Program Overview
Summary of Residency Program
The General Surgery Residency Program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center is a fully accredited five-year training program that combines extensive operative experience with a commitment to academic excellence. Residents benefit from early operative exposure, progressive autonomy, and diverse training across multiple facilities, including a VA Medical Center and high-volume outpatient centers. The program emphasizes flexible career goals and comprehensive training in trauma, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, ensuring residents perform a significant number of procedures throughout their residency.
Specialty Competitive Score:
Competitive
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Program Details
Specialty
General Surgery
IMG Friendly (Y/N)
Yes
IMG Friendly (detail)
The residency program accepts applications from international medical graduates (IMGs), specifically stating that all applicants from non-US/Canadian schools must have one year of clinical experience in the U.S. The program will also accept J1 Visas only. However, it doesn't explicitly mention an IMG acceptance rate or the number of current IMGs in the program.
Categorical Positions
4
Categorical Positions (detail)
4 categorical residents and 2 preliminary residents
Program Website
Address
General Surgery Residency Program, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, 1415 Woodland Ave, Suite 140, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Program Director
Jeffrey J. Dietzenbach, MD, FACS
Program Reviews
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ReviewMyResidency (RMR) Score
The RMR Score:
The first of its kind, this unique metric blends hard data like salaries, resident diversity, and program structure with the power of crowd-sourced insights from students, residents, and alumni. It’s your go-to tool for quickly comparing programs and finding the perfect fit for your journey!
Current Residents
Overview
The current PGY-1 resident roster includes 4 residents with an international background and diverse educational experiences from universities such as University of Iowa and University of Minnesota. They are part of a cohesive team learning in a supportive environment.
PGY-1 MD
2
PGY-1 DO
PGY-1 IMG
4
Curriculum & Education
Overview
All general surgery residents receive BLS, ACLS, ATLS and ATLS instructor within the first year. All residents are also FLS and FES certified during the second or third year of residency.
Application
Residents are selected through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®). Applications are accepted from October through January. Interviews typically occur mid-November to mid-January. Key materials include letters of recommendation, Dean's Letter, medical school transcript, personal statement, and test results. For non-US/Canadian graduates, one year of clinical experience in the U.S. is needed, and J1 Visa is accepted.
# of Locations
Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Blank Children's Hospital, Methodist West Hospital, Broadlawns Medical Center, VA Medical Center of Central Iowa, and Lakeview Surgery Center.
Fellowship
Graduates from the General Surgery residency program enter various fellowship positions including Breast Fellowship, Colorectal Fellowship, and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Recent graduates have matched into fellowships at notable institutions such as Rochester, Omaha, and Cleveland.
Resident Life
Overview
Our general surgery program offers the unique blend of a large tertiary care center, a VA Medical Center, a high-volume outpatient surgery center, a pediatric hospital and an active county hospital.
On Call Schedule
# of Years of Program
5
Housing
Alumni
Graduates of the program have achieved a 100% pass rate on the American Board of Surgery qualifying and certifying exams. Approximately 2/3 enter general surgery positions; 1/3 pursue fellowships, including colorectal and breast fellowships.
Salary & Benefits
Benefits Overview
Health insurance with two plans, 401k retirement, life insurance equal to annual stipend, resident liability coverage, short & long-term disability coverage, 20 days of paid vacation, education allowance, free parking, meal stipends, licensed fee payment, lab coats, fitness center, daycare services, employee assistance.
PGY-1 Salary
PGY1- $67,305
Vacation
Residents receive 20 days of paid vacation per year. There is no mention of carryover or other specifics about vacation policies.