Resident Experience

Our mission is to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded surgical training program that equips residents with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional perioperative care. Through exposure to over 1100 cases, our residents gain invaluable hands-on experience in a variety of surgical specialties, including acute care surgery, trauma and critical care, general surgery, MIS, bariatric and robotic surgery, surgical endoscopy and oncology, breast, vascular, thoracic, plastic, pediatric, transplant, and cardiac surgery. Our program also offers exposure to urology, ENT, neurosurgery, and orthopedic surgery, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and a broader understanding of related fields. By providing a diverse and immersive learning environment, we aim to prepare our residents for successful careers in surgical practice.

Applying to the Surgery Residency Program

The Berkshire Health System Surgery Department participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). This service is provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and streamlines the residency application process.

  • The ERAS application must be received by December 1
  • To compete your ERAS application, you will need:
    • ERAS Application
    • Personal Statement
    • Dean’s Letter
    • Medical School Transcript
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • USMLE Step 1 & 2 or COMLEX Level 1, 2, and 2 PE scores 
  • Completed applications are reviewed using a holistic process to identify qualified applicants.

Curriculum

PGY-I
Emergency Medicine1 Month   
Radiology 2 Weeks
Anesthesia 2 Weeks
Neurosurgery2 Weeks
Orthopaedic Surgery2 Weeks
Surgical ICU 1 Month 
Medicine ICU    1 Month
*General Surgery  7 Months 
PGY-II
Surgical ICU  2 Months 
Transplant [University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center]  6 Weeks
*General Surgery 8 Months
PGY-III
Surgical ICU          1 Month
Cardiothoracic Surgery [Baystate Medical Center]  1 Month
Surgical Oncology  2 Months
*General Surgery 8 Months
PGY-IV
Trauma Surgery [Baystate Medical Center]        6 Weeks
Pediatric Surgery [Baystate Medical Center]      2 Months 
*General Surgery     8 Months  
PGY-V
*General Surgery   12 Months

Surgical Didactic Schedule Sample

TimeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
0700Mock Orals/Case Presentations Review/Thoracic ConferenceMultidisciplinary Breast Conference 

Basic Science or SCORE/TrueLearn Review 
0730  Cancer Conference 
0800 Trauma Grand Rounds
0900 M&M Conference 
1300Multidisciplinary Rounds Multidisciplinary RoundsMultidisciplinary Rounds

Scholarly Activity

As an institution, we have great interest in not only individual patient care but also furthering the science of medicine on a global level.

We strongly support research efforts amongst our residents and faculty. Every year, BMC hosts a Resident Research Forum in which all residents can present their work to the hospital faculty as a whole. This forum includes research work from all residency programs at our medical center, with awards granted to the top performers.

We also hold a monthly research forum focused on the discussion of resident/faculty research and QI projects. A research/IRB representative, biostatistician, medical librarian and our DIO, Liana Fraenkel are available to facilitate the research process. 

In addition, our surgical residents are strongly encouraged to present research at local, regional, and national and international meetings:

  • New England Surgical Society (NESS)
  • International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
  • American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS)
  • American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS)
  • Chest Wall Injury Society (CWIS)

Faculty

General Surgery Faculty | Bariatrics/Minimally Invasive Surgery | Colorectal | Endoscopy | Neurosurgery | Orthopaedics | Thoracic | Trauma/Critical Care | Vascular | Vein Care

 

Marcella Bradway, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Surgery Department Chair

Michael R. DiSiena, DO, FACS – Program Director

Adam Bowling, DO
Marcella Bradway, MD
Soma Brahmanandam, MD
Michael DiSiena, DO, FACS, ABS, ABPath
Christian Galvez-Padilla, MD
Mark Kryskow, DO
Andrew Lederman, MD
Javier Martin Perez, MD
Clayton Peterson, MD
  • Adam Bowling, DO
  • Marcella Bradway, MD
  • Soma Brahmanandam, MD
  • Michael DiSiena, DO, FACS, ABS, ABPath
  • Christian Galvez-Padilla, MD
  • Mark Kryskow, DO
  • Andrew Lederman, MD
  • Javier Martin Perez, MD
  • Clayton Peterson, MD

2024 Surgical Residents

Program FAQ’s

01

COMLEX score: 500 or higher; 1st attempt is preferred.

USMLE Step 1: a score of 229 or above and Step 2: a score of 230 or above; 1rst attempt is preferred.

02

Please be sure to include the results of all exams that you have completed and include on the application whether any missing exams have been scheduled yet. It is a MA state requirement that USMLE Step 1 & 2 or COMLEX 1, 2, and 2 PE be completed and submitted in order to obtain a medical license, therefore all three exams MUST have been completed and passed prior to May in order to ensure sufficient time to apply for a physician limited medical license.

03

You must have graduated within five (5) years of applying to the program.

04

Three (3) letters or recommendation are required in addition to a Dean’s Letter.

05

No, your recommendation letters do not have to come from locations in the United States, but we do strongly encourage that most, if not all, of your letters are from surgeons.

06

We offer two (2) categorical and two (2) preliminary positions per year.

07

We receive approximately 800 applications a year.

08

The deadline to apply to our program is December 1st.

09

Interviews are scheduled from October – December.

10

We accept applications ONLY via ERAS. Please do not send any applications via email, fax, or phone.

Surgical Residency Affiliate Sites

Baystate Medical Center
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Welcome to the Surgery Department

Virtual Tour of the Department of Surgery at Berkshire Medical Center