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General Surgery

The Carle Foundation Hospital General Surgery Residency is a large community hospital training program with university affiliations. Residents enjoy access to experienced, subspecialist faculty in a residency training system situated in a culturally diverse college town in the heart of Illinois. The General Surgery Residency Program celebrated its first graduates in 2015 and continues to flourish as it works in concert with the ground-breaking Carle Illinois College of Medicine. As a small, cohesive group, our residents enjoy an atmosphere of comradery, as well as establish early professional relationships with attending faculty that permits for early autonomy.

Program graduates have matched into competitive fellowships, and have begun promising careers as board-certified surgeons. Carle is dedicated to equipping its graduates with the skills and knowledge that will position them well to be leaders in surgery.

How to Apply GME Experience

Program Description


Program Mission

We educate compassionate, proficient and insightful physicians committed to evidence based patient care and the advancement of the art and science of surgery.

Program Vision

  • Teach the interested and committed physician to provide the highest quality of patient centered surgical care
  • Educate future surgeons to be community leaders and teachers with superior clinical and technical skills
  • Promote evidence based surgical practice and training to our residents
  • Foster and facilitate clinical research and quality improvement to advance excellent patient care
  • Advance the surgeon’s understanding of healthcare systems, team based medical care and the impact of complexity on patient care

Educational Goals of the Program

  • Prepare General Surgery residents through specialized clinical, procedural and didactic training to manage a broad spectrum of surgical diseases, to enter practice without direct supervision, and to attain certification by the American Board of Surgery
  • Train surgical residents to become competent, confident, and compassionate surgeons who will deliver quality evidence based surgical care in a cost efficient manner
  • Prepare program graduates for a broad scope of career opportunities, including participation in local, regional and national health initiatives
  • Foster the development of ACGME/ABMS core competencies that embody professionalism, lifelong learning, personal growth and a commitment to compassionate care among students, residents and faculty within a supportive educational environment
  • Integrate student and resident education to promote the fundamentals of surgical practice, research and educational techniques

Curriculum

Residency training in General Surgery includes hands-on patient care experiences both in and out of the operating room as well as didactic sessions, interactive conferences and simulation. The core curriculum not only provides residents with exposure to the full spectrum of General Surgery as science, it teaches about the social, economic and political issues that can affect surgical practice.


PGY - 1

  • 1 month: Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Intensive Care, Trauma Surgery
  • 2 months: Acute Care Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Night Float
  • 3 months: General Surgery*

PGY - 2

  • 1 month: Acute Care Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Transplant Surgery**, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Surgical Intensive Care, Trauma, Vascular Surgery
  • 2 months: General Surgery*, Night Float

PGY - 3

  • 2 weeks: Quality
  • 1 month: Acute Care Surgery, Rural, Trauma Surgery, Vascular Surgery
  • 3 months: General Surgery*
  • 2 months: Colorectal Surgery, Night Float

PGY - 4

  • 1 month: Acute Care Surgery, Elective, Head and Neck Surgery
  • 2 months: Colorectal Surgery, Night Float, Trauma Surgery
  • 3 months: General Surgery

PGY - 5

  • 1 month: Night Float, Trauma Surgery
  • 2 months: Colorectal Surgery 
  • 3 months: Acute Care Surgery
  • 5 months: General Surgery*

* The General Surgery rotation includes Surgical Oncology experience

** Rotations held at University of Illinois College of Medicine at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria


Conferences and Educational Events


Weekly Conferences

  • Core Curriculum Conference
  • Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Monthly Conferences

  • Research Conference
  • Department of Surgery Grand Rounds
  • Journal Club
  • Trauma Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Other Conferences

  • Bioethics Seminar
  • Tumor Board/Breast Cancer
  • Tumor Board/GI

Other Educational Opportunities

  • Simulation Lab
  • Mock Oral Exams
  • American Board of Surgery In-training Exam (ABSITE) Review
  • Weekly Teaching Rounds

