Surgery
The General Surgery Residency program at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Though true to its traditional program roots, the residency incorporates a progressive and balanced delivery of clinical training, formal education and research opportunities in all areas of general surgery.
The Program Experience includes:
- A five year intense clinical training experience
- A broad range of surgical contexts
- An option to add one year of clinical research
- Flexibility to pursue graduate degrees
- Gradual independence guided by expert faculty
- A faculty to resident ratio that is greater than 2:1
- A state-of-the-art Simulation Center
- Professional development specific to careers in surgical practice, academic pursuits and surgical subspecialty fellowships
- Avenues to cultivate and apply leadership qualities
- Customizable, goal-oriented options via elective months
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Top 10% for Orthopedic Care, Hip and Knee
Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center has been recognized as the top 10% in the country for Orthopedic Care, Hip Replacements, and Knee Replacements by U.S News & World Report.
An Inside Look at the General Surgery Residency Program
Inclusive and Diverse Learning: Our Faculty's View
Variety and Experience: A Resident's Perspective
Tour of Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Where You Will Train
Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) is the flagship hospital of Atrium Health, which is distinguished throughout the Southeastern United States for its excellent patient care and medical expertise. We are the largest hospital in the region and a world-class facility that offers a full range of services to the Charlotte community and beyond, with more than 1,100 physicians and providers specializing in all areas of medicine.
In addition, CMC serves as the region’s only Level 1 Trauma center and is an approved transplant center for heart, kidney, pancreas and liver. We also serve as one of North Carolina’s 5 Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospitals, providing residency training for more than 200 physicians in 15 specialties and serve as a satellite for the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Residents will have training opportunities at our 6 locations:
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Carolinas Medical Center
CMC is an 874-bed hospital located in the Dilworth neighborhood and is the flagship hospital for Atrium Health where greater than 80% of time is spent.
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Atrium Health Mercy
Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center, is a 185-bed adult tertiary acute care hospital located in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. It is approximately one mile away from the main campus. An additional general surgery service provides care at this hospital and is well incorporated into the resident’s rotation scheduled starting in their second year.
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Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital
Levine Children’s Hospital is the largest and most comprehensive children's hospital in the region. From the simple to the most complex procedures, residents will receive the expertise they need to care for children. In addition, they will train in the region’s only emergency department with 24/7 pediatric orthopedic call coverage. For 2020-2021, we’ve been named a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report in eight pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, neurology and neurosurgery, nephrology, orthopedics and pulmonology and lung surgery.
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Atrium Health Cabarrus
Located in Concord, NC, the northeast region of the Charlotte metro area, Atrium Health Cabarrus is a 457-bed medical center and is a Level III trauma center and emergency care center. It is a center for excellence for bariatric surgery, in addition to a strong hepatobiliary and acute care surgery service.
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Atrium Health Pineville
Located in southwest Charlotte area, Atrium Health Pineville is a 235-bed medical center and has a busy colorectal service as well as CT and vascular services.
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Atrium Health University City
Atrium Health University City is a 130-bed hospital. For more than 25 years, our University City location has provided a range of health care services in the communities of University City, Mint Hill, North Mecklenburg and Southwest Cabarrus regions in North Carolina. PGY 2 and 3 residents participate in Emergency General Surgery Rotations at this location.
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What Residents are Saying About the Surgery Program
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“I was very impressed with the vast surgical experience CMC had to offer. It was important for me to be a part of a program where residents had a decent work life balance and enjoyed each other’s company both in and outside of work. The surgery program at CMC provides great opportunities for professional growth through wonderful leadership and mentorship.”
Shakira W. Burton, MD
Class of 2023
College: Spelman College
Medical School: Drexel University School of Medicine -
“I was able to rotate at CMC as a medical student and felt at home with the residents and remember being impressed with their surgical skills. The clinical volume, research opportunities, fellowship match track record, and friendly environment made it the obvious choice for residency.”
Stephanie Jensen, MD
Class of 2026
College: Duke University
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -
“I came to CMC because I was attracted to the high volume of cases, earned surgical autonomy, and the opportunity to take care of a diverse patient population. However, what makes CMC truly unique is the unwavering support and guidance from world-class faculty and an unmatched group of dedicated co-residents.”
Sullivan “Sully” Ayuso, MD
Class of 2024
College: Emory University
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Meet the Faculty
“As one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems, our organization is dedicated to educating a diverse group of general surgeons as they acquire the knowledge and skills to operate, conduct research, educate and become future leaders. The surgery residency at Carolinas Medical Center provides exposure to nationally recognized surgeons who mentor and support our residents so that they can reach their individualized professional goals.”
B. Lauren Paton, MD, FACS
Program Director
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Erin Baker, MDAssociate Program Director for General Surgery
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Jessica McCool, MD, FACSAssociate Program Director for General Surgery
With a nationally and internationally renowned team of surgeons who serve as faculty, our residents have access to a diversity of experience and knowledge in the program. See the full list of general surgery faculty here.
Program Curriculum
The curriculum of the General Surgery Residency program has been developed to build on the strengths of our diverse faculty, our immense clinical volume and innovative educational programs.
The dynamic learning platform encompasses:
- Focused education in the basic sciences
- Clinically-centered conferences to expand practical and critical thinking skills
- Simulation labs for technical and cognitive development
- Multidisciplinary conferences to broaden understanding of complex topics
- ABSITE and Oral-Board preparatory conferences
- Other innovative educational methods
Clinical and Operative Experience
The core of any surgical training is the clinical experience. Our residents begin their operative experience at the onset of their residency and become accomplished technical surgeons well before finishing our program. Our goal is to consistently refine the residency program through ongoing performance-improvement analysis and needs assessment. An important part of this process is allowing residents to contribute their own ideas for advancing their education.
Learn moreEach Resident spends structured time in every division of our department:
- Acute Care Surgery (Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Emergency General Surgery)
- Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery (Colorectal, Foregut, Hernia)
- Surgical Oncology (GI Oncology, Soft tissue/Breast Oncology, Head and Neck Oncology)
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery
- Transplant
- Pediatric Surgery
- Vascular/Thoracic Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
Competence and independence in practice is gained through graduated autonomy. Chief residents in the program function as junior attendings, directing care of their patients from the point of initial evaluation, through perioperative and operative care, and continuity after discharge.
Application Criteria
The general surgery residency program is a 5-year clinical program with an option for additional year dedicated to research. Six categorical PGY-1 residents and one non-designated preliminary PGY-1 residents are matched through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) every year. Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate and be eligible to obtain a North Carolina medical license at the time of application.
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