Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Program

Program Information

The Division of Vascular Surgery offers a five year vascular surgery residency program, with one position available each year, that was approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2009.  Applicants must be graduates of LCME-accredited medical schools, osteopathic schools accredited by AOA, or foreign medical schools with ECFMG certification.  Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is affiliated with two 600-bed private hospitals, St. John’s Hospital and Memorial Medical Center, that are separated by three-quarters of a mile.  The vascular faculty members include Drs. Kim Hodgson, Don Ramsey, Robert McLafferty, Douglas Hood and Colleen Moore.     Residents who complete the program are eligible for a primary vascular surgery certificate from the American Board of Surgery.  
The operative caseload is varied, covering virtually every aspect of peripheral vascular surgery, but is weighed toward open and endovascular management of carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysms, and lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.  The resident is also responsible for interpreting non-invasive laboratory studies, for seeing inpatient consultations, for preparing a vascular conference every week, and for assisting in the outpatient clinic.

SIU has an outstanding reputation for innovative methods of surgical education, including a premier surgical skills lab.   Vascular surgery residents will participate in structured learning experiences including a “boot camp” to master basic surgical skills such as knot tying, suturing, central line placement, anastomotic techniques, chest tube insertion, surgical airway placement and laparoscopic skills.  In addition, vascular residents will participate in the department’s Residents as Teachers (RATS) program.  Core surgical rotations are concentrated in the first three years of the residency in conjunction with the Division of General Surgery.  The current block diagram of rotations is shown below. 

Conferences
Vascular conference is held every Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.  Attendance is mandatory for both fellows and residents on the vascular surgery rotation.  Listed below are the five broad topics for this conference.

First Friday – VESAP Review Conference – This conference will consist of a review of questions included in VESAP (Vascular Education Self Assessment Program).   The chief resident will be responsible for identifying the questions to be reviewed at this conference and distributing them in advance to those participating.

Vascular Research Conference - This conference will allow coordination of clinical research projects.  Discussions will include ideas for new projects and updates regarding ongoing projects.  Targeting specific projects for submission to vascular society meetings is the major focus of this effort.  This conference will be held in rotation with the VESAP review conference.

Second Friday - Clinical Curriculum Conference – This conference will provide a systematic review of topics chosen from an index list provided by the APDVS (Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery), Journal articles are used to illustrate important aspects of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of specific disease processes. 

Third Friday - Basic Science Lecture – This conference will be presented by the vascular fellows and faculty from a selected list of basic science topics.  This conference will also feature invited speakers on topics of interest such as wound care, orthotics and prosthetics, new technologies, innovations in vascular surgery, etc. 

Fourth Friday - Journal Club – This conference will serve as an in-depth review of 3-5 articles chosen from a monthly survey of current vascular journals.  Articles addressing basic science and clinical issues will be presented.

Fifth Friday - Vascular Lab Quality Assurance – This conference will be held quarterly and will include presentation of the results of ongoing QA efforts and review of difficult or interesting cases.
 
Vascular M&M and Interesting Case Conference

Residents are required to attend a weekly vascular M&M and case conference that is held on Fridays at 8:30 AM. Residents should be prepared to present any patient on the service at the respective hospital.

Grand Rounds

Fellows and residents are required to attend departmental grand rounds every other Thursday at 8:00 AM.

Contact Information:

Please feel free to contact our offices at the School of Medicine with any questions you may have concerning the Vascular Residency Program.

SIU School of Medicine
Division of Vascular Surgery
Attn:  Rhonda Loyd
PO Box 19638
Springfield, IL  62794-9638
Phone:  217-545-8856
e-mail:  rloyd@siumed.edu

Applicant Information:

Applications for the residency program will be accepted via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  The following documentation is required for your application to be considered complete:

1. Three letters of recommendation
2. Personal Statement
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Dean’s Letter
5. Medical School Transcripts
6. USMLE Scores
7. ECFMG Certification (if applicable)

Links:
NRMP – National Resident Matching Program
SIU Residency Affairs – www.siumed.edu/resaffairs
ERAS – Electronic Residency Application Service

APDVS - Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery