What Does a Typical Workday Look Like?
Important Qualities and Traits
Qualities recognized as important to surgery include:
- Determination/Perseverance
- Ability to work well with others
- Being a team leader
Please contact Caroline Rhodes for more information about shadowing opportunities. We encourage students to only shadow one time every three months.
The Surgery Department focuses research on Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Surgical Education, Endocrinology, Oncology, Transplant, and Trauma. Please contact Dr. Danielle Tatum, who is the Director of Research in the Department of Surgery.
Additionally, students may want to pursue research opportunities through the DeBakey Scholars Program. This program offers medical students the opportunity to pursue and complete a longitudinal, structured, closely supervised research experience culminating in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. For more information, contact Dr. Derek Pociask.
Tulane Surgical Interest Group
The Tulane Surgical Interest Group (TSIG) is a student-run organization dedicated to advancing knowledge of the art and science of surgery through education, experiential opportunities, and research.
TSIG affords students a variety of rich opportunities to become immersed in the world of surgery. The group boasts a mentorship program, organizes a simulation center skills series, and holds a T4 Match Panel talk.
The Surgical Interest Group hosts speaking events where medical professionals offer a wide array of perspectives on the field of surgery, its newest advancements, and what it means to be a surgical resident or attending surgeon in medicine today. Through its programs and events, TSIG seeks to provide Tulane medical students with opportunities to explore the exciting field of surgery.
Tulane Women in Surgery Group
The purpose of the Tulane Women in Surgery Group (WIS) is to inspire, encourage and enable aspiring female surgeons to achieve their personal and professional goals. WIS facilitates substantial and repeated exposure of Tulane’s medical students to female surgeons by 1) highlighting role models at Tulane and in the local community, 2) providing networking and mentorship opportunities with female surgeons and surgical residents, and 3) providing a forum for open and guided discussion about challenges that pertain to the woman surgeon. Ultimately, WIS’ unique focus is to provide opportunities in which interests, concerns and common experiences, both professional and personal, can be effectively addressed. Many issues that are considered “women’s issues” truly pertain to all modern day surgeons; therefore, WIS is open to all members of the medical community at Tulane. The Tulane Women in Surgery Interest Group was founded in 2012 by Claire Janssen, Chelsea Grimes, Abby Nix and Laura Harper.
Recommended T3 & T4 Coursework
Clerkship in Surgery can be taken at any time in the third year, however it is recommended that this rotation occur in the first half of the third year to allow students the opportunity to be involved in meaningful research, to position them well for sub-internships and Honor’s Surgery, and to ensure faculty know them well enough to write strong letters of recommendation.
From "Charting Outcomes in the Match 2024"
at
Matched N = 858
1. Mean number of contiguous ranks | 14.1 |
2. Mean number of distinct specialties ranked | 1.0 |
3. Mean USMLE Step 1 score | 235* |
4. Mean USMLE Step 2 score | 253 |
5. Mean number of research experiences | 4.2 |
6. Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications | 10.9 |
7. Mean number of work experiences | 2.0 |
8. Mean number of volunteer experiences | 4.5 |
9. Percentage who are AOA members | 22.0 |
10. Percentage who graduated from one of the 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding | 27.7 |
11. Percentage who have Ph.D. degree | 1.8 |
12. Percentage who have another graduate degree | 21.7 |
Note: Only U.S. MD seniors who gave consent to use their information in research are included.
*Only applicants who reported taking Step 1 prior to the transition to pass/fail included.
Special Considerations When Applying for Residency
There are no special considerations when applying for residency in Surgery.
Focus on your Step 1 & 2.
Surgery is competitive and if your Step 1 or Step 2 is below the national average, make an appointment with Dr. Killackey as early as possible. The department and Dean’s office will work together to create a recommendation.
Surgery is hard work and at times, long hours, so you must love the field. After training, there are many possibilities on how to structure your practice, some less demanding than others – feel free to come talk to the Department leaders, we’re here to educate and help!
Where Past Tulane Students Have Matched (Past Five Years)
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How Many Programs Should I Apply To?
NRMP's Charting Outcomes in the Match 2024
NRMP's Program Director Survey 2024
Tulane’s Department of Surgery
American Academy of Opthalmology
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
The American Society of General Surgeons
Dr. Katrina D’Aquin can put you in touch with potential mentors.
