PGY-1 and PGY-2
During the first two years, Vascular Surgery residents rotate on General Surgery services as interns, which provides a solid foundation in basic surgery and surgical care for the study of Vascular Surgery. Rotations include General Surgery, Acute Care Surgery and Trauma, Plastic Surgery, Transplant, Neurosurgery, Colorectal, Surgical and Medical ICU, and Vascular Surgery. Residents learn all aspects of basic pre-op and post-op surgical care and the pathophysiology of basic surgical diseases; they also assist in surgery appropriate for their level.
PGY-3
This year is divided among services in Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Acute Care Surgery, and Cardiothoracic Surgery. During this time, residents train at Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Hospital, and the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. They gain invaluable experience in the evaluation and management of acute and chronic vascular diseases as well as reinforce their learning of basic surgical techniques.
PGY-4 and PGY-5
These years are spent solely on Vascular Surgery rotations when residents experience the more complicated endovascular and open surgical cases, including re-operative surgeries as well as complex interventions, such as carotid stenting; they also gain additional experience in the outpatient management of vascular patients.
Residents spend their final year as chief resident at Albany Medical Center. Responsibilities include day-to-day oversight and management of the inpatient and consultation services and coverage of surgical cases. The chief resident actively mentors the junior Vascular Surgery residents, General Surgery residents, and medical students, fielding questions about patient care as well as preoperative planning and postoperative care. The chief resident works closely with the vascular attending faculty to make final decisions about patient scheduling, procedure planning, and call and surgical coverage scheduling.