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General Surgery Residency

Home Education Residents and Fellows General Surgery Residency
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General surgery residency

Marshfield Clinic offers three categorical positions in each of five years of the General Surgery Residency Program. As of July 2025, 94 surgeons have graduated from our program.

The General Surgery Residency is an all-categorical program with a commitment to training surgeons who will practice the broad scope of general surgery.  A focus on surgical critical care, advanced laparoscopic techniques and specific endoscopic training provides experience in both routine and complicated surgical procedures and patient management. 

As a tertiary care center with a busy outpatient surgery center, we prepare you for "real world" practice in today's health care environment. Some rotations are performed at the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

ATLS, BLS and ACLS are courses provided at Marshfield Clinic.

Download the residents and fellows resource guide

Learn more about the day in the life of a Marshfield Clinic general surgery resident.



Program information

A message from the General Surgery Program Director

We warmly welcome your interest in the Marshfield Clinic General Surgery Residency Program. Founded in 1975, our program is proud to be ACGME-accredited and to have an academic partnership with the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison. Our residents benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities at Marshfield Medical Center, guided by the dedicated surgical faculty of Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic.

Each year, we offer three categorical positions across our five-year program. We encourage you to explore the information provided about our residency and are confident that we can offer you an exceptional surgical education. If you're interested in discovering the diverse opportunities in graduate surgical training at Marshfield or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to connecting with you!

Jessica A. Wernberg, M.D.
Program Director
General Surgery Residency Program
Marshfield Medical Center
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
(800) 541-2895 or (715) 387-9222
 
Emily Loertscher
Program Administrator
General Surgery Residency Program
Marshfield Medical Center
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
Phone: (800) 541-2895 or (715) 387-9222
E-mail: Emily.Loertscher@sanfordhealth.org

Application

We are accepting applications for General Surgery Residency positions for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Applications will be accepted from September 23, 2026, to November 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please contact your medical school for assistance with filing this electronic application.

International graduates are advised to contact the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) for assistance.

 

The General Surgery Residency Program has the following application criteria:

  • First attempt pass on USMLE Step 1 (or 220 minimum) and 220 minimum on USMLE Step 2
  • DO applicants: USMLE is preferred. We will, however, accept first attempt pass rate on COMLEX 1 (or 580 minimum) and 580 minimum on COMLEX 2.
  • Minimum of three letters of recommendation
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
  • ECFMG certification for foreign graduates
  • Medical school graduation not more than three years prior to residency start date

The program accepts J-1 visa applicants and sponsors H1B visas including filing fees deemed reasonable and necessary in Marshfield Clinic’s sole discretion. Visa information found here.

For more information, please contact the Program Administrator:

Emily Loertscher
Marshfield Clinic
1000 North Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
Phone: (800) 541-2895 or (715) 387-9222
E-mail: Emily.Loertscher@sanfordhealth.org

Benefits

Salary

We offer a competitive salary and benefit package which includes relocation assistance, malpractice coverage and conference funding.

Salaries for 2026-2027 (effective July 1, 2026)

When taken in aggregate, the compensation package provided residents, depending on post-graduate year, ranges from $70,000 to $100,000 per resident.

PGY1: $71,033
PGY2: $73,370
PGY3: $75,708
PGY4: $78,045
PGY5: $80,383
PGY6: $82,722
PGY7: $85,060

Health/dental insurance

Please visit this document for more information about our benefits.

Time away

  • Sick leave: Residents (or house staff officers) are allotted sick days. Residents will not be compensated for any unused sick time. It is the responsibility of the Resident to notify the appropriate individual(s) of an absence due to illness in accordance with his/her program specific policy. Residents are eligible for a short and long-disability plan the first of the month following 90 consecutive calendar days of employment within a benefited status.
  • Vacation: 15 workdays per contract year.
  • Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Meeting time: Residents are allotted up to seven (7) calendar days per academic year for scientific meetings (includes travel time).
  • Exam day(s): Exam time away from residency training for USMLE or COMLEX, (first time), Licensure exam, In-training exam, representing the Program or Clinic for a business, or required educational purpose as approved by the Program Director, are accounted for as days in training.
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): We follow ACGME institutional requirements for FMLA.

