General surgeons provide a wide range of care to patients with conditions affecting a variety of areas including the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and soft tissues, endocrine, and other systems. Care is provided in outpatient, inpatient, and critical care settings. Interventions performed by general surgeons include minor, minimally invasive and major procedures.

General surgery residency consists of five clinical years during which trainees assume increasing levels of responsibility in patient care and develop a range of technical skills. Some training programs offer or require research experience. Many other surgical residencies, such as Orthopedics, participate in general surgery training during the internship year; these are referred to as 'preliminary' positions. 'Categorical' residents are designated as General Surgery from the Match forward.