Department of Surgery

Surgical Education General Surgery Professional Practice Track

Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) and The General Surgery Residency program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is committed to training competent and professional surgeons who value high quality patient care. Our program endeavors to create an environment of learning where residents can flourish as both leaders and teachers. The aim of the program is to graduate surgeons who will make a positive impact on their chosen field though clinical and academic excellence. Professionalism, integrity, competence, and accountability are mainstays of the program.

Starting in the 2027 – 2028 academic year we will be introducing a ‘Professional Practice’ track to the general surgery residency. Residents on this pathway complete five years of continuous clinical training, with added emphasis on clinical practice. This track is designed for surgeons pursuing independent practice and will match two categorical positions. Residents will spend the majority of their time at Monmouth Medical Center, with rotations at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Residents in this track will be encouraged to participate in research concurrently with their clinical training.

At MMC, residents rotate through the General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery on Team A. Acute care and GI surgical oncology on Team B. Subspecialty services on Team C which includes, vascular, thoracic, pediatric, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery.

We attain our mutual objectives by:

  • Guiding the resident in basic biologic phenomena that constitute the foundation of surgical practice.
  • Providing opportunities for direct and responsible patient management in the primary components of general surgery.
  • Pioneering surgical education and technology.
    • Prior to our merger with Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Monmouth Medical Center was home to the oldest general surgery residency program in New Jersey.
    • There are no fellows in the Department of Surgery GME programs. Residents get full experience of being one on one with experienced surgeons.
    • MMC was the first hospital in New Jersey to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy and has launched a full array of advanced laparoscopic procedures. The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center is a multidisciplinary group that is recognized as one of the leading breast centers in the country. A protocol tested sentinel lymph node procedure was another first for the southern part of the state.
    • A comprehensive robotics program has been in existence since 2020 including multiple da Vinci 5 robots, SP da Vinci robot, Ion robot, as well as the home of the simulation training curriculum
  • Providing experience in specialties of vascular, pediatric, plastic and reconstructive, thoracic, ENT, expecting the resident to become an effective teacher of medical students and junior residents and assume increasing administrative responsibility culminating in the final year as Chief Resident.
  • Promoting surgical research and national presentations and publications. Quality research is rewarded in a yearly paper competition. Any level resident may present high quality research at a national conference.

Many of our graduates return to enter practice in the area. Monmouth County is rated one of the top ten counties in the country because of its wonderful seaside lifestyle, excellent schools and proximity to cities.

We hope to foster an increasing competence in surgery matched with a passion for knowledge. Teachers are exhilarated by stimulating intellectual growth. Many of the surgeons feel that they could only practice in a teaching institution because of many of the factors described in the goals and objectives.

Learn more about the General Surgery Residency Program

Monmouth Medical Center General Surgery Residents' Photo Monmouth Medical Center General Surgery Residents' Photo

Residency and fellowship programs training at RWJBarnabas Health benefit from the resources and interprofessional opportunities available through the Rutgers institutional sponsorship. Learn more about all of the Rutgers sponsored graduate medical education programs on our sponsoring institution webpage.