Surgery Sections

Three surgeons in an operating room observe and assist in a procedure, with medical monitors visible in the background.

Our Sections

As one of the largest and oldest departments of our kind in the country, we’ve grown our clinics into a national destination for care — from adrenal cancer to melanoma to rare pediatric tumors.

Leaders in Surgical Care

Our department is top-ranked nationally for federal research funding. This support fuels innovations in surgical techniques and devices that enhance patient care and quality of life, contributing lasting knowledge to the practice of medicine.

We put this experience to work across our department, with a special strength in:

  • Multidisciplinary programs that assemble the optimal mix of experts to treat cases affecting complex bodily systems, such as endocrine disorders, peripheral artery disease, and pediatric solid tumors. A multidisciplinary approach means a patient benefits from the expertise of many physicians — not just one second opinion.
  • Surgical care for cancer that situates surgical excellence within high-performing teams of oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, basic scientists, all working to diagnose, stage, treat, and monitor cancer cases humanely and effectively.
  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques that use fewer and smaller incisions to lessen pain, improve long-term outcomes, and shorten patient recovery time. U-M is a leader in laparoscopic, endoluminal, robotic, and incisionless surgical techniques, a pioneer of the transhiatal esophagectomy, and a continuing innovator in less-invasive surgical treatments.

Our Sections

General Surgery

Physicians in General Surgery specialize in acute care, colorectal, endocrine, minimally invasive, surgical oncology, and veterans surgical services.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Hospital Dentistry

Surgeons in this specialty treat defects and injuries of the head, face, neck, teeth, and jaws in both adults and children, at the U-M Medical School and U-M School of Dentistry.

Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric surgeons at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, leaders in surgical oncology and fetal treatment for congenital defects, perform thousands of procedures annually, earning top national rankings.

Plastic Surgery

Surgeons in this section lead one of the largest U.S. plastic surgery programs, offering comprehensive services and earning national recognition for cleft lip, palate, and craniofacial surgery expertise.

Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgeons treat diseases of the trachea, lung, mediastinum, diaphragm, and esophagus, with U-M surgeons pioneering the transhiatal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Transplant Surgery

Since performing the state's first transplant in 1964, the U-M Medical School has developed one of the nation's largest and most experienced transplant centers, serving both children and adults.

Vascular Surgery

Surgeons in this section are internationally recognized for expertise in carotid artery disease, renal artery disease, varicose veins, and abdominal aortic aneurysms, supported by multidisciplinary clinics.

See Where Training Takes Place

Discover the spaces where you'll train, learn and practice at the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Surgery. As one of the largest training programs in the country, we provide unparalleled opportunities for our learners. Explore the clinical, work and common areas where you’ll train and grow as a physician.

Discover your training ground

Featured News & Stories

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Health Lab

Receiving personalized treatment for a rare neuroendocrine tumor

Danielle Schuldt was diagnosed with a rare endocrine tumor and underwent surgery as part of her treatment. She now undergoes regular surveillance to monitor for cancer recurrence.
 Black and white cutout of Moses Gunn in a conference ballroom.
Department News

2026 Moses Gunn Research Conference Highlights

Highlights from the Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery's 37th annual Moses Gunn Research Conference.
 UMich Med Mosaic on blue background with colorful geometric shapes
UMich Med Mosaic

Beyond the White Coat: Finding Your Voice at the Patient’s Bedside

In this episode of UMich Med Mosaic, host Mackenzie Kay speaks with MD students Josh Chen and Gabriel Culian about what it feels like to step onto the hospital wards for the first time. They reflect on their earliest patient encounters, the transition from standardized patients to real clinical settings, and the role medical students play in building trust, explaining care plans and supporting patients and families. They also discuss witnessing serious illness, grief and life-changing conversations, while exploring how early clinical experiences shape confidence, empathy and the kind of physicians they hope to become.
 A group of people standing on a lecture hall stage in business attire. A slide behind them reads "Finding your path in surgical innovation."
Department News

Highlights from the 2026 Reed O. Dingman Research Symposium

Learn about the Section of Plastic Surgery's 36th Reed O. Dingman Research Symposium.
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Health Lab

Teenage patient receives treatment for papillary thyroid cancer

Teen hockey player Gavin Hewitt was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and underwent surgery and radioactive iodine treatment.
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Health Lab

A smarter helmet for the smallest patients

U-M Health specialists invented a new design for cranial shaping helmets to improve treatment for positional head deformities like plagiocephaly.