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.
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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

Advancements and trends in lung transplantation

As U-M Health celebrates its 1,000 lung transplant patient, two lung experts talk about advancements and what to think about when choosing a center to partner with for a lung transplant surgery.
 group photo smiling
Health Lab

State of Michigan allows tax credit for private employers of living organ donors

Private employers in the state of Michigan can receive a tax credit for giving living donor employees full medical leave benefits. An addition to living donors receiving a tax credit for their organ donation.
 On the left, a man in a stretcher poses with a clinical staff member. On the right, a man smiles while standing with three members of his clinical team.
Health Lab

Tap dancer’s foot rescued after lifesaving heart surgery

After undergoing surgery to repair a life threatening aortic dissection, a performer lost his toes during recovery. Now, he's determined to tap dance again.
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Health Lab

What should you know before starting a GLP-1?

A Q&A with Dr. Howard (Surgeon) and Dr. Seeley (researcher) about microdosing GLP-1 drugs answering common questions about the risks, what it entails and more.
 Dr. Jeff Punch with Rwanda's first transplant specialists, urologists urologists Alexandre Nyirimodoka and Emmanuel Muhawenimana
Department News

Rwanda marks 100th kidney transplant through U-M collaboration

A team of surgeons in Rwanda recently performed the nation’s one-hundredth kidney transplant, just two short years since launching a collaboration with Michigan Medicine to build the country’s first-ever renal transplant program.
 Residents working in the simulation center with text detailing that the U-M Medical School has 20+ top residency programs in this year's Doximity rankings.
News Release

U-M boasts 15 top 10 residency programs in latest Doximity Residency Navigator rankings

U-M boasts 15 top 10 residency programs in latest Doximity Residency Navigator rankings