The primary objective of our Integrated Six Year Cardiothoracic residency is to produce a balanced, well qualified cardiothoracic surgeon prepared for clinical practice or an academic career. The training will include periodic review and evaluation in the six areas of competency as designated by the ACGME and required by the RRC (fund of knowledge, patient care, professionalism, interpersonal skills and communication, practice-based learning and improvement, systems based practice).

The residency is designed to provide residents with focused, hands on experience in General, Cardiac and Thoracic surgery.

Three major hospitals are involved in the 4+3 Cardiothoracic Surgery teaching program:

• University of Washington Medical Center
• Seattle Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
• Veteran’s Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System
• Harborview Medical Center
• Northwest Hospital and Medical Center
• Valley Medical Center

Program Details

The 4+3 residency allows for early specialization and requires a joint match into the General Surgery residency program at the UW as well as the Thoracic surgery residency.  The first four years of training (PGY 1-4) provide exposure to cardiothoracic surgery but focus on gaining the requisite technical and clinical skills in general surgery.

The PGY 5-7 years are then spent on the requisite cardiothoracic surgery clinical rotations focused on, general thoracic, cardiac and congenital cardiac and includes a General Surgery Chief Resident year. Upon completion of the 4+3 residency, residents are board eligible for both the American Board of Surgery as well as the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

This residency includes formal simulation programs as well as weekly didactic conferences which follow the JTSCE and SCORE curricula.

This residency does not include a dedicated research year. However, our faculty are active in a broad range of research including basic science as well as clinical and surgical outcomes and resident participation is encouraged.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants will be considered based on their individual preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.

• USMLE step 1 and step 2 exams must be completed.

Applicants must be a graduate of a US or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or otherwise be qualified as specified as follows:

• A graduate of a US college of osteopathic medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• A graduate of a medical school outside the United States and Canada who has received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment, or a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a US licensing jurisdiction in which they are training.
• A graduate of a medical school outside the US who has completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school

International Medical Graduates:

Students and graduates of foreign medical schools should view our Certificate Program for International Physicians. This is a pre-requisite for foreign medical school graduates who seek residency positions in our program. Canadian applicants should contact the Canadian Residents Matching Service.

How to Apply

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Washington is a participating member of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and accepts applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Canadian applicants should contact the Canadian Residents Matching Service. Applicants interested in the 4+3 program should apply individually to both the Integrated Thoracic Surgery and General Surgery Residency Programs.

Applications are reviewed in October by both the General surgery and Thoracic residency programs.

Any parties interested in the 4+3 Residency should contact the CT program Administrator directly for more details.

We do not accept paper applications.

Interviews

We offer 2 interview days per application cycle which is coordinated with the General Surgery residency program.

More Information

For further information on applying to our residency/fellowship program, contact the Program Administrator. See the Education Contacts page for Cardiothoracic education contact information.