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A close community of surgeon trainees
Our program fosters a strong sense of caring, camaraderie and community among the residents.
"Chances are that when you’re in a rut, one of your co-residents is having a great day and they will remind you why you are here and pick you up," says a first-year resident. “Additionally, whatever you are experiencing or going through, someone else has going through something very similar and will be there to help you work it out.”“One of the best things about Ohio State is the resident morale and sense of community. In fact, it was one of the biggest reasons why I ranked Ohio State number one,” says a second-year resident. “General surgery residency training can be challenging at times, but what makes it worthwhile, fun and memorable are the relationships you form with your colleagues during training years.”
Do residents have time for a personal life?
The well-being of our residents is a priority of the Ohio State Department of Surgery. We stress the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We offer a broad support network that serves residents as they transition through the challenges of their program years. Additionally, we provide a variety of social and recreational activities off campus. The objective is to prepare our surgical residents to better manage the pressures and stressful situations they’ll encounter in their careers. Here’s what our residents think about having a personal life while in residency:
“Training to become a surgeon is hard but there are certain aspects of general surgery training at OSU that make it possible to balance work and life: 1. “Golden weekends” (i.e. full weekend off followed by full weekend off). 2. 5pm sign out (allows us to get home at a reasonable time). 3. Night float system (Bundling nights during 1-2 months rather than weekly helps us maintain circadian rhythm and lastly 4. Commuting in Columbus is fast and efficient allowing us to spend our time outside the hospital the way we want to (i.e. not commuting).”
“I think that residency requires a perspective adjustment. The reality is that you will be busy and you will work more than most of your family and friends,” says a rising chief resident. “I can only speak for myself, but I do feel like I have plenty of time for a personal life. While I do miss birthdays and weddings, I do have the flexibility to prioritize the things that are most important to me.”
“If you were to visit some of our residents’ social media pages, you’ll find the answer to that question very easily. In addition to two weekends off a month and we get four weeks of vacation a year so we’re pretty spoiled,” says a third-year resident. “Many residents, including myself, have gotten married and others have had children during training, too.”
"There’s always a constant struggle between your clinical responsibility, other career responsibility and family/personal responsibility," says a fourth-year resident. “I think you just have to know your priorities and not compromise on what's most important. I will say that before residency, people scared me into thinking I would have NO life as a surgery resident. This is absolutely not true.”
Why our residents love living in Columbus
Columbus is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and with our thriving start-up culture, we attract the brightest minds from around the world.
Columbus is the 14th largest city in the U.S., with more than two million people in the metro area. Columbus offers festivals, community-based events, major league sports and an amazing food, art and music scene. It’s truly a big city – but with a friendly, Midwestern heart. Yet our residents say it best why Columbus is so great:
"Columbus has the offerings of a bustling big city but also the calm of a suburban area that’s great for a surgical resident," says one fourth-year resident. “We’re not always surrounded by the hubbub you might encounter in a bigger city, but Columbus has plenty of areas and activities to explore in your time off.”
“I love this city. It’s the perfect blend of city and small town. There is a lot to do, but it’s not overwhelming,” says a third-year. “This town is filled with different neighborhoods near campus where most young professionals like to live including Short North, Clintonville, Grandview, Upper Arlington, German Village and Italian Village. Neighborhoods like Hilliard and Dublin are suburbs of Columbus and are a little farther away.”
Benefits for residents
The residency program provides a host of benefits for our residents. This includes a competitive stipend, memberships to the American College of Surgeons, subscriptions to several board prep platforms such as TrueLearn, ABSITE Quest and the SCORE Curriculum. Residents also receive on-call meal stipends, an educational stipend and funded travel to professional meetings.
In addition, as Ohio State Wexner Medical Center employees, our residents receive aa comprehensive benefits package to support their health, finances, work-life balance and education. For more information, visit our benefits website.
Resident wellness
The General Surgery Residency Program at The Ohio State University is committed to fostering a culture of well-being, resilience, and professional fulfillment. Recognizing that resident wellness is essential to optimal patient care, education, and professional development, the program partners with the Sponsoring Institution and the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office to promote resources and policies that support physical, emotional, and psychological health.
Resident wellness encompasses the ability to balance professional responsibilities with personal needs, maintain meaningful relationships, and access timely support during periods of stress or hardship. The program prioritizes early intervention, open communication, and access to confidential resources to ensure that all residents are supported both personally and professionally.
The program supports wellness through the following institutional and departmental mechanisms:
- Personal Wellness Days: Each resident is allotted one half-day of personal wellness leave per academic quarter. These may be used for personal health appointments, rest, or other activities that promote well-being. Wellness days must be scheduled in advance with chief residents and approved by the program office to ensure clinical coverage. They are not cumulative or carried over between quarters.
- Resident Ombudsman: A confidential advocate is available to assist residents in resolving concerns or conflicts in a neutral and supportive manner.
- Lactation and Parental Support: Residents have access to designated lactation spaces and institutional maternity/paternity leave in accordance with Ohio State University policy and ACGME requirements.
- Work-Hours Compliance: The program enforces strict adherence to ACGME duty-hour regulations to ensure appropriate rest and recovery.
- Fatigue Mitigation: Educational sessions and departmental protocols are in place to recognize fatigue, encourage coverage or rest when needed, and ensure safe patient care.
- Counseling and Support Services
- GME Counselor and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Clinical Consultation and Individual Therapy Services
- Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Program
- Crisis Support and 24-hour GME resources
- Open Reporting: Residents are encouraged to report fatigue, harassment, mistreatment, or burnout concerns without fear of retaliation through MedHub, the Resident Ombudsman, or directly to the Program Director.
Resident appreciation day!
Each year, we celebrate our residents with a dedicated Resident Appreciation Day, where they are given 24 hours completely free from clinical responsibilities. During this time, faculty and fellows step in to cover all services, allowing residents to fully step away, recharge, and enjoy time together.
The day culminates in a fun, relaxed group event where residents can connect outside of the hospital and celebrate the hard work they put in throughout the year. It is a small but meaningful way we recognizeto recognize our residents and reinforce the strong sense of community within our program.