Four categorical general surgery residents are accepted every year and three additional PGY-1 preliminary non-designated residents are accepted for one year of general surgery residency. 

While resident physicians are responsible for patient care, the degree of resident involvement increases throughout each program year. During the chief year, residents reinforce their expertise as they assist in teaching and supervising medical students and junior-level residents.

Residents perform a high volume of procedures as surgeons - on average approximately 1,100 cases during the five-year residency. Experiences include a moderately large trauma volume, excellent exposure to hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery and broad exposure to general surgical and other surgical specialty diseases and procedures. The clinical and educational programs are supervised by the faculty.

Resident rotations include general surgery, vascular surgery, trauma, plastic surgery, cardio-thoracic surgery, pediatric surgery, endoscopy, critical care, transplantation, colorectal surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. 

Although formal research is not a part of the residency program, residents are expected to participate in the TTUHSC El Paso faculty's clinical and experimental projects.