Professional liability, disability and life insurance

  • Residents are fully covered under Marshfield Clinic's self-insurance plan for professional liability. This is an occurrence policy. Contribution to the State of Wisconsin Patients Compensation Fund is also made on behalf of each licensed resident, which provides additional protection.
  • Each Resident is covered under worker's compensation.
  • Short and Long term disability insurance is purchased for each resident. This policy is effective the 1st of the month following 90 days from your hire date in a benefited status.
  • Group term accidental death and dismemberment insurance is an option at the resident's own expense.
  • Group term life insurance A $50,000 term life insurance is purchased for each resident.

Additional perks

  • Conference/meeting stipend available. The resident is allotted seven working days per eligible academic year for scientific meeting time.
  • Relocation assistance up to $2,500 per resident family household.
  • Wireless computer devices assigned to each resident.
  • A meal allowance is provided to residents while on call in the medical complex.
  • Residents have designated "on call" rooms in the hospital.
  • If not previously taken, the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) Step 3 exam fee or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 3 exam fee will be paid one time per resident if taken during the PGY1 year of residency.
  • Lab coats and laundering are provided.
  • A standard 35 percent discount (excluding contact lenses) at Marshfield Clinic Optical Shop.
  • Special funds are available for resident research presentations in representing their respective program.
  • Available dictation devices.
  • Program administrator assistance.
  • Marshfield Clinic Health System offers a drug and tobacco-free environment.
  • Resident Association special activities planned.
  • Resident all-day retreat annually sponsored by the Resident Well-Being Committee.
  • Resident Well-Being Committee support.
  • Resident/learner lounge is accessible 24/7

Faculty & Residents

Residents learn with close support from attending faculty who actively choose to teach as part of their role. Faculty provide frequent one-on-one guidance, allowing residents to benefit directly from their experience and expertise.

Faculty


Residents

Rotation schedule

Call schedule

General surgery resident call varies with each of the service rotations but follows the ACGME program requirements for accredited residency programs. There is no strict in-house call; however, call rooms are available should a resident elect to stay in-house.

Required conference schedule

Surgery Residency: 7:00 A.M. Conference Schedule


  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Week 1 Surg oncology Resident business meeting M & M Radiology Sim lab
Week 2 General surgery/Pediatric surgery Quarterly evaluations M & M Indications Research/Journal club
Week 3 Breast/colorectal

 

 M & M Trauma/ICU Trauma peer review
Week 4 Indications Sim lab M & M Vascular surgery Trauma/ICU

Rotation schedule

Facts

Fellowships

While prepared to directly enter a general surgery practice, many of our general surgery residents pursue advanced surgical post-residency fellowships. General surgery residents from our program have entered the following fellowship programs:

  • Cardiothoracic surgery
  • Colorectal surgery
  • Surgical critical care
  • Hand surgery
  • Breast surgery
  • Surgical oncology
  • Advanced minimally invasive and bariatric surgery
  • Vascular surgery
  • Robotic and bariatric surgery
  • Plastic surgery
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Advanced critical care

Teaching staff

The faculty in the Department of Surgery represent general surgery and the following surgical subspecialties:

  • Colorectal surgery
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Surgical oncology
  • Trauma/surgical critical care
  • Vascular surgery
  • Minimally invasive and bariatric surgery
  • Hepatobiliary surgery
  • Breast surgery

Operative experiences

2025-2026 average case number by PGY level

National Program Average of total major cases in 2025: 1145

PGY level Average defined category Average total cases/resident
5 1,149 1,632
4 838 1,200
3 529 1,057
2 239 437
1 71 188

Outpatient experience

General Surgery Residents devote one-half day per week in the outpatient clinic, with the surgical faculty in attendance.