The Indiana University School of Medicine General Surgery Residency is led by national leaders in surgical education, our program develops your skills to care for both simple and complex surgical patients in a supportive learning environment while fostering competency and increased autonomy. Our clinical experiences are supported by IU Health hospitals, Eskenazi Health hospitals, and the Roudebush VA medical center located both in downtown Indianapolis and the surrounding suburban region, offering a comprehensive exposure to the breadth and depth of surgical practice, in the academic, community, safety net, and children’s hospital settings. We take pride in our close-knit community of hardworking individuals who emphasize teamwork and camaraderie as a foundation for success. Our program provides opportunities for residents to foster their own personal and professional growth and offers ample support and flexibility for them when needed.

Surgery residency is more than just operative skills. At IU School of Medicine, general surgery residents receive service specific, multidisciplinary, and department-wide conferences at regular and protected times throughout the week. In addition to these didactic learning sessions, the Department of Surgery has a comprehensive skills curriculum housed in an American College of Surgeons Accredited Surgical Skills and Simulation Centers. These educational opportunities are essential to the overall growth, development, and training of a safe and competent surgeon.

The IU General Surgery residency program distinguishes itself from others with unique opportunities to be well prepared for life as an Expeditionary General Surgeon. The Program Director is a retired Air Force Colonel who served as the General Surgery Program Director at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from 2014-2020. Additionally, as an alum of both the U.S. Air Force Academy and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and with a history of 3 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, he can provide insight and guidance for your military surgical career. A faculty member in our Division of Acute Care Surgery, also has active-duty experience and prior service in a military-civilian partnership trauma program. Combined, the two have spent more than 700 days in the deployed environment and know what this level of service requires. Both military and surgical training are too difficult to do alone.

We currently have 5 military affiliated residents, 2 Navy and 3 3 Air Force who can help you navigate any military administrative hurdles and mentor you along the way. The IU general surgery operative experience in high value deployment related areas such as operative trauma, liver surgery, & pancreas surgery are traditionally 4 – 7 times higher than ACGME requirements. Residents will practice at two adult and one Pediatric ACS Level 1 Trauma Centers and a world-class Burn Unit. As an IU General Surgery graduate, you will be well prepared to care for those in harm's way.

The General Surgery Residency program at IU School of Medicine will offer one interview date for the military-civilian match: Sept. 24, 2026

We believe in providing a holistic review of applications prior to releasing interview offers. We will have the Surgwise® situational judgment test sent to you upon applying to our program. If another program asks you to complete the standard SurgWise SJT, you will not have to complete it again. You will log into your SJT account and ensure the program requesting the SJT is marked as “confirmed.”

Application to be considered for an interview must include:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Personal statement (can be the same as in their application packet);
3. Self-report of licensing examination scores including number of attempts; (USMLE Step 1 &2 or COMLEX 1&2 required)
4. Self-report of medical school grades/rotation evaluations;
5. Self-report of adverse comments in medical school, military, or GME records that will appear in their file;
6. Intent to couples’ match.

These documents should be emailed to the General Surgery Clinical Education Coordinator no later than midnight eastern on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026 to be considered for an interview. Those selected for an interview will be notified on Monday, Sept. 14 or Wednesday, Sept. 16 depending on the number of applicants. Only 20 of the most qualified applicants based on our holistic review will be interviewed. Applicants must also complete a full application in MODS.