The Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery is an academically-oriented department based on an underlying foundation of excellent clinical experience. Our residents are prepared to become leaders in a community of private practitioners or to succeed in the progression of an academic career. In general, one third of our residents go on to fellowship training and one quarter of our residents ultimately seek academic positions. Our faculty is committed to resident education and providing a work environment which fosters critical thinking and gaining experience in all aspects of general surgery.

Urology is the only specialty residency; therefore the resident has the opportunity to gain a variety of surgical experiences. In addition, the resident has an opportunity to perform fundamental research. We are very proud of the program and the fact that our graduates have been successful in their careers.

Our Mission

The Department of Surgery provides surgical education by delivering the highest quality patient care, teaching and research.

Departmental Objectives

• Ensure surgical care of the highest quality in all surgical specialties

• Expand regional and national awareness of UT Medical Center as a center of surgical excellence

• Maintain and expand the quality of the faculty, by promoting faculty development in areas of excellence, both clinical and academic, and maintain a structure for the department and its faculty to recognize the achievement of personal and departmental goals

• Develop a departmental structure to assure financial support for the academic and clinical functions of the department and its faculty, and to assure equal rewards for academic and clinical productivity

• Develop cooperative clinical research and educational programs within the department divisions, with other departments, and with other regional/national institutions

• Deliver academic and clinical training to mold residents into leaders and quality surgeons in any practice setting they encounter

• Select and nurture faculty members with a commitment to education as their highest priority

• Maintain the surgical residency at current levels, and ensure that subspecialty and fellowship training only enhance the general surgery experience

• Establish strong surgical outreach programs in East Tennessee

• Advocate health and safety issues in the region

• Control the destiny of the department during the reorganization processes occurring at UT Medical Center, in the Graduate Medical School, and the regional economic environment

• Encourage careers in surgery in high school, college and medical students