Training

University of Michigan thoracic surgery training programs provide broad clinical experience, the deep resources of a top academic medical center, and instruction by talented and dedicated surgeon educators for prospective thoracic surgeons.

Excellence in Thoracic Surgery Education

Our training programs provide the thoracic surgical trainee with:

  • Tailored options: In addition to the 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency program and 2-year traditional fellowship, we also offer a 1-year advanced practice thoracic surgery fellowship option, where fellows gain additional focus and clinical experience in general thoracic, adult cardiac, or thoracic transplant surgery.
  • Expertise in all aspects of thoracic surgery: With experience and excellent case volume in adult cardiac surgery, general thoracic surgery, and congenital cardiac surgery, we offer balance paired with the opportunities to specialize in any of those fields.
  • Faculty invested in teaching and learning: We emphasize a “train the trainer” approach in our education programs, preparing residents and fellows to be excellent clinicians as well as excellent instructors themselves. Whether you go on to academic medicine or private practice, our graduates are prepared to lead in the field with a comprehensive understanding of the specialty.

Our Programs

Thoracic surgery education programs at Michigan Medicine begin at the undergraduate level and extend to professional development for peers and colleagues.

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate students can learn more about careers in thoracic surgery through shadowing opportunities coordinated by the SCRUBS and MShadow. Dr. Jules Lin, M.D., and Dr. Rishindra M. Reddy, M.D., coordinate our shadowing opportunities in the section. Undergraduates are also welcome to pursue research projects as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP).

Medical Student Education

Thoracic surgery offers a competitive M4 sub-internship, as well as opportunities to join section faculty for research projects. Medical students have contributed to projects that resulted in peer-reviewed publications.

Professional Development

We offer training in the da Vinci robotic surgery platform to colleagues who seek to develop their skills in robotic surgery equipment and techniques, many of which we foresee will replace other modes of minimally invasive surgery in the next 10 years.

Residency & Fellowship Programs

The Department of Surgery Section of Thoracic Surgery and the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Michigan Medicine partner together to offer a 6-year integrated thoracic surgery residency program and a 2-year traditional thoracic surgery fellowship, in addition to a 2-year congenital cardiac surgery fellowship. The Department of Surgery Section of Thoracic Surgery also participates in training general surgery residents during their 3rd and 5th clinical years.

Residents and fellows will find a collegial environment with a high volume of challenging and diverse cases at Michigan Medicine. Our alumni frequently go on to take leadership roles in the profession.

Discover More About Our Residency & Fellowship Programs

Learn about clinical experience, research opportunities, and life in Ann Arbor for the thoracic surgery residency and fellowship programs.

Learn more about the application process and the schedule for upcoming Department of Surgery "Ask Us Anything" webinars.