Program Advantages

Akron City Hospital is a high volume hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center with a wide variety of surgical pathology.  Surgical residents enjoy 42 months in the essential areas of general surgery with operative experience beginning in the first week of residency.  Residents gain progressive autonomy as they advance in training, with tiered supervision at all levels.  We feature two away rotations, one for pediatric and burn surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital, and the second for transplant surgery at University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Our program has the benefits of a university education in a community setting with many opportunities for research and publication.  We strongly encourage our residents to participate in all levels of research and quality improvement initiatives.  Residents have access to simulation labs. We are a Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) training facility and offer a robotics curriculum to all residents. 

Program / Hospital Perks

• All surgery residents receive a yearly surgical textbook such as Sabiston, Schwartz, or Greenfield
• Surgical residents receive loupes within their first two months of residency
• All residents receive a monthly food stipend which can be used at any of the campus dining facilities including the cafeteria, Subway, Starbucks, Freshens Café, and Virtues Restaurant
• All residents receive free in-structure parking, three lab coats annually, and a subsidized gym membership to the YMCA
• Benefits for all Summa Employees include healthcare, vision, dental, 403B match, and life insurance

Work Hours / Call

The Department of Surgery pays strict adherence to the 80 hour work week.  We have implemented a Night float system on which our residents rotate an average of 2 months per year. On other rotations residents take call only 2-3 times per month.  The average day is 6 a.m.—6 p.m. and residents enjoy 4 days off per month with at least 1 full weekend each month as well as 3 weeks vacation.

Case Volume at Graduation

The high case volume at Akron City Hospital enables our residents to exceed the case numbers set by the ACGME.  With resident engagement in the OR from the first day of residency, residents can expect to amass an excellent portfolio of procedure experience by the time of graduation.  Residents wishing to sit for their Boards should review the requirements on the American Board of Surgery website at: http://www.absurgery.org

Below is an example of typical case counts from a recent graduate.

Rotation Schedule