Apply To Our Program
Application Deadline: October 1
Interview Season Timeline (2023-2024)
| July 24, 2023 | Applicant Meet and Greet with Dept. Leadership |
| October 1 | Application Deadline |
| October 26-October 31 | Applicants receive interview status (categoricals only); we follow the 2023-2024 APDS Task Force application cycle recommendations. |
| November/December | Virtual Interviews and Social receptions (see dates below) |
| November/December | Preliminary applicants receive an interview invite |
| December/January | Preliminary applicant virtual interviews |
Our interview day spans over 1.5 days.
Each applicant will have the following four interviews:
1. One interview with the PD and Chair for 15 minutes (either on day one or day 2)
2. Three-panel interviews with faculty/residents with a maximum of 2 interviewers per breakout room (on day 2)
Drs. Spain and Hawn will interview all applicants scheduled to interview. To accomplish this, we need to schedule half of our applicants for a 15-min interview on day 1; the remaining applicants will interview on day two, along with your other interviews.
2023 Interview Dates For Categoricals/SASS
Nov 20-21 (Mon-Tues)
All interviews will be virtual.
On Monday, November 20, half of our applicants will interview between the hours 2:00-6p with the Chair and/or PD.
On Tuesday, November 21, the other half will interview the Chair and/or PD.
On Tuesday, November 21, ALL applicants will participate in a full interview day with presentations, faculty interviews, and breakout sessions.
Dec 7-8 (Thurs-Fri)
All interviews will be virtual.
On Thursday, December 7, half of our applicants will interview between the hours 2:00-6p with the Chair and/or PD.
On Friday, December 8, the other half will interview the Chair and/or PD.
On Friday, December 8, ALL applicants will participate in a full interview day with presentations, faculty interviews, and breakout sessions.
Dec 11-12 (Mon-Tues)
All interviews will be virtual.
On Monday, December 11, half of our applicants will interview between the hours 2:00-6p with the Chair and/or PD.
On Tuesday, December 12, the other half will interview the Chair and/or PD.
On Tuesday, December 12, ALL applicants will participate in a full interview day with presentations, faculty interviews, and breakout sessions.
2023 Interview Dates For Preliminary Track
December 2023-January 2024
Virtual interviews for preliminary applicants
Apply
Requirements
In order to apply, you must complete the Common Application Form (CAF) on ERAS including the following:
- Dean’s Letter aka MSPE
- Medical student transcript with current surgery grades
- At least 3 letters of recommendation
- We are flexible with letters of recommendation and understand that not all 3 letters will be in by our deadline
- Personal statement
- USMLE Step 1 scores
- Our program has not established score minimums for USMLE part 1 results
- USMLE Step 2 scores
- for the 2022 year, we will require applicants to take it before rank lists are due
- for the 2023 year we will require Step 2 for application by the October 1 deadline
- Color photo
Application Deadline
Our program utilizes the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). If interested in applying, please coordinate with the Dean’s office at your medical school to submit your application materials via ERAS.
This year our application deadline is OCTOBER 1. No exceptions.
Foreign Medical Graduates
Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada :
- We sponsor J1 Visas; some H1B Visas are sponsored if from a US Medical School
- Must have a current valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
- No more than 2 years out of medical school
- At least 1 year of US clinical experience required
- We cannot offer an interview unless you meet all of our qualifications
Foreign graduates of medical schools within the United States and Canada : H1B Visas are sponsored at the program's discretion.
To obtain additional information about international medical school graduate qualifications, visit our GME website.
Graduate Medical Education (GME) Benefits
To obtain information about benefits and house-staff policies, please visit our GME website.
Tracks
Categorical
Standard Categorical Track (5+2)
Residents in the 5+2 track receive 5 clinical years of complex surgical training culminating in the Chief year. Over the five years there is a progressive advancement of complexity and responsibility taken on by the residents. They are capable being independent surgeons at the end of this time period.
In addition these residents take two years of Professional Development time after their second year. The goal of these two years is to develop an expertise in a field of surgery that will distinguish each resident from others when they graduate. In the past residents have used this time period to join basic science laboratories, obtain other advanced degrees, complete a Surgical Education Fellowship,etc.
Standard track NRMP Code 1820440C0
Stanford Accelerated Surgeon Scientist (SASS) Categorical Track
We have reserved one spot for the SASS track which is comprised of the same 5 clinical years of surgical training as the standard track and no Professional Development time. Applicants interested in this position must specifically rank the SASS track on their match list for the NRMP and make it clear to our program that they would like to be considered for this position by contacting our residency coordinator, Anita Hagan or by selecting the SASS track in ERAS. Applicants who apply to our SASS track should also rank the traditional categorical track in NRMP.
We are seeking applicants who have made significant contributions to a scientific field and are interested in applying for government grants immediately after completing their clinical training. SASS track residents will be assigned both clinical and research mentors to help guide their careers. Candidates that are competitive for this position would include those that have previously earned a PhD and successfully published their work.
SASS track NRMP Code 1820440C1
Preliminary
Preliminary PGY1 Track
We set aside six intern positions for applicants who want one year of general surgery training before going on to their primary residency such as anesthesia or radiology. We make every effort to ensure that the rotation schedules for preliminary surgery interns are similar to the categorical schedules. We can account for most specialty specific rotation requests.
PGY 1 prelim interviews are scheduled as phone interviews; interviews take place in December.
Preliminary track NRMP Code 1820440P0
FAQ
We compiled a list of FAQs from our applicants.
Should you have additional questions, please contact Anita Hagan, our Program Manager.
More Info
Anita Hagan, Program Manager
If you have any questions not answered here about the General Surgery residency program, contact Anita Hagan below.
Email Anita Hagan
Tel: (650) 725-2181
Fax: (650) 724-9806