Kelly Haisley, MD, always wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a doctor. During residency, though, she quickly realized it was also her father’s footsteps that she was following all along. Her father, a teacher, was a driving force behind where she is today—the new program director for the Ohio State Department of Surgery’s General Surgery Residency Program.
Dr. Haisley discovered her love for teaching during her residency, finding immense joy in those "light bulb moments" both for herself and her fellow learners. Since then, she has developed a philosophy that every experience is a learning opportunity, and that the next generation of surgeons should always outdo the current generation. She is committed to creating a generation of surgeons who are not only excellent technicians but who are also compassionate, ethical and well-rounded humans.
Bringing that commitment to her trainees and a wealth of experience, passion and dedication to the program, Dr. Haisley took on her new role in August, leading a training program made up of 55 residents. And for the fourth year in a row, the program has been ranked in the top 10 nationally on Doximity’s 2024-2025 Residency Navigator. She has been on faculty with the Department of Surgery since 2019 and from day one, showcased her clinical expertise in foregut and minimally invasive surgery, as well as her exceptional dedication and commitment to our learners. For the past four years, Dr. Haisley has been an incredible asset as associate program director for the General Surgery Residency Program and recently, was accepted into the 2024-2025 Surgical Education and Leadership (SELF) Fellowship Program, a prestigious one-year fellowship designed for Association for Surgical Education members who wish to improve their teaching, education design, and leadership skills in surgical education.
In her new role, Dr. Haisley is looking forward to maintaining the program’s exceptional tradition of creating the next generation of surgeon leaders by fostering technical mastery, clinical judgement, interpersonal and professional development and research innovation within a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment. Within our robust clinical and educational program, there are several key highlights that help assure that our General Surgery Residency continues to excel:
The Research Training Program offers residents the opportunity to earn a tuition-free master's degree during their research time. The program provides extensive statistical and research support, enabling residents to become true surgeon-scientists. This exceptional program is one of the strongest in the country and a significant asset to our residency.
Our Robotic Surgery Curriculum ensures our residents graduate with some of the highest numbers of robotic cases performed in the country. Each resident earns a robotic equivalency certificate and completes an average of more than 100 robotic cases. This comprehensive training program — the first in the nation to offer weekly one-on-one proctored robotic skills training —ensures our graduates are well-prepared for the future of surgery.
Another unique aspect of our training is the OR Coaching Program. Trained coaches observe PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents during operations, providing feedback on their technique, leadership style and overall performance. This program helps residents develop not only their surgical skills but also their professional and leadership abilities.
Wellness Initiatives are a particular point of pride for Dr. Haisley. Initiatives like Resident Appreciation Day, where residents get a day off to spend together (while faculty, fellows and APPs cover their call), and wellness half-days demonstrate our commitment to supporting our residents' well-being. This focus on wellness has been recognized with a 100% satisfaction score on the ACGME survey.
We are confident that under Dr. Haisley's guidance, our General Surgery Residency Program will continue to flourish, producing exceptional surgeons who are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future.