General Surgery
Contacts
Specialty Advisor and Clerkship Director
Residency Program Director(s)
MSH: Dr. Celia Divino
Valley Health: Dr. Eric Lazar
South Nassau: Dr. Eric David Seitelman
Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor
Specialty Interest Group Email
Specialty Overview
A general surgeon has principal expertise in the diagnosis and care of patients with diseases and disorders affecting the abdomen, digestive tract, endocrine system, breast, skin and blood vessels. A general surgeon is also trained in the treatment of patients who are injured or critically ill, and in the care of pediatric and cancer patients. General surgeons are skilled in the use of minimally invasive techniques and endoscopies. Common conditions treated by general surgeons include hernias, gallstones, appendicitis, breast tumors, thyroid disorders, pancreatitis, bowel obstructions, colon inflammation, and colon cancer.
General Surgery | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
General surgery training is five clinical years. Many programs offer additional time (one to two years) for professional development, often research, and some even require this time. Additional fellowship training is available for many subspecialized areas of general surgery including trauma, surgical oncology, pediatric, transplant, cardiothoracic, plastic surgery and others.
Websites for Reference
The American College of Surgeons | ACS
Away Electives
Away Electives
Yes
How many aways should I do?
1 -2
Order of Away vs Home
Home rotation BEFORE away rotation
Comments from Specialty Advisor
Students should be strategic about the location of their away rotation. If programs see you did an away at a certain location, they may feel you are more willing to move to a different location for residency. Speak with Dr. Lerner in the winter before your 4th year summer to discuss your schedule.
Programs where ISMMS students have completed aways.
CA
Stanford University
3
CA
UCLA
4
CA
University of California Irvine
1
FL
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
2
IL
Northwestern University
1
MA
Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital
4
MA
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
3
MI
University of Michigan
1
MO
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
1
NC
Duke
1
NY
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1
NY
Columbia University
5
NY
New York University
10
NY
University of Rochester
1
NY
Weill Cornell
3
PA
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
3
Match Statistics
Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024
Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks
14.1
Mean USMLE Step 2 CK Score
253
Mean Number of Research Experiences
4.2
Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications
10.9
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables
In the 2025 Match there were 1,778 positions in 377 programs, 62.7% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
15
Signal Home Program?
No
Signal Away Program?
Yes
Average Number of Applications Submitted
54.68
Comments from Specialty Advisor
Students should be very strategic about using their signals. You should have a proportionate amount of reach, target and safety programs
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
No
Departmental/Chair Letter?
Yes, students should reach out to the Program Director to discuss
Who should letters come from?
1 Departmental/Chair
1 from Surgery AI
1 from another faculty in specialty
1 from research or another specialty who knows you well
Comments from Specialty Advisor
It is not guaranteed that students will receive a letter from their away rotation, they should ask the elective director if it’s possible. The chair letter is more general and uses your CV, other letters should be from people who know you very well.
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
Yes
Interviews are sent out...
no earlier than 10/22/25 and are rolling
Thank You Emails
You can if you’d like, it's a nice thing to do but will not make or break your chances. Thank you note policy varies from program to program - if they explicitly ask that Thank You notes not be sent, do not send a thank you note. Otherwise, a thank you note is helpful.
Letters of Intent
Yes, letters of intent are helpful to programs and applicants but make sure you're only sending to one program if you are telling them they are #1 on your rank list. Consult with an advisor before sending.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Baylor Coll Med-Houston-TX
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Brigham & Womens Hosp-MA
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
Cedars-Sinai Med Ctr-CA
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Hosp of the Univ of PA
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
0
2
2
0
2
0
6
ISMMS Mount Sinai South Nassau-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
NYMC-Metropolitan Hosp Ctr-NY
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hosp-NY
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
NYP Hosp-Columbia Univ Med Ctr-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
NYP Hosp-Weill Cornell Med Ctr-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY
0
0
0
1
1
1
3
NYU Long Island SOM-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Ohio State University Med Ctr
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Rutgers-R W Johnson Medical School-NJ
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
SUNY HSC Brooklyn-NY
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
UC San Francisco-CA
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
UCLA Med Ctr-CA
1
1
1
0
0
0
3
Zucker SOM-Northwell NS/LIJ-NY
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
Last updated