Introduction
The General Surgery Residency, in existence for over 50 years, became affiliated with the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria at its inception in 1971. We are a fully accredited, five-year program approved to finish four chief residents each year.
About the Program
What to Expect
Our General Surgery Residency Program is a university program based in a large tertiary care medical center serving the medical needs of Central Illinois with state-of–the-art facilities. Our residents spend some time in a secondary teaching hospital. As part of the downstate program for the University of Illinois, the UICOMP Department of Surgery is committed to preparing surgeons to provide surgical care in a variety of settings. Graduates of our residency program must, therefore, develop clinical and operative skills to manage a full spectrum of illnesses treated by General Surgeons including emphasis on:
- General Surgery
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Endoscopy and Laparoscopic Surgery
Residents are expected to develop and mature research skills that will enhance their surgical knowledge and allow them to critically and independently evaluate new information and discoveries in their field. Our program will require and promote an attitude of seeking continuous professional self-improvement.
Mission and Vision
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Mission Our mission is to educate and train surgeons recognized as CHAMPIONS in skill, knowledge, leadership, and professionalism.
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Vision Our vision is to transform our surgical community by LEADING INNOVATION in personal and professional development.
About the Program continued
Program Culture
This is a pro-resident environment with strong ancillary hospital services. Our curriculum is flexible, to accommodate personal goals; our fine faculty is dedicated to the education of our residents.
Program Updates
The General Surgery Residency Program has been approved to recruit five categorical positions beginning with the 2024 recruitment season. We are very excited to recruit an additional bright young surgeon to our complement. Those applicants truly interested in our program should use one of their 15 available signals to highlight their application in the screening process.
The Program has also been approved to resume in-person interviews. The faculty and residents will host a Meet & Greet the evening before each interview date on Thursdays. Our GME department will sponsor accommodation for one night for each candidate.
**Flight assistance may be available. Inquiries should be submitted by email. Applications will be accepted until October 4th at 5 p.m. Email Kathy Slater at kjslater@uic.edu for more information.
Applying for the Residency
Learn about our process, requirements and deadlines.
Recruitment Timeline
- Sept. 24: Application Open to Program
- Sept. 24-Oct. 1: Send Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
- Oct. 1: Complete Applications & Supplemental Questions
- Oct. 2-22: Application Review
- Oct. 22: 1st invites go out – 48 hours to respond
- Oct. 24: 2nd invites go out – 48 hours to respond
- Oct. 27: 3rd invites go out, if needed
- Nov. 13: Evening Social
- Nov. 14: Day 1 – Interviews
- Nov. 20: Evening Social
- Nov. 21: Day 2 – Interviews
- Dec. 4: Evening Social
- Dec. 5: Day 3 – Interviews
- Dec. 12: Rank Day for Program
- March 1: Deadline to rank in NRMP for residents
- March 20: Match Day
How To Apply
Applications are accepted soley through ERAS and selection is based on academic records, accomplishments, recommenations, signals with the final selection based on in-person interviews. We have no minimum test score but require that Step 1 and Step 2 have been passed. We require three Letters of Recommendation from academic surgeons who are closely familiar with the applicant rather than titled faculty positions. Five categorical General Surgery residents are chosen annually through the National Resident Matching Program. Our program offers no preliminary positions in General Surgery. The employing instiution will sponsor H1B visas and the sponsoring institution UICOMP will sponsor J1 visas.
In addition to the application, candidates are asked to answer situational judgement test (SJT) question(s). Please have your complete application submitted by the opening day of ERAS. October 1st at 5 p.m. (Central Time) is the application and supplemental questions survey deadline. No applications submitted after this deadline will be reviewed.
Invitations for interviews will be sent out October 22nd Candidates have 48 hours to accept an invitation to inteview. Available spots will be reinvited on October 25th. Interviews for the five categorical openings will be scheduled for November 14 & 21 and December 5, 2025 for in-person interview only.