The Department of Surgery
General Surgery Residency Program
Program Requirements & Eligibility
Application Information
Virtual Interviews will be conducted from November-February. Interview invitations will be sent on October 21, 2026, or later. A Virtual Meet and Greet will take place the night before each interview date.
Requirements and Eligibility
- No minimum USMLE score, however, you must have passed on first attempt.
- Osteopathic medical students must have taken the USMLE in addition to COMLEX.
- Graduated within the past five years.
- The institution only considers sponsoring J-1 Visas.
- IMG applicants must submit an ECFMG Status Report at the time of application.
Application Information
Our program accepts applications via the AAMC’s Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Our residency program is listed as "University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville" and our program ACGME ID is: 4404711321.ERAS Application must include:
- MyERAS Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement
- Medical School Transcript
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation
- USMLE Transcript Step 1 and 2 (and COMLEX-USA Transcript LEVEL 1 and 2 for Osteopathic Medical Students)
- Three Letters of Recommendation (four letters maximum)
- ABSITE scores if applicable
APPLICATION DEADLINE - OCTOBER 13
By the Numbers
Applications Received: 957Total Interviews: 112
USMLE: Average Step 2: 246
Positions
7 Categorical
4 Preliminary
2 Preliminary for OMFS
Candidate Interview Information
Sample Agenda
The interview experience at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Medicine, Knoxville begins the evening prior to the interview day with a Zoom Meet & Greet with our current residents beginning at 6:30p.m. This is a casual event so relax, enjoy, and begin learning more about the people involved with this program. A formal email with the Zoom information for both the Meet & Greet and the interview day will be provided in advance by the coordinator.
A typical interview day begins at 7:00a.m. with introduction and program overview by one of the residents. This is followed by a welcome from the Chairman, Michael B. Freeman, MD, and Program Director, Andrew Russ, MD, and Associate Program Directors at 7:45a.m. Interviews begin at 8:00a.m. with each candidate interviewing with three faculty members, fourth year residents, the Associate Program Directors, and the Program Director.
NRMP Matched Residents Requirement
NRMP matched residents must complete the following prior to beginning training:Clearance of Background Check: relating to references, criminal convictions, and government sanction or exclusion.
I-9 Employment Eligibility Form: Completion of the federally required I-9 employment eligibility form with supporting documentation.
Educational Background, Licenses, Certifications: Verification required for the position See Requirements by Program and PGY level
Pre-Employment Health Clearance
Drug Screening Clearance
Contact Us
Department of Surgery
UTHSC COM-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
l924 Alcoa Highway, Box U-11
Knoxville, Tennessee 37920
865- 305-9230
1-800-596-7249
Medical Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of real-life experience including the use of task and virtual reality trainers, as well as standardized patients to refine technical and clinical skills of healthcare professionals. At the UT Center for Advanced Medical Simulation, the goal is continual improvement in quality of patient care and safety through education, practice, and assessment. Simulation can replicate almost any diagnostic or therapeutic situation, from simple IV insertions using low-fidelity task technology to complicated surgeries using high-fidelity, computerized manikins or virtual reality modules.
