Answer: Undertaking a residency of any kind is a difficult endeavor and selecting residents who will succeed is challenging. We complete a holistic review of all applicants and the general qualities we value most include: trustworthiness, a strong work ethic, efficient time management, attention to detail, the ability and motivation to learn independently, and the ability to create and maintain a positive relationship with all members of the team. Many of these traits are developed early in the medical education experience but mastery can often be demonstrated in or out of a clinical setting.

Answer: Yes, we evaluate all applicants based on their individual merit. Our evaluation incorporates a variety of factors from an applicant’s academic, clinical, and personal experience.

 Answer: The institution requires that all PGY-1 residents successfully pass either Step III of the USMLE exam or Level 3 of the NBOME COMLEX exam by March of the PGY-1 year.

Answer: Yes. International Medical Graduates must follow all compliance rules and regulations written by the ACGME regarding international graduates and meet all program application requirements.

Answer: Although possession of the ECFMG certificate at the time of application is highly desirable, it is not necessary. You must, however, have your ECFMG certification prior to starting your residency if offered a contract.

Answer: Individual interviews are hosted by our Program Director, Associate Program Director, additional faculty members, and current Rural Surgery residents. Applicants spend approximately 10-minutes with each assigned interviewer. Sessions begin with a welcome by the Program Administrator followed by a Program Overview with our Program Director, after which individual interviews will begin. We will interview a total of twelve (12) applicants per day, split between two sessions.

Answer: We are registered with the National Rank Match Program (NRMP). All applicants must be registered in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the NRMP to apply to our program. Access the link below to find the list of information that will be requested when applying: https://jcesom.marshall.edu/residents-fellows/programs/Rural-General-Surgery-Residency/apply

Answer: Our program was granted initial accreditation by the ACGME on April 14, 2022.

We offer many benefits, starting with three (3) paid weeks of vacation. We offer various types of insurance which include life, health, dental, and vision. Visit our Salary & Benefits page for more information.

We provide a gym membership and parking permit for the Marshall Recreation Center (Rec Center), which hosts a variety of state of the art equipment, an indoor pool, and much more! During rural rotations, Rural Surgery residents are provided with a membership to the Chief Logan Lodge gym.

The Office of GME stocks the resident lounges at CHH and SMMC as well as at the Resident Wellness Center. The Wellness Center also provides private call/sleep rooms and is equipped with phones, computers, exercise equipment, and a lounge for residents that are accessible 24/7.

The Department of Surgery also provides snacks and drinks in our Sim Lab and call rooms at our Huntington training sites. While rotating at Logan Regional Medical center, Rural Surgery residents also have 24-hour access to the Residency Suite located in Logan Regional Medical Center’s Kruger Building. Access to the Suite is limited to Rural Surgery residents and faculty members. The Suite includes private call/sleep rooms and is equipped with similar amenities to those offered by the Office of GME, including phones, computers, and a lounge. Additional features include a private shower, conference room, a Peloton bike, simulation lab, and kitchenette stocked with snacks and drinks.

The program is approved for three (3) categorical positions in each PGY-level for a total complement of fifteen (15). Due to the unique nature of a rural surgical practice, our program does not offer preliminary positions.

• PGY-1 55,000.00
• PGY-2 56,000.00
• PGY-3 57,000.00
• PGY-4 58,000.00
• PGY-5 59,000.00

Answer: Applicants must first meet the ACGME medical education school eligibility requirements. Once accepted into the program, trainees with satisfactory performance, and upon successful completion of the program are eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery.

Answer: The smaller size of our program gives residents more frequent opportunities to get into the OR. We encourage all our residents to scrub in and participate in surgeries, even PGY-1 Interns. Recently, residents in our sister General Surgery program graduated with an excess of 1,000 major cases completed across their five years of training.

Answer: Yes, our program is highly invested in the significant role simulation plays in general surgery training. We have a simulation lab in both Huntington and Logan, with the former designated as our primary lab. The Huntington lab is located in the Department of Surgery’s Administrative and Academic Suites at the Marshall University Medical Center and the Logan lab is located in the Rural Residency Suite at Logan Regional Medical Center’s Kruger Building. Both are available to our residents 24 hours a day.

Our Huntington lab is outfitted with a GI Mentor Simulator, Trauma Man, PICC Line Man, Suture Kits, and various models. We recently updated our laparoscopic simulation equipment to Inovus Medical’s LapAR tabletop simulators with two being housed in Huntington and a LapAR Pro system being housed at our rural training site in Logan.

We encourage all our residents to practice with the equipment to improve their surgical skills. We integrate simulation into our residents’ curriculum, and they will participate in the General Surgery Residency Program’s annual Intern Bootcamp. Residents also have access to the DaVinci Surgical System and associated curriculum.

Answer: Annually, Marshall residents complete a quality improvement/patient safety project and compete in the Annual Quality and Safety Summit. This project is a collaborative effort between you and your peers.

In addition, all residents are required to complete at least one research project and submit it for presentation and publication prior to the completion of the program.

Answer: At Marshall Surgery, you will learn to be an accomplished and skilled general surgeon. If desired, trainees are encouraged to pursue a sub-specialty field of their choice. Some graduating chief residents from our sister program opt to further their training in a fellowship program. Although our program trains residents to be rural general surgeons, trainees will also be exposed to breast, plastics, burn care, pediatrics, and vascular surgery.

Answer: We are centrally located in the city of Huntington, West Virginia, between two of our three rotating hospitals. This gives our residents a chance to enjoy many of the local restaurants, movie theaters and nightlife. We are within walking distance of our city's largest park, Ritter Park, where many of our town’s citizens congregate for a variety of outdoor activities or just to read a book. Biking, walking, tennis and frisbee are just some of the outdoor activities that take place in our park. We are also pet friendly and have a wonderful dog park for any fur babies as well. If you enjoy being outdoors, Huntington is the place to be! Not only is our small town a wonderful place to live but our state is beautiful! We have many state parks, white water rafting, and five ski resorts. If you are a college football fan, you are in luck! From tailgating with friends to watching the games “WE ARE MARSHALL!”

Learn more about Life in Huntington and Life in Logan

Answer: Due to the nature of CMS funding and our HRSA grant our program is unable to accept residents who have current or prior experience in an ACGME-accredited residency program.