Boston Medical Center – Brighton
General Surgery Residency
Train with Top-Ranked Surgeons Committed to Compassionate Care
The General Surgery Residency Program at Boston Medical Center – Brighton (BMC Brighton) offered by the Department of Surgery is a fully accredited, five-year surgical training program leading to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Surgery.
Our program offers residents a diversified experience in a wide range of surgical disciplines. In addition, all of our surgical services are involved in developing new and innovative procedures.
We seek to attract those who are both committed to excellence in patient care and who will maintain a lifelong intellectual curiosity.
A Message from Program Leadership
Surgical residency marks the beginning of a very exciting and, at times, stressful development in your professional lives. The process of becoming a competent surgeon is far more than just a job. As surgical faculty, we are committed to our educational program and enjoy watching our residents develop into competent and compassionate surgeons by graduation. It is very important to us that we have a collaborative group of residents who are eager to learn and are supportive of each other.
At BMC Brighton, we have personalized mentorship set up for you by caring faculty so that your individualized goals can be achieved.
Scott Prushik, MD
Program Director, General Surgery Residency
Katie E. M. Shean, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Assistant Program Director, General Surgery Residency
Program Structure
Each year, seven interns are accepted through the ERAS application process:
- Categorical track. Three categorical residents are accepted into the general surgery program, which is five clinical years in length, with the understanding that they will be promoted each year if they continue to demonstrate excellence in the clinical and academic areas.
- Preliminary track. Other residents are accepted into the preliminary program for one year of training in general surgery prior to beginning advanced training in the surgical sub-specialties.
The Department of Surgery is committed to providing our surgical residents with a robust curriculum, with adjustments made to suit the educational needs of trainees.
Rotations
All categorical residents rotate through the general surgical sections and the surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in addition to the surgical sub-specialties.
Rotations are designed to provide each resident with the maximum responsibility appropriate for their level of training, with increasing responsibility as proficiency is gained.
Responsibilities
Throughout the five clinical years, a primary responsibility of all residents is the education of students and more junior residents.
Residents are also responsible for covering cases in the operating room, clinical supervision of more junior trainees, and preparation of material for service and teaching conferences.
Outcomes
Number of Operative Cases Logged
Average 1,100 cases at the end of the fifth year for the past 10 graduating classes (2015–2025)
Program Board Pass Rate (2021–2023)
89 percent on both QE and CE
Curriculum Details
The primary training site, BMC Brighton, is a modern facility that includes inpatient and ambulatory care, as well as clinical and research laboratory resources.
Our Community
The population served at BMC Brighton is multiethnic and multilingual, comprising individuals who live in proximity to BMC Brighton, Boston residents referred from other hospitals, and residents of suburban communities in Massachusetts.
We see patients from a variety of groups and national backgrounds, including those who identify as Black, Hispanic, east and south Asian, Irish, and Russian. Appropriate translators are available as needed. Our residents and fellows benefit from caring for those who may experience and express their needs differently and who may have different expectations regarding appropriate treatment.
Academic Affiliation
Fellows have ample private space and computer work stations to access, analyze, and input pertinent patient data. Through our affiliation with the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, fellows have access to the extensive resources of the BU Medical Campus and BU Libraries.
Resident Experience
Please feel free to contact us with any other questions you have about our program.
Application Process
How to Apply
The General Surgery Residency Program at BMC Brighton participates in the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
For an application to be reviewed, we require the following:
- Medical school transcript (scholastic record)
- USMLE scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification, if applicable
We would like to see applicants who have a Step 2 score of 215 or higher and passed all steps on the first attempt.
We would prefer applicants who have graduated from a medical school within the last five years.
License Requirements
Physicians (both United States and international) applying for an initial limited license will be required to pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 or the first two levels of COMLEX or complete all parts of MCCQE.
An Exchange Visitor J-1 visa is required for all international applicants.
Selection
Decisions are based on the information included with your application and a personal interview. Interview invitations will be extended by email.
Once a candidate has confirmed their interview date, they will be emailed a packet of information with an itinerary for the interview and information about the program.
Interviews start each November and end in January.
Contact Us
Questions regarding the general surgery residency program can be directed to:
Katie E. M. Shean, MD
Assistant Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program
Boston Medical Center – Brighton
Department of Surgery
736 Cambridge St.
Brighton, MA 02135
If you would like to check the status of your application, please call 617.789.2990.
