As one of the premier surgical training programs in the country, the University of Washington Department of Surgery fosters trainees along their path to independent surgical practice. Residents engage with local, national, and international surgical leaders as they master clinical and technical skills in their respective fields. Our graduates demonstrate excellence in clinical medicine, research, and leadership across a broad range of practice settings. 
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Featured Researcher: Sherene Shalhub, MD, MPH

The aorta is the largest artery that carries oxygen–rich blood from the heart to the body; an aortic dissection, a tear in the innermost layer of the aorta, is a painful and life–threatening condition that demands immediate medical attention. A dissection impairs blood flow to vital organs and can lead to full aortic rupture and death. High blood pressure is a common culprit in aortic dissection, but genetically triggered diseases that affect aortic wall integrity—such as Marfan syndrome and vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome—are also common factors. Although aortic dissection is somewhat rare, about 23,000 new cases of descending thoracic aortic dissection between the ages of 40 and 70 years old occur annually in the United States, making this the most common aortic catastrophe. Read more >>