Clinical Experience

Overview

General and vascular surgery in-patient training will be obtained at tertiary-referral medical centers. These will include the Medical University of South Carolina Health Care system (3 hospitals on campus in downtown Charleston), Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Veterans Administration teaching hospital, located on campus in downtown Charleston) and Roper St Francis Health care system (a community-based hospital with multiple sites in the greater Charleston area). 

Exposure to the evaluation and management of vascular disorders during each year of training assures repetitive contact with faculty, continual acquisition of skills/experience, and progressive assumption of responsibility building competencies in preparation for the Chief Resident year.  During each vascular surgery rotation, residents will spend a minimum of 1 day per week in an outpatient clinic, under direct faculty supervision.  Essential training in noninvasive vascular testing and vascular imaging will be provided throughout the residency program. As an integrated program, we maintain a strong working relationship with our general surgery parent program, allowing for seamless integration of trainees on both vascular surgery and general surgery rotations. We feel this collaborative educational environment is optimal for developing appropriate general surgery operative and patient care skills, independent responsibility for the vascular inpatient management, acquiring vascular surgery open/endovascular skills, and compliance with the weekly resident work hour restrictions.  Our residency program has an independent call system covering vascular inpatients at MUSC as well as the VA which facilitates educational opportunities during patient care emergencies and provides enough support to prevent work hour violations.

The rotation at Roper St Francis Hospital allows the trainees to experience the environment of a busy community practice. Dr. Thomas C. Appleby is an adjunct faculty at MUSC and during his apprenticeship-style rotation, the residents will participate in inpatient care, outpatient clinic evaluations, and on call responsibilities.