Resident Life
South Brooklyn Health General Surgery Residency Program
Resident Life
Neighborhood
Our residents live all across Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs, choosing neighborhoods that best fit their commute, lifestyle, and budget. Some prefer to stay close to the hospital, while others choose neighborhoods known for restaurants, nightlife, parks, or family-friendly space.
Popular neighborhoods for residents include:
- Sheepshead Bay – convenient, residential, and close to the hospital
- Bay Ridge – lively neighborhood feel with restaurants, bars, and waterfront access
- Park Slope – classic Brooklyn, Prospect Park, and family-friendly living
- Carroll Gardens – brownstone charm, great dining, and easy Manhattan access (more than a few celebrities may be spotted roaming)
- Downtown Brooklyn – central, convenient, and highly connected
- Staten Island – more space and a quieter residential feel for some residents
Getting to work: South Brooklyn Health is accessible by public transportation, including major subway and bus lines. Main commuting routes include the B, Q, and F trains, plus local bus options. That said, many residents own cars and drive to work, especially for convenience during early mornings, late nights, or call shifts.
Housing considerations: Residents can find a wide range of housing styles, from studio apartments to larger family-friendly spaces. In general, studio and one-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn can range widely depending on neighborhood, with many residents balancing commute, space, and cost based on their priorities. Living in Brooklyn allows flexibility — whether you want a quick commute, vibrant nightlife, or a quieter home base
Housing
Our residents live all across Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs, choosing neighborhoods that best fit their commute, lifestyle, and budget. Some prefer to stay close to the hospital, while others choose neighborhoods known for restaurants, nightlife, parks, or family-friendly space.
Popular neighborhoods for residents include:
- Sheepshead Bay – convenient, residential, and close to the hospital
- Bay Ridge – lively neighborhood feel with restaurants, bars, and waterfront access
- Park Slope – classic Brooklyn, Prospect Park, and family-friendly living
- Carroll Gardens – brownstone charm, great dining, and easy Manhattan access (more than a few celebrities may be spotted roaming)
- Downtown Brooklyn – central, convenient, and highly connected
- Staten Island – more space and a quieter residential feel for some residents
Getting to work: South Brooklyn Health is accessible by public transportation, including major subway and bus lines. Main commuting routes include the B, Q, and F trains, plus local bus options. That said, many residents own cars and drive to work, especially for convenience during early mornings, late nights, or call shifts.
Housing considerations: Residents can find a wide range of housing styles, from studio apartments to larger family-friendly spaces. In general, studio and one-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn can range widely depending on neighborhood, with many residents balancing commute, space, and cost based on their priorities. Living in Brooklyn allows flexibility — whether you want a quick commute, vibrant nightlife, or a quieter home base.
Activities and Wellness
One of the biggest perks of training here is everything waiting for you outside the hospital. Whether you want beach days, marathon weekends, museums, rooftop dinners, concerts, Broadway shows, or just an excellent meal after a long shift, New York delivers!
Right in Brooklyn:
- Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk for summer days, sunset walks, and classic NYC nostalgia
- Prospect Park for running, picnics, weekend markets, and outdoor concerts
- Brooklyn Museum and other cultural institutions
- Neighborhood dining scenes that range from casual comfort food to some of the city’s best restaurants
- Cafés, bookstores, waterfront paths, and local gems all over the borough
Seasonal and iconic NYC experiences:
- The energy of the NYC Marathon each fall
- Summer on the beach in the Rockaways and Coney
- Broadway shows in Manhattan
- Days at the Met, MoMA, Whitney, and beyond
- Shopping and wandering in SoHo, the West Village, and other iconic neighborhoods
- Holiday markets, rooftop season, outdoor dining, and endless city events year-round
Easy weekend escapes:
- Day trips and hikes in upstate New York
- Escaping to the Hamptons
- Quick access to the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and other Northeast getaways
Family Life
Our program is exceptionally family-friendly, and we take real pride in supporting residents as whole people, not just trainees. Several of our residents and faculty have young children and growing families, and that reality is built into the culture of the program. We value creating a training environment where residents can build meaningful surgical careers while also building rich personal lives.
There is something special about building a life in New York while training to become a surgeon. We are proud to support residents as they grow not only as clinicians, but as partners, parents, and future leaders.
And who knows — we may just be helping train the next generation of surgeons in NYC, too!
CIE SEIU
As a unionized residency program, our residents benefit from the support and advocacy of CIR/SEIU, which adds meaningful protections and resources throughout training. This is a major strength of our program and an important part of resident life at South Brooklyn Health.
Benefits of our unionized residency include:
- Protected work hours and contractual safeguards
- Competitive salary with negotiated increases and cost-of-living support
- Educational funds and professional development support
- Research-related funding opportunities
- Enhanced medical, dental, vision, and mental health benefits
- Childcare-related benefits and family support resources
These benefits help ensure that residents are supported not only clinically and educationally, but also financially and personally during training.