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Alumni

The 2023 General Surgery Chief Residents pose for a group photo in an operating room.
General Surgery Residency in Rochester, Minnesota, residents in an operating room.

Graduate outcomes

The most important indicator of the success of a training program is found in the outcomes of the graduates upon completion of their training.

Every resident who has successfully completed the General Surgery Residency has been eligible for American Board of Surgery certification. The overall success rate of Mayo graduates in obtaining American Board of Surgery certification is 98%.

Of the physicians who graduated from this residency in the past eight years, 89% pursued additional fellowship training.

Mayo Clinic Surgical Society in Honor of James T. Priestly

Graduates of our program are eligible to join the Mayo Clinic Surgical Society in Honor of James T. Priestly, an alumni society for surgeons at all three sites who trained at Mayo or are current or former Mayo Clinic Department of Surgery staff members. We have more than 600 members worldwide, made up primarily of Mayo surgical alumni, who meet once a year for scientific exchange, as well as the renewal of friendships at social events.

Words from past alumni

Graduates of the General Surgery Residency reflect on their training at Mayo Clinic.

Adi Fahy, B.M.B.Ch., Ph.D.

Adi Fahy, B.M.B.Ch., Ph.D.

Did anything surprise you about Mayo's program?

"Yes, the strength and experience of the additional members of our health care team in the operating room, such as surgical scrub techs, surgical assistants, and operating room circulators. The vast experience that these team members draw on and the continuity they provide within the staff surgeon's practice make them such valuable resources in both patient care and in my training.

Also, that right from the start, our consultants begin to invest their time, energy and enthusiasm into training us interns, and treat us as part of their team, is just wonderful."

2020 graduate and current pediatric surgery fellow at Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, Canada

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Nimesh Naik, M.D.

Nimesh Naik, M.D.

What attracted you to Mayo’s program?

"The consultants here are incredibly invested in ensuring residents are successful when it comes to career aspirations, research, and other aspects of resident training. We have a robust simulation-based curriculum for intern residents which allows trainees the opportunity to practice simple technical skills, such as suturing and how to ligate vessels, to more complex tasks such as small bowel anastomosis and colon resections. The simulation curriculum covers over 40 different surgical-skill topics that will help you prepare for the operating theater, and more importantly, be successful!"

2020 graduate and current colon and rectal surgery fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

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John Zietlow, M.D.

John Zietlow, M.D.

"I really enjoyed the wide breadth of cases and specialties through the general surgery residency. The critical care fellowship prepared me well for a career in trauma and acute care surgery. I enjoy the four seasons of living in Rochester, Minnesota, and exploring the outdoors with my wife and two kids."

2021 graduate and current acute care surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

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Recent alumni

Learn more about our recent graduates. 

Alumni name Graduation year
EeeLN Buckarma, M.D. Class of 2023
Francisco Cardenas Lara, M.D. Class of 2023
Roderick Davis, M.D. Class of 2023
Brandon Douglass, M.D. Class of 2023
Andreas Polycarpou, M.D. Class of 2023
Nathaniel Robinson, M.D. Class of 2023
Michael Traynor, Jr., M.D., M.P.H. Class of 2023
Rebecca Zhu, M.D. Class of 2023
Ahmed Alsayed, M.D. Class of 2022
Elvis Camacho, M.D. Class of 2022
Jennifer Leitang, M.D. Class of 2022
Nicholas McKenna, M.D. Class of 2022
David Moravec, M.D. Class of 2022
Erek Nelson, M.D. Class of 2022
Bobby Pride, M.D. Class of 2022
Raffaele Rocco, M.D. Class of 2022
Trey Rogers, M.D. Class of 2022
Alaa Sada, M.D. Class of 2022
Thomas Szabo Yamashita, M.D. Class of 2022
Rob Wendt, M.D. Class of 2022

Additional training

Graduates of the General Surgery Residency are highly competitive for fellowship training programs at Mayo Clinic and throughout the United States.

Mayo Clinic offers surgery specialty fellowships that complement the General Surgery Residency.

These fellowships offer in-depth, daily, one-on-one training with a consultant and the opportunity to increase your surgical, supervisory, and administrative skills. During your residency, you can talk with your faculty adviser about these opportunities.

Graduation of Mayo Clinic residents and fellows

Mayo Clinic Alumni Association

The Mayo Clinic Alumni Association will help you stay in touch with your Mayo Clinic colleagues, maintain a valuable professional connection to Mayo Clinic throughout your medical and/or research career, participate in continuing medical education, and more.

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