5 Essential Facts About The Tulane General Surgery Residency: Curriculum, Salary, And 2025 Application Update
The Tulane General Surgery Residency Program remains a highly competitive and historically significant training ground for future surgeons, blending a storied past with a modern, high-volume curriculum in the vibrant city of New Orleans. As of the current date, December 26, 2025, the program is actively preparing for the next recruitment cycle, continuing its tradition of excellence that dates back to the mid-19th century.
The program is fully ACGME-accredited and is designed to produce well-rounded, compassionate, and technically proficient general surgeons who are prepared for both academic and private practice careers. Prospective applicants for the 2025-2026 cycle should note the program’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in its recruitment efforts, which are managed exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
Tulane General Surgery Residency: Program Leadership and Core Profile
The Tulane General Surgery Residency boasts a deeply rooted history in New Orleans, tracing its origins back to 1834 at the iconic Charity Hospital. Today, the program is a five-year commitment that trains residents across a comprehensive range of surgical subspecialties.
Program Director: The General Surgery Residency is led by Dr. David Yu, MD, who also holds the title of Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Yu oversees the training of future surgeons, ensuring the curriculum meets the highest standards of surgical education and patient care.
Program Size and Match: The residency is structured to maintain a focused training environment. The program typically matches 5 categorical residents annually. The total PGY-1 class size is often larger, including 9 PGY-1 MD residents, with a commitment to developing excellent surgical capabilities in all trainees, including International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
Application and Interview Dates (2025-2026 Cycle):
- Application Service: Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
- Matching Service: National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
- Anticipated Interview Dates: Interviews for the 2025-2026 cycle are scheduled to begin on dates such as November 18, 2025.
The Expansive Clinical Experience and Affiliated Hospitals
A major strength of the Tulane program is the vast and varied clinical experience offered through its network of affiliated hospitals. Residents rotate through multiple sites, exposing them to diverse patient populations, different practice models (academic, private, and VA), and a high volume of cases across all surgical domains. The program is centered in New Orleans but extends to other locations, providing a broad scope of training.
Key Affiliated Training Sites:
- University Medical Center of New Orleans (UMCNO): This is a primary academic hub offering high-acuity rotations in Trauma, Bariatrics, and the Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit (TICU). Rotations here provide critical experience in managing complex surgical emergencies.
- Touro: Residents rotate through Touro during their PGY-3 and PGY-4 years, gaining significant exposure to General, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery in a private hospital setting. Touro sees over 3,400 surgical patients annually, ensuring a high operative volume.
- Lakeside Hospital for Women & Children: This site provides specialized experience, particularly in women’s and children's surgical care.
- Rapides Regional Medical Center (RRMC): Located outside New Orleans, RRMC is part of the extensive Tulane network and offers additional, unique training opportunities.
- Tulane Medical Center (TMC): As the primary teaching hospital, TMC provides the core academic and subspecialty experience.
The curriculum is structured to ensure residents gain progressive responsibility, with a Chief Resident traditionally running the Acute Care Surgery service, supported by faculty from the Trauma/Critical Care section. This hands-on approach is key to developing clinical and leadership skills.
Protected Education, Research Focus, and Resident Compensation
The Tulane General Surgery Residency is dedicated to fostering a culture of academic rigor and work-life balance, recognizing the intensity of surgical training. This is achieved through protected educational time and a strong emphasis on translational research.
Academic Curriculum and Protected Time
A unique feature of the academic curriculum is "School Night," a time set aside and protected for resident education every Tuesday evening. This dedicated time ensures that clinical duties do not interfere with didactic learning. The educational sessions rotate through various components, covering the breadth of surgical knowledge and board preparation.
Research and Career Development
The program’s core mission includes providing opportunities for residents to conduct meaningful and unique research that can influence clinical practice and shape clinical guidelines. Key research entities and opportunities include:
- Translational Oncology Research Program: Faculty members, including those in the Division of General, Endocrine & Oncological Surgery, are actively involved in research, allowing residents to track the scientific knowledge from the bench to the bedside.
- Director of Research: The Department of Surgery has a dedicated Director of Research, Danielle Tatum, who helps guide students and residents in pursuing research opportunities.
- Fellowship Opportunities: The program supports residents pursuing external research fellowships, such as the AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, to enhance their academic careers.
Updated Resident Salary and Benefits (2024-2025)
Tulane University School of Medicine provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package for its House Officers. The following salary figures are the most recently published rates, likely for the 2024-2025 academic year, demonstrating the program's commitment to supporting its residents.
Tulane House Officer Salaries:
- PGY 1: $60,241
- PGY 2: $62,222
- PGY 3: $64,290
- PGY 4: $66,975
- PGY 5: $69,979
In addition to the base salary, residents receive a robust benefits package, including malpractice insurance, which is a critical component of the institutional support provided during surgical training.
Preparing for the Tulane General Surgery Residency Match
The Tulane General Surgery Residency seeks candidates who demonstrate a strong academic record, a deep passion for surgery, and a commitment to serving diverse populations. Given its location and history, the program attracts applicants interested in high-acuity trauma and complex general surgical problems.
The program is known for its emphasis on hands-on training and early operative experience. Prospective residents should highlight any experience in Acute Care Surgery, Trauma, or research that aligns with the program’s focus areas, such as Endocrine and Oncological Surgery.
For those interested in a focused look at the program, Tulane offers an HONORS SURGERY elective, a four-week course exclusively for fourth-year students applying to General Surgery Residency, providing an invaluable opportunity for both the student and the program to assess a potential fit.
Final Thoughts on the Tulane General Surgery Program
The Tulane General Surgery Residency offers a unique and comprehensive training experience in a city known for its rich culture and complex medical challenges. The combination of a high-volume clinical environment across multiple affiliated hospitals—including UMCNO and Touro—protected educational time on "School Nights," and competitive resident compensation makes it a premier destination for surgical training. The program's commitment to fostering meaningful research under the guidance of leaders like Dr. David Yu ensures that residents graduate not only as skilled surgeons but also as future leaders in the field of surgery.
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