The following four statements synthesize our mission:

• To provide the foundation for contemporary surgical training that reflects the practice of general surgery in the 21st century.
• To provide a supportive educational environment that fosters the development of professionalism in conjunction with personal growth and commitment to compassionate care.
• To provide research opportunities for those residents interested in pursuing further specialty training, in becoming independent investigators, or in becoming academic surgeons.
• To train surgeons who, after having passed the qualifying and certifying examinations of the American Board of Surgery, will remain competent surgeons, lifelong learners, teachers and leaders in a constantly changing environment by applying Evidence-Based Medicine to the practice of Surgery.