Advanced Surgical Clerkship Program

About the Program

The Massachusetts General Hospital Advanced Surgical Clerkship Program in the Department of Surgery provides a one-month, in-depth experience for students with an interest in a career in surgery and completed their core clerkship in surgery. Students are assigned to a surgical team and join the attendings, residents, fellows and mid-level clinical providers as the backbone of the service. Available teams include:

• Cardiac surgery
• Colorectal surgery
• Endocrine surgery
• General/GI surgery
• Hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Pediatric surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Thoracic surgery
• Transplant surgery
• Trauma and emergency surgery
• Vascular and endovascular surgery

Students will participate in the daily clinical activities of the team, assisting in:

• Inpatient care
• Operating room procedures
• Outpatient clinics

Students will also attend academic conferences, including departmental grand rounds each week, as well as service-specific conferences such as multidisciplinary rounds. Students are expected to assume responsibility for patients as an acting intern, under the direct supervision of the faculty and house staff teams. Students will also be responsible for case presentations and other academic activities. These responsibilities provide hands-on experience working within a busy academic surgical department, which will help prepare students for a career in academic surgery.

About Mass General

Previous visiting students have found their experience at Mass General to be very valuable. Mass General is recognized worldwide as a leader in surgery and has a long medical history that includes the first operation with ether anesthesia in the United States. Founded in 1811, Mass General is the largest and oldest teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School with over 1,000 inpatient beds and over 70 operating rooms. Mass General performs more than 37,000 surgical cases annually across a large surgery department with 13 divisions and over 100 full- time faculty.

Community

Mass General recruits top candidates from around the world into our Surgical Residency Program and Advanced Surgical Clerkship Program. Our residents bring to the program diverse perspectives and backgrounds, enriching the program further and deepening the care experience that our patients receive.

Commitment to Diversity

The Mass General Department of Surgery is committed to recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds. We have a diversity committee comprised of faculty, staff and residents that meets to discuss program development. We also work with the Mass General Center for Diversity and Inclusion, which connects students underrepresented in medicine to other students, faculty and staff who share their experiences at Mass General. The department also supports diversity and inclusion within health care.

Welcome to Boston

Boston is rich in history and culture and home to more than 50 colleges and universities. The city is known for its winning sports teams, as well as for its major cultural institutions.

Most area attractions are within walking distance or a short trip on public transportation from the hospital. Mass General is located right near the city center, which is surrounded by a number of neighborhoods. Some of the better-known areas include Harvard Square, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Downtown, the South End and the North End.

Boston is also centrally located to major destinations in the Northeast. We are close to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and other major travel destinations. Train lines include Amtrak and the MBTA local commuter rail make traveling in New England and along the coast easy. International flights are also available out of Boston's Logan International Airport, which is approximately only a 15-minute cab ride away from the hospital.

Our Center for Diversity and Inclusion has a list of resources to help you find housing and furniture, and along with local networks to connect to.

How to Apply

Applications are available via the Harvard Medical School website and will be routed to Mass General. Apply today to the Advanced Surgical Clerkship Program at Mass General.

Course codes include:

• SU501M.3a General/Gastrointestinal Surgery
• SU504M.3a Cardiac Surgery
• SU512M.3 Pediatric Surgery
• SU514M.3 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• SU517M.3 Transplantation Surgery and Management of the Allograft Recipient
• SU518M.3 Clinical Urology
• SU519M.3 Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
• SU526M.3 Thoracic Surgery
• SU535M.3 Care of the Injured Patient (Burns)

We will make our best effort to ensure that all students who wish to rotate at Mass General are able to do so; therefore, please contact us if you have difficulty registering. Final team assignments will be made once enrolled.

Contact Joy Moses in the Mass General Department of Surgery if you have any questions about the application or rotation assignments.