Meet Our Team

John Kim, DO, MPH, FACS

Administration

Program Director
Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon

Robert Yu, MD

Administration

Associate Program Director
Colorectal Surgeon

Christian Perez, MD

Administration

Associate Program Director
Minimally Invasive Surgeon

Jill Reynolds

Administration

Program Coordinator
Graduate Medical Education

Kimberly A. Cradock, MD

Core Faculty

General and Trauma Surgeon

Sherfield Dawson, III, MD, FACS

Core Faculty

General and Trauma Surgeon

Kevin Lowe, MD, PhD

Core Faculty

Surgical Oncologist

Henry R. Moore III, MD, FACS

Core Faculty

General, Critical Care and Trauma Surgeon

Michelle M. Olson, MD, MACM, FACS, FASCRS

Core Faculty

Colorectal Surgeon

Blair Rowitz, MD, FACS

Core Faculty

General and Bariatric Surgeon

Lyn E. Tangen, MD, FACS

Core Faculty

Colorectal Surgeon

Daniel Mark Chase, MD, FACS

Faculty

General Surgeon

Uretz J. Oliphant, MD, FACS

Faculty

General, Trauma and Bariatric Surgeon

Ligee George, MD

Resident

PGY-5

M. Papus Keita, MD

Resident

PGY-5

Yonjae Kim, MD

Resident

PGY-5

Nahstajia Pinnock, MD

Resident

PGY-5

Katie Marrero, MD

Resident

PGY-4

Alejandro Oliu, MD

Resident

PGY-4

Nicholas Rawson, DO

Resident

PGY-4

Mohit Bhalla, MD

Resident

PGY-3

Corbin Mah, MD

Resident

PGY-3

Conlan Pierce, MD

Resident

PGY-3

Mingda Su, MD

Resident

PGY-3

Ryan Atkinson, MD

Resident

PGY-2

Kyle Cunningham, DO

Resident

PGY-2

Emily Heath, MD

Resident

PGY-2

Meghan Merklein, MD

Resident

PGY-2

Timothy Cho, DO

Resident

PGY-1

Vitaliy Dushnov, DO

Resident

PGY-1

Allison Gelfond, MD

Resident

PGY-1

Jacob Hughes, MD

Resident

PGY-1

Benjamin Gulbrand, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2022
General Surgery: Hendrick's Regional Health, Danville, IN

Christopher Vetter, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2022
General Surgery: Piedmont Newton Hospital, Covington, GA

U.A., MD

ALUMNI

Graduated 2021
Fellowship: Burn, John H Stroger, Jr. Hospital, Chicago, IL

Juan Rodriguez, MD

ALUMNI

Graduated 2021
Fellowship: Surgical Critical Care, John H Stroger, Jr. Hospital, Chicago, IL

Gweniviere Capron, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2020
Fellowship: Surgical Critical Care, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, Chicago, IL

Michael Nolte, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2020
Fellowship: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Amy Yetasook, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2018
Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Surgery, UCSF, Fresno, CA

Robert Yu, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2018
Fellowship: Colorectal Surgery, Allegheny Health, Erie, PA

Neeta Karani, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2017
Fellowship: Vascular Surgery, Michigan State University, Flint, MI

Lacey Stelle, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2017
Fellowship: Breast Surgical Oncology, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD

Robert Hoffman, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2016
Fellowship: Critical Care, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI

Lauren Sakai, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2016
Fellowship: Critical Care, Advocate Illinois Masonic, Chicago, IL

Zachary Osborne, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2015
Fellowship: Vascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Christian Perez, MD

Alumni

Graduated 2015
Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Texas, Houston, TX

How to Apply

The Carle General Surgery Residency Program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and operates in accordance with ACGME policies. As such, the program will select among eligible applicants on the basis of preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. Applicants must also have excellent skills in verbal and written English. We do not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or veteran status. 

All applicants must be graduates of a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or equivalent. We do accept IMG’s with J1 visa status.

All applications must be submitted through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Unsolicited electronic and paper applications will not be accepted. 

Application Requirements

  • A current CV listing all relevant experience and education (CVs must include documentation of any lapses in training)
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from surgeons
  • Dean’s letter – MSPE
  • Personal statement
  • A copy of your test scores for Steps I and II
  • Official medical school transcript(s)
  • ABSITE test scores (if applicable)
  • ECFMG status report (if applicable)
  • Applicant must possess excellent skills in both verbal and written English

All candidates please note that additional information may be requested.

Due to the large number of applicants, not everyone meeting these criteria will be interviewed or accepted. Final decisions are made after review of all available information.

If you have any questions regarding our program or the application process, please contact us at GSRP@carle.com or call (217) 326-1293.


Clinical Clerkship/Subinternship 


Please complete all fields of this application for the internship program with Carle Foundation Hospital's Clinical Clerkship/Subinternship.

Research / Scholarly Activity 


Research and scholarly activity has become a major focus of our residency program and we strive to educate our faculty and residents on research processes and methods. The program hosts a monthly surgery research conference to promote research productivity through collaborative efforts, inside and outside the division. Residents also have the opportunity to attend research lectures provided by the program as well as other units and departments at Carle Foundation Hospital and the University of Illinois. Additionally, the program is supported by research coordinators who assist residents with the development of their research study, serve as a liaison with the Carle Institutional Review Board (IRB) and guide residents throughout the duration of their projects. The Carle General Surgery Residency Program is proud of our accomplishments in research. Our residents are very active in participating in local, regional and national conferences, and have claimed several awards. Below is a list of our faculty's research interests.

  • Anna Higham, MD – Breast Surgery
  • John Kim, DO – Surgical Education, ACS and Trauma
  • Kevin Lowe, MD – Pancreatic and Hepatic Surgery
  • Neil Marshruwala, MD – Burn, Wounds and Trauma
  • Henry Moore, MD – Rural Trauma, Obesity and Trauma
  • Uretz Oliphant, MD – Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery, Trauma, Medical Education, Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Michelle Olson, MD – Surgical Education, Colon and Rectal Surgery
  • Christian Perez, MD – Bariatric Surgery
  • Blair Rowitz, MD – Metabolic Changes After Bariatric Surgery