We train general surgeons to be outstanding clinicians able to provide excellent surgical care and embark on independent practice in rural settings. Though our primary focus is training surgeons for practice in rural communities, our graduates will be well prepared to provide high quality care to patients anywhere.
To train rural surgeons who provide excellent surgical care.
The General Surgery program allows residents to experience a wide range of hands-on experience and training with rotations in general surgery to develop a diverse skill set in 12 different surgical fields.
Residents primarily train at Sanford USD Medical Center's Surgical Tower. Residents also have the opportunity to train at community-based and federal hospital systems in Sioux Falls, Yankton, S.D. and the VA to prepare for their practice in rural general surgery.
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Get to know the city of Sioux Falls, SD. Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota. It has everything you want out of a big city but with a low cost of living and low crime rates. We hope you'll call it home as you continue your medical education (and who knows, maybe even longer!)
Explore Sioux FallsMatching here at the USD General Surgery Residency is one of the best decisions I have made. I am quickly acquiring the surgical skills necessary to become a competent general surgeon and am making many lifelong friends and mentors along the way.
Many residencies will claim a non-malignant culture, camaraderie amongst their residents, and engaged faculty. I can only speak to my experience at USD, but you can find all of those qualities here. The moment I matched I felt directly supported in this crazy journey by everyone from the PD to my co-interns. The residents are a tight-knit group by necessity, I'm very grateful to be a part of it.
As a previous graduate of the program, I feel privileged to continue the mission to train outstanding surgeons who will excel in treating patients in both the urban and rural settings. I feel I was well trained and want to continue the legacy of training competent, confident surgeons from the University of South Dakota.
The USD surgery residency program offers a truly unique blend of opportunities: The “semi-rural” roots of the program allow ample opportunity to build a solid foundation in basic general surgery skills while our growing populous and breadth of surgical subspecialties will ensure you graduate with more than adequate exposure to trauma/ critical care and cutting-edge advanced surgical care.
We have a vast number of opportunities for autonomy both in the operating room and on the floor. This in turn provides the foundation to becoming a confident and competent general surgeon.
The program is not only receptive to change but actively encourages us to identify opportunities for improvement. Residents have a real voice in everything from patient care and workflow to education and wellness. It's not the type of place where you hear "that's just how it is and how it always will be". We are able to make significant changes that are implemented almost immediately.
Having the opportunity to be among the first graduating class and now serving as core faculty allowed me to witness the progress of our training program toward becoming one of the top-tier training programs in the country.
From my first phone call with Dr. Thambi, our program director, immediately after matching, I have felt nothing but supported by USD. Comparing my experience so far with my friends and peers at residencies across the country, USD is in a different class in the pursuit of valuing our time, training, and voice as residents. Plus Sioux Falls has all the live music and good breweries you could need!
The strength of our program is readily apparent in the exceptional way our chief residents lead our surgical teams, operate, and take care of patients.
We work hard and have each others’ backs here. It’s not easy, but it can’t be easy and also be General Surgery residency. If you put in the work and are a team player, you will graduate as a well-trained general surgeon with life-long colleagues and friends!
Our residents have guided our efforts to present our philosophy of education to you. We have always been told that the in-person visit “seals the deal” and we are hopeful that the “virtual visit” will accomplish the same goal this year.
Take the TourWe invite you to continue learning more about our General Surgery Residency Program!