The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery offers a six-year integrated cardiothoracic surgical training program. The objective of our training program is to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience into the diagnosis, management and treatment of all aspects of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases. During your time at Iowa, you will have core rotations in adult cardiac and thoracic surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and pediatric congenital surgery at the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. 

During the first three years of the program (PGY1 through PGY3), residents spend time on both general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery rotations. Multi-disciplinary education is emphasized through time on vascular and endovascular surgery, cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, cardiac electrophysiology, surgical oncology, interventional radiology, gastroenterology, and interventional pulmonology.

In your final years of the program (PGY4 through PGY6), training will consist of comprehensive and broad experience with adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, as well as general thoracic surgery. Rotations are flexible and rotation experience may vary depending on individual interest. Residents will assume increasing administrative responsibilities during their final years to provide experience in managing busy clinical services and organizing educational curriculums for their peers.

At Iowa, our curriculum is flexible, offering pathways in either cardiac or general thoracic surgery. Upon graduation, residents are eligible for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) qualifying and certifying exams setting them up for successful careers in academic or private practice settings.