Section III: Surgical Specialties

To assist you in finding the best possible match for your surgery residency, information on the various surgical specialties is provided. These surgical specialty descriptions were developed from definitions set forth by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the nationally recognized authority on the topic.

In reading through the training requirements for each specialty, we encourage you to remember: a surgery residency is not a surgical career. Once your residency is finished and you begin surgical practice, you will have a larger measure of control over your schedule and your life. Members of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Young Surgeons want you to remember that surgeons have active family and personal lives, too. In addition, some have submitted their own personal descriptions of their respective surgical specialties in which they explain the advantages and benefits of their chosen specialty.

For further information on the Surgery Residency Years: Lifestyle Considerations, see the Online Guide to Choosing a Surgical Residency, developed by the Committee on Medical Student Education.