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From Scrub In To Sign Out:
A Day in the Life of a General Surgery Resident

March 1, 2026

I’m Kara Evans, DO ’23, a second-year resident in PCOM’s General Surgery Residency program. This photo essay follows a typical day while I’m on rotation at Temple Health – Chestnut Hill Hospital, a 148-bed community hospital in northwest Philadelphia that serves a diverse mix of neighborhood residents, suburban families and patients who come through the Emergency Department needing urgent surgical care. The service is busy, and no two days look the same.

5:30AM
The Day Begins: Coffee in hand, I’m on campus while the hospital is still quiet—those few calm moments before the day truly begins. — 5:30AM The Day Begins: Coffee in hand, I’m on campus while the hospital is still quiet—those few calm moments before the day truly begins.

7:00AM
OR Prep: Reviewing imaging, confirming instruments and scrubbing in. The case mix varies day to day and offers broad exposure across general surgery. Today includes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, an inguinal hernia repair and a colectomy. The afternoon is likely consult-heavy: a possible bowel obstruction, appendicitis or wound evaluation. — 7:00AM OR Prep: Reviewing imaging, confirming instruments and scrubbing in. The case mix varies day to day and offers broad exposure across general surgery. Today includes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, an inguinal hernia repair and a colectomy. The afternoon is likely consult-heavy: a possible bowel obstruction, appendicitis or wound evaluation.

6:00AM
Morning Sign-Out: Coffee in hand, I’m on campus while the hospital is still quiet—those few calm moments before the day truly begins. — 6:00AM Morning Sign-Out: Coffee in hand, I’m on campus while the hospital is still quiet—those few calm moments before the day truly begins.

4:40PM
Afternoon Rounds and Teaching: We regroup with attendings, senior residents and nursing staff to check post-ops, review new admissions and update families. There’s often a brief teaching point—practical and directly applicable to patient care. — 4:40PM Afternoon Rounds and Teaching: We regroup with attendings, senior residents and nursing staff to check post-ops, review new admissions and update families. There’s often a brief teaching point—practical and directly applicable to patient care.

6:15AM
Morning Rounds: Efficient and focused. We assess pain control, drains, labs and wounds, and plan next steps for patients recovering from procedures ranging from appendectomies to bowel resections and colectomies. — 6:15AM Morning Rounds: Efficient and focused. We assess pain control, drains, labs and wounds, and plan next steps for patients recovering from procedures ranging from appendectomies to bowel resections and colectomies.

6:35PM
Pre-Sign-Out: I take a brief pause, grab a snack, and prepare for evening sign-out. Clear handoffs are critical. After finishing documentation, I change out of scrubs and leave the hospital, exhausted but fulfilled. — 6:35PM Pre-Sign-Out: I take a brief pause, grab a snack, and prepare for evening sign-out. Clear handoffs are critical. After finishing documentation, I change out of scrubs and leave the hospital, exhausted but fulfilled.

From Scrub In To Sign Out: A Day in the Life of a General Surgery Resident

5:30AM

7:00AM

6:00AM

4:40PM

6:15AM

6:35PM

From Scrub In To Sign Out:
A Day in the Life of a General Surgery Resident