Service Descriptions

General, Bariatrics, & Minimally Invasive Surgery – UHS

Surgery services at University Hospital that primarily deal with biliary disease, hernias, pancreatic, and other ‘bread-and-butter’ general surgery.

Colorectal Surgery – UHS

Surgery services at University Hospital that primarily deal with colorectal disease.

General Surgery – Multispecialty and Research Hospital

MSRH – A general surgery/colorectal surgery/surgical oncology rotation at the UT Health Hospital in the medical center, this is a rotation that will cover surgical cases performed by UTHSCSA General Surgeons, Colorectal Surgeons, and Surgical Oncologists.   Rotation experience includes robotic, laparoscopic, and open cases.  Limited acute care general surgery consults inpatients. Rotation is new in July 2025 and will evolve as the hospital grows and increases volume and operative block.

General Surgery – VA Hospital

This service performs all general and colorectal surgery as well as endoscopy at the VA.

Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery

Performs hepatobiliary, pancreas, gastrointestinal, endocrine, breast, and other surgical oncology cases at UHS.

Trauma and Emergency Surgery and Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Trauma: Management of both adult and pediatric patients inflicted by traumatic injuries including burn. This starts with their initial evaluation in the emergency room and managing a surgeon run trauma bay. Care transitions with the patient to the operating room, ICU and to the inpatient ward. This service maintains clinical continuity to follow up with patients in trauma clinic after their discharge.

SICU: Management of critically ill trauma patients and surgical patients in the ICU, including management of sedation, hemodynamics, respiratory system and nutrition. This service also performs all bedside procedures in the ICU including central lines, chest tubes, arterial lines, percutaneous tracheostomies and PEG tubes.

Emergency General Surgery: Management of patients with acute general surgical diseases seen in the ED and consults from other services at University Hospital.

Vascular Surgery – University Hospital and VA Hospital

Performs all open and endovascular surgery at UH and VA including dialysis access.

Cardiothoracic – UH

This service performs CABG, valve replacement surgery, aortic reconstruction, heart and lung transplant and lung surgery (open and video-assisted) as well as chest tube management for many services.

Thoracic Surgery – Private Practice

Provides comprehensive surgical care for diseases involving the lungs, esophagus, and chest wall in a private practice setting.

Skills Lab

A dedicated, 4-week skills lab rotation in which interns develop technical skills including suturing and knot-tying, laparoscopic camera navigation, central lines, intraosseous lines, airway management, code management, fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery, vascular and bowel anastomoses. PGY1s complete this rotation with help from numerous faculty and research residents.

Click here for more information about the Skills Lab.

Pediatric Surgery

This rotation with 8 board-certified pediatric surgeons provides a broad exposure to pediatric general surgery, including congenital abnormalities, Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation (ECMO), pediatric oncology, non-cardiac thoracic surgery, childhood and adolescent gynecologic issues, as well as common pediatric issues. Learners are engaged at University Health’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital as well as clinics on site. Weekly conferences both within the division and with other collaborating services form the core of a didactic component that augments the clinical experience.

Transplant

Very busy transplant service (top 10 nationally for liver transplant volume) that primarily deals with liver and kidney transplant with occasional pancreas transplant.

Very busy transplant service (top 10 nationally for liver transplant volume) performing liver and kidney transplants, living donor operations, and deceased donor organ recovery.  Also involves complex hepatobiliary cases. Good exposure to transplant ICU patients.

Vascular – St. Luke’s Hospital

Residents spend a month rotating at St. Luke’s Hospital doing private practice vascular surgery.

Christus Santa Rosa New Braunfels

This is a private practice rotation in New Braunfels, TX. Located approximately 45 minutes North of San Antonio, New Braunfels is a relatively small town which gives residents experience with surgery teams and patients in a more rural setting. PGY4 residents rotate on this service.