CHRISTUS ST. JOSEPH Hospital received initial approval for a separate surgical residency program from the AMA Council on Medical Education in February 1945.  This first approved program was for only one year.

  In 1950 the Conference Committee on Graduate Training in Surgery was established under the auspices of the AMA Council and included representatives from the American Board of Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.  At this time, CHRISTUS St. Joseph Hospital applied for and received approval for a 3-year program in General Surgery.

  The General Surgery Program was granted approval for a 4 year program in 1966.  In 1971 an agreement was established with the Central Texas Medical Foundation and Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas for the formation of an integrated General Surgery Residency Program utilizing the facilities and resources of both institutions.  Full approval for this 5-year program was received in 1976 and has continued to the present.