Over 70 percent of our graduating surgery residents feel the need for postgraduate Fellowship training, and the advanced GI programs represented by the Fellowship Council offer them the certainty of the highest quality education experience. For a graduating surgical resident, the selection of the right Fellowship may well represent one of the most important steps in their entire career. The Fellowship Councilwas created to foster the development of high quality Fellowships in MIS, GI, Flexible Endoscopy, Bariatric and Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic surgery. We created stringent guidelines for the optimal education experience and implemented an accreditation process to ensure that our programs live up to these high aspirations. In 2004 we instituted the FC Match to facilitate the application process and to level the playing field for programs and applicants.

The Fellowship Council continues to grow both in numbers and in influence. Currently representing 130 programs, we represent almost 90% of the postgraduate training programs in Advanced GI surgery in North America. Our influence is reflected in our close ties with the leading Surgical Specialty Societies including: SAGES, SSAT, AHBPA, and ASMBS. We are a critical member of the American Board of Surgery's sub-board of GI Surgery and are actively drafting training curricula in our specialties for General Surgical residency training.Finally, we are a group that is all about education and we continue to offer seminars and educational forums at major meetings - both for trainees and for program directors.

It is a privilege to belong to such agroup of dynamic and pioneering leaders, and a double privilege to serve as their President. Please let us know how we can better serve your interests.

Please contact at 310-437-0555 x 102 if you have specific questions about the Fellowship Council.

Sincerely,

Lee L. Swanstrom, MD
President, Fellowship Council