Colon & Rectal Surgery Fellowship

The University of Minnesota has over a 50 year tradition of training surgeons in the specialty of colon and rectal surgery. In the early 1950’s, the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery began to offer apprenticeships in the specialty, and since 1956, formal residencies have been awarded. Currently, a one-year postgraduate residency training program in the field of colon and rectal surgery is offered the program meets the requirements of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The program participates in the National Residency Matching Program and offers five (5) clinical residency positions each academic year. A strong emphasis is placed on candidates with an interest in academic colon and rectal surgery. Many graduates of the program have subsequently chosen academic career paths. With a faculty of 22 colon and rectal surgeons, a broad exposure to the full breadth of colon and rectal surgery is provided.

Each candidate must have completed a minimum of five (5) years training in an ACGME approved general surgical training program. All candidates must be certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery.  All candidates must be eligible for full licensure or residency licensure in the State of Minnesota.

Program Information

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Program Features

Operative caseload (per resident each year)

  • 200 – 250 major abdominal procedures
  • 150 – 250 anorectal procedures

Colonoscopy (per resident each year)

  • 150 – 200 colonoscopies
  • 30 – 50 polypectomies

Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders

The residents learn about anal physiology testing, anal and rectal ultrasound and interpretation of anal physiology tests. Each year, over 3,000 patients are evaluated in the Pelvic Floor Center.

Residency Program Office

Work stations for residents are provided in a self-contained library and AV facility as well as computer access and administrative support.

Clinical Rotations

The residents rotate between different clinical sites/rotations twice over the course of the academic year. Each rotation is structured to provide endoscopy, operative and private office/outpatient clinical experience. In addition, some rotations have special emphasis on preoperative/postoperative care, pelvic floor evaluation, endorectal ultrasound, TEM, and robotic surgery. The residents work under the supervision of teaching faculty. At the University of Minnesota Medical Center and Veterans Administration sites, they collaborate with more junior residents and medical students in the teaching pyramid. In the private practice rotations, they work one-on-one with the faculty.

Clinical Research

There is ongoing clinical and basic science research at the University of Minnesota. Each resident is assigned a research topic and expected to prepare an abstract for submission to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. These topics are typically retrospective studies of a particular condition. There are many other opportunities to co-author chapters or participate in other research projects.

Residency Application process

Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program - 2024-2025 Appointment Year

The Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program utilizes the Electronic Residency Application Service - ERAS®️, this service transmits residency applications, letters of recommendation, Dean's Letters/MSPE, transcripts, and other supporting credentials from applicants and medical schools to residency programs using the Internet via www.aamc.org. The Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery requests a completed online application, a personal statement, curriculum vitae, copy of medical diploma, ECFMG certification, USMLE/ABSITE scores, and three (3) letters of recommendation.

Application Deadline Information

The Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery's Interview Committee will accept applications for the 2024-2025 appointment year consideration starting July 5, 2023. Our program will receive access to review all submitted applications on July 19, 2023, with the application deadline of July 28, 2023. Please note that applications submitted after the July 28, 2023 deadline or applications that are incomplete will not be considered.

We will offer three virtual interview dates for the 2024-2025 appointment year consideration:

  • August 18, 2023
  • September 15, 2023
  • September 22, 2023

Interview & Application Information

Interviews are by invitation only.

Three (3) sets of dates are aside each year for applicant interviews. These sets of dates consist of a one and a half day virtual interview process that includes a virtual dinner with current residents Thursday evening, followed by a program introduction, one-on-one interviews with the Applicant Faculty Selection Committee members, and break-out room discussions with non-interviewing Faculty members beginning Friday morning through the afternoon.

In accordance with the University of Minnesota's current interview policy, all applicant interviews will be conducted virtually and will not be held in-person. Please refer to the University of Minnesota GME website for program applicant information and resources.

 

How to Apply

VISA Sponsorship

The J-1 alien physician visa sponsored by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is the preferred visa status for foreign national trainees in all University of Minnesota graduate medical education fellowship programs. More information can be found on the University of Minnesota Graduate Medical Education J-1/J-2 Visas webpage.

Verification of Training

Requests to verify a Colon & Rectal Surgery fellow's training at the University of Minnesota need to be emailed to strom721@umn.edu or faxed to the attention of Verification Processing at 612-625-4411. For verification of subspecialty training, please contact the subspecialty directly.

To verify professional liability insurance information for a former UMN resident or fellow, find instructions on the Medical Malpractice Credentialing/Insurance Verification site.

Verification Contact List

 

Contacts

Dr. Sun
Mark Y. Sun, MD, Program Director

marksun@crsal.org

Sarah Strommer, Program Administrator, strom721@umn.edu

 

Leadership

Mark Y. Sun, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Director, Residency Program
Email: msun@crsal.org

University of Minnesota
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery
3433 Broadway Street NE
Suite 115
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Tel: (612) 624-1722
Fax: (612) 624-4545