Since the establishment of the Department of Surgery in 1939, it has been essential to the stature of the Emory University School of Medicine as one of the nation's top institutions for biomedical education, research and patient care. The department offers prospective residents many opportunities for a rich and rewarding training experience, including:

	Diverse practice settings in seven facilities, each with a large and varied patient population.
	Nationally prominent faculty engaged in innovative research.
	Accredited residency and fellowship programs in cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, transplantation, trauma/surgical critical care and vascular surgery, as well as fellowships in breast cancer and endosurgery.

The department's prominent research programs include transplant immunology, engineering of artificial vascular tissues, laparoscopic surgery, cancer gene therapy, cardioprotective strategies and simulation training and robotics. Faculty researchers and residents collaborate regularly, developing new procedures and conducting joint research projects.

In addition to the department's on-campus resources, the close proximity and collaborative strategies of public health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society provide a synergistic setting for the department’s three-fold mission of providing exemplary patient care, fostering a vital educational environment and conducting bold and forward-looking research.