In 2020, the department created a six-year Thoracic Surgery Integrated Residency Program, leveraging the strengths of our long-established training programs in cardiothoracic surgery and general surgery. This program consists of six years of training (PGY-1 through PGY-6) with an optional additional year in research focused in cardiac thoracic or general thoracic surgery. Buoyed by a strong traditional three year Thoracic Surgery-Independent Fellowship program that includes a cardiac and general thoracic track, under the direction of Dr. Ravi K. Ghanta , Dr. Shawn S. Groth and Dr. Vicente Orozco-Sevilla, trainees will demonstrate the program’s core values of integrity, respect for the individual, continuous commitment to excellence, dedication to discover/innovation, and fostering leadership through education and teaching.
The program includes three initial years that provides rotations in cardiac, vascular, general thoracic, surgical oncology, trauma surgery, and cardiology. After this foundational experience, residents may participate in research for a maximum of two years. The final three years provide senior experience in cardiothoracic surgery in adult and congenital cardiac surgery and general thoracic surgery.
Similar to our Thoracic Surgery (Independent) Fellowship program, residents will have developed extensive hands-on experience in complex aortic surgery, robotic cardiac and general thoracic surgery, heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and structural heart trans-catheter interventions.
Clinical Volume
In addition to institutional, faculty, and patient diversity, clinical volume is a strength of the cardiothoracic training program. Annually our residents have an opportunity to participate in the more than 1,700 adult cardiac surgery cases that are performed at our hospital affiliates, including more than 150 VADs and heart/lung transplants and more than 200 complex aortic reconstructions. Structural heart exposure includes 350 TAVRs per year and more than 50 Mitraclip procedures per year. Robotic cardiothoracic surgery continues to grow rapidly, with more than 200 robotic cases performed in 2019. Robotic operations include MIDCAB, mitral valve replacement, mitral valve repair, thymectomy, lobectomy esophagectomy, anti-reflux surgery, and thoracic outlet. Exclusive of MD Anderson, 860 thoracic and esophageal cases are performed annually. In addition 1,075 congenital heart operations are performed annually at Texas Children’s Hospital.
In addition to institutional, faculty, and patient diversity, clinical volume is a strength of the cardiothoracic training program. Annually our trainees have an opportunity to participate in the more than 1,700 adult cardiac surgery cases that are performed at our hospital affiliates, including more than 150 VADs and heart/lung transplants and more than 200 complex aortic reconstructions. Structural heart exposure includes 350 TAVRs per year and more than 50 Mitraclip procedures per year. Robotic cardiothoracic surgery continues to grow rapidly, with more than 200 robotic cases performed. Robotic operations include MIDCAB, mitral valve replacement, mitral valve repair, thymectomy, lobectomy esophagectomy, anti-reflux surgery, and thoracic outlet. Exclusive of MD Anderson, 860 thoracic and esophageal cases are performed annually. In addition, 1,075 congenital heart operations are performed annually at Texas Children’s Hospital, which happens to be number one in the country per US News and World report for Congenital Cardiac.
Admissions
Applications for the Thoracic Surgery Integrated Residency Program are processed through the Electronic Residency Application Services system from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applicants must apply through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP #1716461C0; ACGME #4614800095).
The following items are required for application to the Thoracic Surgery Integrated Residency Program through the ERAS process:
- Completed ERAS application
- Personal statement and Curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members
- USMLE Board Scores
- Medical school diploma in its original language, as well as in English (copied and notarized, stating that it is a true copy of the original)
- Medical school transcript in its original language, as well as in English (copied and notarized, stating that it is a true copy of the original)
- Dean's verification of pending or past graduation
- ECFMG certificate (copied and notarized) if applicable
- Passport-sized photo
International graduates will need to contact the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates for information regarding the process of paperwork for students and graduates of foreign medical schools. Baylor College of Medicine requires international medical graduates to meet the requirements for an Institutional Permit, as outlined by the Texas Medical Board, and the documents necessary for a J-1 Visa.
The Thoracic Surgery Integrated Residency Committee will review each residency application when completed. Applicants who are considered competitive for appointment in the residency program will be invited for a personal interview. The interview process is an important factor in the final selection of candidates for the program. This will provide the applicant an opportunity to meet with the thoracic surgery faculty and residents. It will also allow the thoracic surgery residents a chance to visit with the applicant and answer any additional questions.
For the Thoracic Surgery Integrated Residency Program, one formal interview session is conducted each year. As in compliance this year per AAMC, all residency recruitments will be conducted by virtual recruitment via Thalamus.
At the interview sessions, an introduction and slide presentation is given by the faculty leadership. Each applicant will be interviewed by multiple faculty members. The applicants also have an opportunity to visit with current residents and participate in virtual tours of our participating sites.