About Us
In joining us, you will be participating in a unique model of surgery residency education and have the opportunity to build and shape a surgery program that will create a lasting impact on the Houston medical community for years to come.
As a part of this program, you will be part of the development of a brand-new medical school at the University of Houston College of Medicine. You are also joining HCA, the largest sponsor of Graduate Medical Education in the country with over 330 programs 5,400 residents and fellows in training.
A note from our director…
My goal as a program director is to provide our general surgery residents a transformative experience that will shape and guide their practice of surgery. In order to achieve these goals, I am focused on (1) training exceptional surgeons with a focus on accountability, patient-centered care, quality improvement, and value in practice, (2) building a resident-centric culture of wellness and positivity, and (3) integrating simulation and video-based training with clinical practice. Upon completion of the program, graduates will leave fully prepared to enter community practices, competitive fellowships, or academia.
Many surgery programs adopt a traditional model of training based on service: however, this approach fails many residents. There is a nearly 20% dropout rate in surgery where the rate of attrition is five times higher in surgical than on-surgical specialties.Here at HCA Healthcare Kingwood/University of Houston, we are building a culture based upon on respect, individual wellness and team building. Our goal is to transform surgical education: great surgeons can be grown in a positive and open environment.
We expect other high-performing specialists such as pilots, athletes, chess-players and musicians to practice and review recordings of their work. However, few if any surgery programs in America focus on simulation and video-based education. Our program is based upon professional performers model with video-based review of optimal and suboptimal approaches, preparatory practice and simulation, and video-review of resident surgeries. This is the standard of training in all other high-performing fields…except for surgery. Here at HCA Healthcare Kingwood/University of Houston, resident education and training is integrated with evidence-based educational strategy built upon high-quality video review, simulation, and feedback.
Our choice to join medicine and surgery is to help others, help patients to cure their pain and suffering, and improve patient quality of life. Our program has a focus on patient-centeredness, quality improvement, and value. Utilizing a unique hybrid of research and quality improvement didactics integrated with simulation, we teach residents to transition this education into daily clinical practice. This model is our foundation for quality improvement, outcomes research, surgical research, and clinical surgery.
Mike K. Liang, MD
The last time a medical school was opened in Houston, Texas was 1971. Since that time the greater Houston Metropolitan area grew from approximately 1.9 million people to just over 7 million today. General surgery training opportunities have failed to keep pace with this expanding growth.
The HCA Houston Healthcare Gulf Coast Education Consortium General Surgery Residency Training Program is a 5-year, accredited program through the ACGME. We are a young program having matriculated our first residents in July of 2019. Our commitment is to train young surgeons to a high level of competency in clinical and academic surgery and to guide them into becoming professional leaders within their fields of interest.
The major strength of our program is our collaboration with the University of Houston College of Medicine. This alignment allows for flexibility in clinical settings, faculty development, research support and innovation. Along with HCAs large national patient database, the University of Houston College of Medicine and HCA Houston Healthcare Gulf Coast Education Consortium residents will participate in meaningful investigation which has the potential to change the way we practice surgery in the future. HCA has a track record of graduating chief residents matching into coveted fellowships; pursuing academic surgery, and private practice both inside and outside of HCA facilities across the country. While research is not required, it is encouraged and available to any resident who desires to pursue this pathway.
The majority of our rotations occur on the Kingwood Medical Campus, just north of downtown Houston. This location provides much needed access to care for over 1 million people whom call this region home. Kingwood Medical Center has advanced cardiovascular care, is a comprehensive stroke center, thriving general and oncology surgery coverage and is a level 2 trauma center . We have plans to become a level 1 trauma center that provides coverage to the north and eastern counties surrounding Houston, Texas. On this rapidly growing campus, residents are exposed to elective and emergency general surgery, trauma/critical care, surgical specialties including surgical oncology, thoracic, and head and neck, endoscopy and colorectal, and vascular.
Our residents also rotate to HCA North Cypress Medical Center (General, Colorectal, Thoracic), HCA Medical Center (Vascular, Head and Neck, Endoscopy, and General), HCA Womans (Breast and pediatrics), HCA Northwest (General, Bariatric, Critical Care, Trauma), MD Anderson (surgical oncology), San Antonio Methodist (hepatobiliary/transplant).
Another strength in our program is the relationship between the residents and the faculty. We are all very committed to resident education and training. The faculty and residents work closely together to pursue a collegial and supportive environment.