Welcome from the General Surgery Residency Program Director

Welcome from Joon Shim, MD, MPH, FACS, Program Director

At Bassett, we believe that surgical education is not only about mastering procedures — it is about developing thoughtful, compassionate, and adaptable leaders in healthcare. As a rural community program with a long-standing tradition of excellence, our mission is to train surgeons who are deeply connected to the communities they serve — clinically, ethically, and culturally.

We define our graduates not simply by their operative numbers, but by their clinical judgment, technical excellence, autonomy, professionalism, and the integrity with which they care for patients. For more than 85 years, surgical education has been central to our mission.

Nestled in the Leatherstocking Region of Upstate New York, our residents train in an environment that offers both remarkable breadth and meaningful depth. From high-volume general surgery to complex interdisciplinary care, they gain experience across Bassett Medical Center, our regional network, and dedicated outside rotations designed to complement rural surgical practice.

Recognizing the evolving demands of modern surgery, every resident graduates with robotic surgery certification, ensuring confidence with advanced minimally invasive techniques. Residents also complete a dedicated thoracic surgery rotation at St. Peter’s in Albany, expanding their exposure to thoracic surgery.

Because we are committed to training exceptional rural surgeons, our curriculum includes separate Obstetrics and Gynecologic Surgery rotations, preparing graduates to care for patients across the full spectrum of rural practice. Residents also rotate through Breast Imaging, developing expertise in breast disease evaluation and strengthening collaboration with radiology, breast surgery, and multidisciplinary cancer care.

We intentionally foster independence and resilience. Our PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents participate in rural surgery rotations at critical access hospitals, building confidence, adaptability, and sound judgment in resource-limited environments while practicing with graduated autonomy under dedicated mentorship.

Our educational culture extends well beyond the operating room. Alongside weekly didactics, journal clubs, mock oral examinations, simulation training, and robotic skills development, residents participate in our Choosing Leadership curriculum, Surgical Humanities, and Cultural Humility programs. These experiences cultivate emotionally intelligent surgeons who communicate effectively, lead with authenticity, and care for patients with empathy and respect.

Teaching is woven into every stage of residency. Bassett welcomes Columbia and Columbia-Bassett medical students for their surgical education. Our residents play a central role in mentoring and teaching our students, reinforcing the principle that excellent surgeons are also excellent teachers.

We also recognize the human side of surgical training. Burnout prevention, community, mentorship, wellness, and finding joy in medicine are integral to our culture. We walk, hike, paddle, reflect, thrive — and we lead together.

At Bassett, you won’t simply learn to operate. You’ll graduate prepared to lead, innovate, teach, and serve — with exceptional skill, humility, and heart.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions about our program. We are proud of the surgeons who train here and the lasting impact they make in the communities they serve.

Joon K. Shim, MD, MPH, FACS
 

Our Leadership Team

Joon Shim, MD, MPH, FACS
Program Director

Andrew Griffiths, MD, FACS
Associate Program Director

Kelly Stone, C-TAGME
Program Coordinator