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Home > Residents and Medical Students > Vascular Training Options

Vascular Training Options

Vascular surgery has really hit its stride as a specialty. If you look at the way we train vascular surgeons now, first we have several different pathways. We're able to take people directly out of medical school, we can take them half way through their training, or we can take them at the end of their training. R. James Valentine, MD Professor, Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery University of Texas Southwest Medical Center

In 2006 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the Primary Certificate in Vascular Surgery, which eliminates the requirement for certification in general surgery prior to certification in vascular surgery. You now have the option of more than one training pathway:

• 0+5 track—Vascular surgery integrated track for trainees who match during medical school. Three years are devoted to vascular surgery and two years to core surgical training. Core surgery rotations may occur throughout the first four years of training. Eligible for board certification in vascular surgery only.
• 3+3 track—Residents currently match during medical school. Residents receive three years of vascular surgery training following three initial years of preliminary general surgery training at the same institution. Eligible for board certification in vascular surgery only.
• 4+2 ESP track—Available to residents in programs with ESP accreditation. Allows for early entry into vascular surgery with the traditional chief year of general surgery serving as the first year of vascular training. Eligible for vascular surgery and general surgery certification.
• 5+2 track—Five years of general surgery residency plus two years of vascular surgery training. Eligible for board certification in both general surgery and vascular surgery.

This new certification program translates to more training options; there will be more time available for training in areas such as non-operative prevention, diagnosis, and management of vascular disease; shorter training periods; and more freedom of choice as to when you may decide to enter vascular surgery.

Find Training Programs

View a complete listing of vascular integrated training programs (0+5) and (3+3) tracks.

Visit ACGME for a complete listing of General Surgery Residencies and Vascular Surgery Fellowships (5+2) and (4+2 ESP) tracks. Click on "reports" and use the "search by list of programs by specialty" and choose "Surgery" for General Surgery Residencies or choose "Vascular Surgery" for Vascular Surgery Fellowships.