Family Medical Leave

CU Trainees and their kids!

The University of Colorado General Surgery Residency Program is deeply committed to supporting residents through the realities of life both inside and outside the hospital. We recognize that major life events (including pregnancy, adoption, caregiving responsibilities, illness, and the loss of loved ones) are part of being human, and outstanding surgical training must include compassionate, individualized support during these moments.

Our program has extensive experience helping residents successfully navigate family and medical leave while continuing to thrive personally and professionally. We have developed a robust and flexible approach that prioritizes both trainee wellbeing and educational success. Every resident who requires leave receives individualized guidance regarding available benefits, personalized leave planning, and tailored rotation scheduling to support a smooth transition before, during, and after leave.

We have built-in systems to accommodate changes in clinical assignments when needed, including adjustments for call limitations during late pregnancy and protected transitions for all new parents after the birth or adoption of a child; regardless of whether the resident is the child-bearing parent. We also do not require residents to use medical leave for routine medical appointments, reflecting our belief that accessing healthcare should be normalized and supported.

Each expecting parent is paired with an individual resident mentor who has lived experience navigating parenthood during surgical training, helping foster community, practical support, and psychological safety. Most importantly, our residents describe a culture that is genuinely supportive, experienced, and compassionate around family medical leave.

In addition to our program-specific policies and support systems, residents also benefit from the broader resources available through the University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education office, including family and childcare-related benefits through the institutional GME benefits program.

Additional information about University of Colorado GME benefits and childcare resources can be found through University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education Benefits.