Program Eligibility & Requirements

The deadline for receipt of application is Dec. 1, 2023. Application to the program will be via ERAS only.

The following information is required:

Completed application

• Three (3) letters of recommendation from U.S. physicians
• Dean's letter (or equivalent); IMGs must have letters of recommendation that clearly document U.S. clinical experience
• Medical school transcript
• Personal statement
• Results of standardized tests: USMLE, COMLEX, NBME, FLEX, FMGEMS or equivalent; all in-service exams; ECFMG certificate (IMG applicants)

Eligibility requirements:

• All applicants must pass USMLE Step 1 and 2 (or equivalent) on the first attempt.
• All applicants must be within two years of graduation from medical school.
• All applicants must have a minimum of one year of U.S. direct patient care activity. For U.S. medical students, their clinical rotations during medical school will meet this requirement.
• All applicants must have excellent spoken and written command of the English language.
• We will sign both H1 and J1 visa forms, but applicants are responsible for generation of the paperwork and also for payment of all fees for the visa.

Applications are reviewed after all the required information has been received. Personal interviews are by invitation only and are held numerous times during October, November, December and January.

Welcome to the Gundersen Medical Foundation General Surgery Residency! We are excited that you are exploring our program and hope that the information on our website provides you with an accurate snapshot of the high caliber of surgical education and training we offer. We recognize that the application process is stressful for applicants—and we trust that you as an applicant recognize that we consider the selection process to be one of the most important elements of our mission. We encourage your application and look forward to reviewing your accomplishments in preparation to seek what I consider to be an incredible career.

There are a few things for you to know about our application cycle for the current year:

• Our complement is 4 residents per academic year.
• All interviews will be in a virtual format.
• We do not offer more interview positions than we have spots to accommodate.
• Initial interview offers will go out to applicants Monday, October 16th, 2023. Applicants will have 48 hours to accept or decline the interview offer.
• The first interview date will be Wednesday, October 25, 2023 with interviews occurring on Wednesdays throughout November and December.
• Interviews will involve an informal social hour with current General Surgery residents the Tuesday night before interview day - attendance is required.
• After the first interview offer release, subsequent interview offers will be made to fill remaining positions. Applicants will have 48 hours to accept or decline the interview offer.
• We will notify applicants by Jan. 1, 2024 of our decision to place them on our waitlist or not offer them an interview.

These guidelines are consistent with national trends and add some clarity to our process and anticipated process. We reserve the right to alter the initial interview offer date, as it is dependent on the ability to access applications. 

Thank you for considering Gundersen Health System's General Surgery Residency Program for your residency. We look forward to reviewing your application! 

Melissa Johnson, MD
Program Director – General Surgery Residency