Massachusetts General Hospital

Residency Goal

It is our goal to produce residents who are versed in all the contemporary aspects of both cardiac and thoracic surgery at the time of completion of the residency. We also intend to be certain that they are equipped by training and experience to commence practice in either or both fields at a sophisticated level.

Residency Exposure

Residents are exposed to all areas of cardiac surgery including minimally invasive procedures, off-pump CABG, aortic surgery, arrhythmia surgery, and transplantation. In the Division of Thoracic Surgery, residents experience the full gamut from transplantation, minimally invasive surgery, airway reconstruction and complex esophageal procedures.

Cardiac and Thoracic as Separate Teaching Units

One of the unusual aspects of the Massachusetts General Hospital residency program is the separation of cardiac and thoracic surgery as teaching units and in the resident’s periods of assignment to these areas of dual specialty.

There are currently separate nursing units, intensive care units, operating rooms, faculty, and conferences. This structure permits the resident to be entirely devoted to an area of specialty, taught by individuals completely dedicated to the field, during the resident’s assignment to one of the units.

We are pleased to announce that Thoralf Sundt, III, MD, became Chief of Cardiac Surgery effective February 1, 2011. Dr. Douglas Mathisen is Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Surgery Residency Program Director.

Residency Length

The residency program is two and a half years long, with three positions available each year within the National Residency Matching Program for graduates of a five-year general surgical training program.

The second part of the program is divided evenly between six months as chief resident on thoracic surgery and six months as chief resident on cardiac surgery. Each year, one of the three residents will conclude training with six months as chief resident in cardiovascular surgery at Children's Hospital.

Sample Residency Schedule

A schedule emphasizing cardiac surgical training may include first year rotations in cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, Children's Hospital followed by successive six-month rotations as chief in cardiac and thoracic surgery at The Massachusetts General Hospital and then at Children's Hospital.

If thoracic surgery were to be the main emphasis, the schedule may substitute additional time on the thoracic service in the first year and a half at The Massachusetts General Hospital, or possibly another institution, and conclude with six months as cardiac chief resident and six months as thoracic chief resident.

Two one-month blocks of vacation are permitted to each resident during training.

Clinical Load

The clinical load is intense, so laboratory investigative work by residents is not possible during the cardio-thoracic residency. However, members of the resident staff frequently carry on limited projects in clinical investigation, usually in conjunction with members of the visiting staff. No specific time is either set aside or available out of the residency to do research alone.

Instructional Basics

Basic science instruction is primarily derived while in the course of the surgical house officers' regular duties. Pathologic material is routinely reviewed at cardiac and thoracic surgical morbidity and mortality rounds. Numerous special conferences are also designed primarily for the instruction of cardiac and thoracic house officers. In addition, conferences in cardiology, pulmonary medicine, and anesthesia are open to cardiac and thoracic surgical residents.

We will begin accepting applications for July 2014 in the fall of 2012.

Appointments to the first year of the cardiothoracic residency are administered under the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Application is made through the AAMC Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Please complete the Universal Residency Application, including a 500-word personal statement and a curriculum vitae.

Three letters of recommendation are required. One must be from your General Surgery Program Director. Requesting letters of recommendation is the responsibility of the applicant. Deadline for electronic submission of all application materials is February 1, 2013.

Interview Process

As an invited applicant, you will have your choice of two interview dates. The dates are coordinated with other Boston hospitals for your convenience.

During your interview, you will receive an overview of our program, be interviewed by the Program Director and attending staff, and receive a tour of our facilities with our current residents.

There will also be a dinner held at a local restaurant attended by interviewees, staff, and current cardiothoracic residents.  

If you require lodging, the Holiday Inn (617-742-7630), the John Jeffries House (617-367-1866) and the Liberty Hotel (617-224-4019) are in close proximity to the hospital.

If you would like further information about our program, please contact:

Douglas J. Mathisen, MD
Chief, General Thoracic Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
32 Fruit Street, Blake 1570
Boston, MA 02114

Tel: 617-726-6826
Fax: 617-726-7667

Division of Thoracic Surgery

Phone: 617-726-6826