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, but about shaping thoughtful, compassionate leaders in healthcare. As a rural community program with a long-standing tradition of excellence, our mission is to train the next generation of surgeons who are deeply connected to the communities they serve — clinically, ethically, and culturally.

We define our graduates not just by their operative numbers, but by their clinical judgment, autonomy, professionalism, and the integrity with which they care for patients. For over 85 years, surgery education has been central to our mission.

Nestled in the Leatherstocking Region of upstate New York, our residents train in a setting that offers both depth and breadth — from high-volume general surgery to complex interdisciplinary cases. They rotate through Bassett Medical Center, network sites, and the University of Rochester, gaining exposure to solid organ transplant, pediatric surgery, and critical care.

We intentionally foster independence and resilience. Our PGY4 and PGY5 residents participate in rural surgery rotations at critical access hospitals, building adaptability and confidence in resource-limited environments. Each experience is grounded in trust, peer mentorship, and collaborative learning.

Our educational culture values inquiry, with weekly didactics, journal clubs, mock orals, and simulation labs (including robotic). We are equally committed to advocacy, cultural humility, and global health — supporting residents in local health justice projects and global rotations, like our partnership in Togo, Africa.

We also recognize the human side of surgical training. Burnout prevention, community connection, and fostering joy in clinical life are part of our ethos. We walk, we hike, we paddle, we reflect — and we lead.

At Bassett, you won’t just learn to operate. You’ll learn to lead, to listen, and to serve — with skill 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 difference they go on to make in their careers.

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