The chief year is the culmination of a resident's training. This year is primarily devoted to clinical practice. The chief resident assumes the responsibility of directing a surgical service under the supervision of the attending surgeon. During the chief year, residents rotate on services such as oncology, acute care/trauma, general, and hepatobiliary surgery. They also rotate at The University of Kansas Health System's Indian Creek campus where they are required to do general, breast, bariatric or colorectal surgery.
In addition, chief residents train both junior residents and medical students.
Chief residents are held in high regard by nursing services, medical students, junior residents and attending surgeons.
They have significant administrative as well as clinical responsibility and are relied on by the attending surgeons to provide leadership for each surgical service.
