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Description:

The University of Washington's Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgical Fellowship is a one-year program. The Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery is recognized as a world leader in Foregut surgery and our fellowship provides a rich experience that focuses on clinical and research endeavors in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery, including foregut surgery, bariatrics, and abdominal wall reconstruction. 

Fellows perform a high volume of antireflux surgery, paraesophageal hernia, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, Heller myotomy, diverticulectomy, and esophagectomy procedures each year, including a large number of revisional operations. Although we are not a designated bariatric fellowship, we consider bariatric surgery to be integral to our educational and clinical mission and many of our graduates are active bariatric surgeons. Fellows are also active and have an increasing presence in our dedicated hernia center, including experience in robotic hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction.

Fellows perform endoscopy 2-3 mornings/month in the endoscopy suite, in addition to intraoperative endoscopy during foregut and bariatric cases. They also staff our active motility laboratory, which is one of the top five most active in North America. Fellows are clinical instructors and supervise residents on the MIS service. Benefits include include 4 weeks vacation time. There is funding for travel to conferences and travel to conferences is not included in vacation time.

Fellows average 125 foregut, 80 bariatric (including 30-40 anastomotic cases), and 30 abdominal wall operations as well as 90 endoscopies. Several past fellows have attained ASMBS certification for bariatric surgery. Fellows take attending level call 3-4 nights/month, always with backup from one of the faculty.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, fellows are expected to participate in our research program. Fellows have 20% dedicated time for research endeavors, including a weekly research conference. Fellows are expected to present at national meetings and typically write 2-4 manuscripts or book chapters during the fellowship. Our focused areas of research are in minimally invasive techniques, outcomes of esophageal surgery, esophageal physiology, bariatrics, outcomes of hernia surgery, simulation, and surgical education. Recent projects include ergonomics of laparoscopic and robotic surgery and applications of AI in surgery. Occasional applicants arrange for an extra year of fellowship to dedicate more time to research. Our clinical fellow works closely with a dedicated research fellow, amplifying research productivity.

We also recognize that practicing surgeons have families, communites, and areas of interest outside of medicine. Whenever possible, we work with fellows to support these important aspects of life. 

Our graduates’ careers have been split between academic and larger community practices that allow graduates to be leaders in surgery at their institution and nationally. Many of our previous fellows have gone on to academic positions as specialists in minimally invasive surgery including foregut, bariatric, and hernia practices. Several graduates are currently directors of residency and fellowship programs, leaders in national organizations including SAGES, AFS, ASMBS, ACS, and AHS, directors of bariatric and/or hernia centers, section or division chiefs, and chairs of surgery.

The requirements for this fellowship position are:

·       A level of surgical maturity in an accredited training program that will permit the fellow to participate effectively in the clinical, research, administrative and education goals of the Center for Videoendoscopic Surgery.

·       Fellows will have completed a general surgical residency training program and seek to gain research, clinical, and teaching experience that will provide a foundation for a future academic career in minimally invasive surgery, while enhancing their flexible endoscopy and videoendoscopic skills.

·       Fellows must be able to qualify for a Washington State medical license. Because of this requirement, we are unable to accept applicants who do not have US citizenship/permanent resident status or who did their residency outside the US.

The University of Washington's Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery program provides a unique training experience and opportunity for fellows to work side-by-side with internationally recognized surgeons in minimally invasive surgery as well as develop their research skills and contributions.

Please visit the link below for videos about the University of Washington and about Life in Seattle:

https://sites.uw.edu/uwgme/residents-fellows/prospective-residents-and-fellows/

Basic Program Information:

• Location: Seattle, Washington
• Primary Program Site: University of Washington Medical Center Montlake Campus, Seattle
• Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 570 total, 28 ORs, 14 Surgical ICU beds
• Secondary Program Site: University of Washington Medical Center Northwest Campus, Seattle
• Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: Total 281, 12 ORs, 6 Surgical ICU beds
• Clinic locations and schedule:

  Average 1 to 1.5 days clinic per week, split between the Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery (primarily foregut and hernia) and the Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery (bariatric surgery).

• University Affiliation: University of Washington
• School of Medicine Affiliation: University of Washington Medical School
• Year Program and/or Designation Established: 1994
• Number of Faculty: 5
• % of Program Clinical: 80
• % of Program Research: 20

Additional Program Information:

• Interaction with Residents: Some cases shared
• Is there a General Surgery Residency at the Primary Institution? Yes
• Is there a General Surgery Residency at the Secondary Institution? Yes
• Is there a curriculum in place for fellowship? Yes
• Is there a skills lab at the institution with fellow access? Yes
• Are there teaching conferences available for the fellow? Yes
• Is there an evaluation tool for fellow by faculty in place? Yes
• Is there an evaluation tool for faculty by fellow in place? Yes
• Papers Accepted For Publication where PD was an author: 11
• Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 7
• Are funds available for the Fellow to attend conferences? Yes

Malpractice Insurance Information:

• The fellow(s) is also required to have attending privileges (insurance coverage must also include all activities for their work while they act as a fellow and an attending) and the program provides the following:
  
  Occurrence-based malpractice coverage

Contact Information For Questions:

Aryn Cooper
Phone: 206-616-9836
Fax:
Email: cvesfel@uw.edu
Web: https://www.uwsurgery.org/researchintroduction/labs-and-centers/cves/

Facilities

Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab