional competencies.

Clerkship Structure

The core surgery clerkship is a six-week rotation composed of two three-week sub-rotations:

General Surgery Rotation
Students are assigned to a general surgery service at one of our affiliated teaching hospitals, which includes Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Michael E. DeBakey VA hospital, and Ben Taub, where they gain broad exposure to perioperative care, inpatient and outpatient management, and operative decision-making.

Surgical Subspecialty Rotation
Students rotate through one of several surgical subspecialties, which may include:

• Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)
• Thoracic Surgery
• Abdominal Transplant Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery
• Congenital Heart Surgery

Throughout the six-week clerkship, medical students and physician assistant students are fully integrated as members of the clinical team, working closely with residents, fellows, and faculty in both inpatient and outpatient settings.