Program Structure

During the first 3 years, the resident will establish a core foundation to include rotations in general surgery, trauma, critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, transplant, vascular ultrasound, and other surgical subspecialties. PGY 1-3 residents will also have significant exposure to vascular surgery, and will perform consultations, diagnose and manage vascular diseases, and interpret imaging studies. Residents will learn basic endovascular skills (angiograms, venograms, and fistulograms) and standard vascular procedures (arterial exposures, anastomoses, dialysis access, venous procedures).

Following the first 3 years of clinical rotations, residents will dedicate 2 years of their training to the design and implementation of research projects with the goal of presentation and publication. Previous residents have worked in basic science laboratories, obtained an MPH degree, qualified for patents, designed animal research, led quality improvement projects, and published large database research.

During the final 2 years of training, the vascular resident will master standard vascular and endovascular procedures, and will learn more complex procedures such as aortic aneurysm repair (open and endovascular), carotid surgery, leg bypass, peripheral vascular interventions, mesenteric artery intervention, and thoracic outlet decompression. In addition, the resident will function as “chief resident”, alternating between the main campus at Yale and the VA campus. They will be responsible for leading the team of junior residents, students, and APPs. By the completion of their training, the vascular resident will be adept at clinical decision-making, operative planning and performance, and the longitudinal care of patients with vascular disease.

The Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) is one of the largest medical centers in the country and comprised of two campuses, York Street and St. Raphael’s. YNNH is also a level 1 trauma center and major regional referral center. The Veteran’s Affairs Connecticut Healthcare (VA) serves as a third training site for the residency.