Surgery Residency | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
residency students standing around a monitor looking

Welcome to the General Surgery Residency Program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Amarillo, Texas

Thank you for your interest in the General Surgery Residency at TTUHSC in Amarillo. Our program is based at the Harrington Regional Medical Center, home to three acute care hospitals with nearly 1,000 beds and a comprehensive range of medical specialties. The center also includes rehabilitation, long-term acute care and skilled nursing facilities.

Citizens of Amarillo often say, “If you wear out a pair of shoes here, you won’t want to leave.” Amarillo is known for its welcoming atmosphere, strong community values and affordable cost of living. With abundant sunshine, a four-season climate and a small-town feel, Amarillo offers a high quality of life. Residents enjoy shopping on Historic Route 66, dining at local restaurants and exploring local breweries and wineries. Cultural highlights include the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Little Theatre and performances at the Amarillo Civic Center and Starlight Ranch.

Sports enthusiasts can attend baseball games at Hodgetown, home of the Double-A Sod Poodles, or ice hockey games with the Amarillo Wranglers. Outdoor lovers will appreciate Wildcat Bluff, Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Lake Meredith. Skiing and mountain recreation are only a few hours away by car. Amarillo’s Rick Husband International Airport offers direct flights to several major cities.

We look forward to hearing from you. For more information, contact us at AmaSurgResidencyInquiries@ttuhsc.edu.

 

Surgery M.D.'s group photo
From left to right: Drs. Laswi, Obokhare, Schneider, Nazim, Hansen, Soliman, Hashimoto, Elfedaly, and Quigley

RESIDENT PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

Population: Amarillo is a vibrant and diverse community of more than 200,000 people with multiple ethnic groups and languages spoken. Situated along Interstate 40 on the High Plains, Amarillo functions as a crossroads to the nation. TTUHSC in Amarillo services a very large geographical region that includes Eastern New Mexico, Western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, Southeastern Colorado, and portions of Kansas; in total, TTUHSC serves a population of more than 600,000 people.

Partnerships (Clinical Rotations Sites): Clinical sites in Amarillo include Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS), BSA Health System, Texas Oncology, Panhandle Surgical Hospital, and Texas Tech Physicians Surgery. NWTHS is the region’s Level 2 Trauma Center and sees a full range of traumatic injuries with more than 1,600 trauma admissions per year. BSA is a community hospital with a robust clinical practice that houses more than 20 operating rooms. In addition to these local facilities, TTUHSC partners with outside facilities to enhance the residency experience. Partnerships include Houston Methodist Hospital for transplant surgery and Hereford Regional Medical Center for a true rural surgery experience.

Size of Surgical Residency Program: TTUHSC will accept two categorical residents each year to the General Surgery Residency in Amarillo. Additionally, up to two preliminary residents will be selected for the first year, with an option to stay for an additional year as a PGY-2 preliminary resident. Residents will receive a broad experience in general surgery and its subspecialties over the course of five years. They will work closely with the faculty at TTUHSC in Amarillo, which includes nine fellowship-trained core faculty and multiple mid-levels.

Length of Surgical Residency Program: Five years

Highlights: Robotics, surgical simulation, research opportunities, rural rotations and trauma centers

GET TO KNOW THE FACULTY

 

RESIDENT PROGRAM AIMS

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Surgery Residency Program aims to produce the next generation of well-trained, balanced, compassionate and exemplary leaders in the field of general surgery by:

  • Providing residents with opportunities to engage in basic and advanced surgical simulation and robotics training through a state-of-the-art simulation center located adjacent to the primary site, along with patient-centered education through procedural skills.
  • Training residents to perform at the advanced level expected of a board-certified specialist through didactic instruction and education in operative techniques.
  • Offering weekly didactic instruction on the basic and clinical sciences of surgical diseases and conditions to enhance knowledge and improve patient care.
  • Requiring each resident to participate in peer-reviewed research with opportunities for local, regional, and national presentations of their work, as well as manuscript submission.
  • Conducting the majority of clinical rotations at community hospitals, effectively preparing residents for independent practice in rural and community settings.
  • Maintaining a balanced faculty-to-resident ratio to optimize the educational experience and equip residents with the necessary skills to excel as surgeons.

residents working on a medical mannequin

CURRICULUM

Operative Experience: TTUHSC Surgery residents will perform a minimum of 850 surgeries to meet the American Board of Surgery licensing requirements. However, most residents will perform more than 1,200 surgeries during their training. Residents who choose TTUHSC will receive specialized trauma and critical care experience at NWTHS and BSA (including instruction from two fellowship-trained surgeons in burn care). Additionally, they will acquire invaluable experience at the Bariatric Surgery Center for Excellence. Five-year rotation sample

residency students with gloves on holding tubes

Laboratory Experience: SimCentral, lap trainer, cut suit, robot trainer, endoscopic, trainer

residents standing around a mannequin

Online Curriculum: SCORE

Dedication Education Day: Protected education time will occur each Friday from 7 a.m.—to 1 p.m. and will include morning report, M&M conference, science lecture or grand rounds, this week in SCORE, lunch & learn professional development and simulation lab. The following events will be hosted once per month: ABSITE review, journal club, research update and resident meeting.

Scholarly Activity: The faculty at TTUHSC are active clinically and academically. Residents at TTUHSC will also be encouraged to publish clinical research. There are opportunities for collaborative activities with the TTUHSC School of Health Professions, TTUHSC School of Nursing, TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, all located on the Amarillo campus.

Certificates Offered: ATLS, ACLS, FES, FLS

ADMISSION AND SALARY INFORMATION


Amarillo Graduate Medical Education

Admissions

Salary and Benefits

Got Questions?

We're here to help. Contact us if you have questions.

Angela Schnable

Program Coordinator
806.414.9193
AmaSurgResidencyInquiries@ttuhsc.edu