Duke University Hospital Program
About This Program
Train with world-renowned heart and lung transplantation programs and top-echelon adult and congenital heart surgery programs, Duke Cardiothoracic Surgery provides residents with an unparalleled training experience.
Program Length
3 Years
First Year Positions
3 Positions
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Avg Work Hours
75 Hours/Week
Program Setting
University
Application Service
ERAS
Program Statistics
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Contact Information
Program Director
Betty Caroline Tong, MHS, MD, MS
Duke University Medical Center
Primary Program Contact
Gretchen Lynch
Duke University Hospital
Survey Received: 6/16/2026
Program ID: 4603621071
Locations
Duke University Medical Center
Dumc 3531
40 Medicine Circle
Durham, NC 27710-0001
Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Durham)
508 Fulton St
Durham, NC 27705
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
In person
Interviews Conducted Last Year
32 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
10.7:1
Participates In
NRMP Main Match
--
Doesn't Participate In
- San Francisco Match
- Military Match (i.e., Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, Military Selection Board)
- SAU/AU Match (i.e., Urology Match)
- None
Does not offer open house or second look
U.S. MD Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
--
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
--
IMG Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
--
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
--
DO Applicants
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1
Yes
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2
Yes
Requires the USMLE Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK
Yes
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 2 CK
Yes
Specialty-specific standardized letter requirements
No
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Deans letter)
Minimum
3 Letters
Maximum
4 Letters
Required Letter Writers
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
- Program Director
Requires Previous GME
Yes
Number of previous GME years required
5 year(s)
Required Supplemental Information
No
Osteopathic Recognition
No
Medical School Graduation Timeline
No cap on the number of years.
Gap Experience Requirement
Data not provided by program
Resident / Fellow Characteristics
Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Program Faculty
Faculty/Resident Ratio
2.7:1
Program Faculty
24
Female Faculty
20.8%
Faculty Distribution
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
75 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
24 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
1.00
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
No
Night Float System
No
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - N/A
NGO
Year 2 - N/A
NGO
Year 3 - N/A
NGO
NA = Not Applicable
NGO = Negotiable
OTH = Other
Visa Status
This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.
J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG
Yes
H-1B visa
No
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
No
Program Size
9
Current Residents
PGY-1 Positions Not Offered
PGY-2 Positions Not Offered
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Interview Offer Dates
Specialty Universal Dates
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
4 Hours
Hospital Outpatient
N/A
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
N/A
Employment Policies & Benefits
Moving allowance
Free parking
On-call meal allowance
Placement assistance upon completion of program into practice, fellowship or academia
Educational Benefits
Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)
Yes
Debt management/financial counseling
Yes
International experience/global health
Yes
Resident/fellow retreats
Yes
Off-campus electives
Yes
Research rotation
Not available
Integrative medicine curriculum
No
Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork
No
Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language
No
Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum
No
Economics of health care systems curriculum
No
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
Hospice/home care experience
No
MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training
No
Tracks & Educational Features
Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length
Yes
Primary care track
No
Hospitalist track
No
Research track/non-accredited fellowship track
No
Rural track
No
Women's health track
No
Academic or clinician educator track
No
Evaluations
Aggregate resident Milestone achievements
Yes
Graduates board certification pass rates
No
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
Yes
Patient surveys
Yes
Portfolio system
Yes
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
No
Medical Insurance Coverage
- Major medical for residents
- Major medical for dependents
- Major medical for domestic partners
- Outpatient mental health
- Inpatient mental health
- Dental insurance
- Group life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Disability insurance for occupationally-acquired HIV
Salary Compensation
$86K-$100K
Year 6 through Year 10
Year 6
$86,292
Year 7
$90,036
Year 8
$94,332
Year 9
$97,128
Year 10
$99,780
Salary paid by a non-profit institution.
Vacation & Sick Days
Residents receive 28 Vacation Days and negotiable sick days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
Maximum # of paid days
NGO
Maximum # of unpaid days
NGO
For more information, view the program's leave policy on their website.