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The Lee Health–Florida State University General Surgery Residency Program will educate and inspire future surgeons through exceptional clinical training, mentorship, and service to the communities of Southwest Florida. We are committed to developing surgeons who combine technical excellence, sound judgment, professionalism, and compassion while fostering lifelong learning, scholarly inquiry, and dedication to improving patient outcomes
To train the surgeon of the future—clinically exceptional, technologically proficient, academically curious, and deeply committed to patient-centered care—while serving as a model partnership between a growing health system and an academic medical school. Through excellence in education, innovation, and community engagement, we will strengthen the surgical workforce of Southwest Florida and improve the health of the region we serve.
The Lee Health–Florida State University General Surgery Residency Program in Fort Myers, FL offers an exceptional training experience that combines the strengths of a large regional health system with the educational resources of a major academic institution. Residents gain broad exposure to the full spectrum of general surgery. High clinical and operative volumes provide abundant opportunities for progressive autonomy and technical skill development. Our residents learn from a dedicated faculty committed to mentorship, bedside teaching, and resident success, while benefiting from a robust simulation curriculum that supports the development of both operative and non-technical skills in a safe learning environment.
Located in one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, Southwest Florida offers unique opportunities to participate in the growth of new clinical programs, fellowships, research initiatives, and healthcare innovations. Whether pursuing community practice, fellowship training, or an academic career, residents will graduate prepared to thrive as confident, compassionate, and highly skilled surgeons.
The Lee Health–Florida State University General Surgery Residency Program will be an ACGME-accredited residency program sponsored by Florida State University College of Medicine. The program is scheduled to welcome its inaugural class of residents on July 1, 2028, with applications accepted through ERAS beginning in the fall of 2027.
The primary training site will be Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida, a high-volume tertiary referral center serving Southwest Florida. Residents will also rotate at Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers for pediatric surgery, Cape Coral Hospital in Cape Coral, Florida, and HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida. Together, these sites will provide broad clinical exposure across diverse patient populations and healthcare settings.
The curriculum will encompass the full spectrum of general surgery, including trauma, acute care surgery, surgical critical care, surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, pediatric surgery, and community-based surgical practice. Residents will benefit from extensive operative experience, progressive responsibility, and close mentorship from dedicated faculty educators.
A defining feature of the program will be its commitment to individualized resident development. Each resident will receive a personalized learning plan designed to support their educational progress, professional goals, and career aspirations. A comprehensive simulation curriculum will complement clinical training, providing structured opportunities to develop technical skills, clinical judgment, leadership abilities, and crisis resource management.
The program will offer a robust schedule of didactic conferences, case-based discussions, online learning resources, board preparation activities, and faculty-guided teaching focused on the development and assessment of clinical decision-making. Through a culture of continuous feedback, mentorship, and academic excellence, graduates will be well-prepared to succeed in either competitive fellowship training or independent community surgical practice while achieving outstanding performance on the American Board of Surgery qualifying and certifying examinations.
General Surgery Residency Program Coordinator
Email: jonathan.argueta@med.fsu.edu
6630 Orion Dr
Fort Myers, FL, 33912
