The Fellowship Council

  • Home
  • Fellowship Programs
  • Current Fellows
  • Fellowship Applicants
  • Fellowship Directory
  • About Us
  • Log In
You are here: Home / Directory of Fellowships / Display Listing Menu

Display Listing

Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando, Orlando, Florida

Program Director(s):
Joshua Karas
Renee J. Mueller

Return to Browse


  • General Program Information
  • Eligibility
  • Fellowship Opportunities
  • Program Director(s)
  • Case Loads
  • Contributing Faculty
  • Accreditation

Description:

Colorectal Fellowship Program- Disclaimer
The colorectal fellowship programs are intended for trainees who have successfully completed or intend to complete a colorectal surgery residency program accredited by the ACGME. International medical graduates who have not completed a general surgery residency program accredited by the ACGME and are not certified by or eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery are not eligible for training in a Fellowship Council accredited program. Successful completion of a Fellowship Council accredited colorectal surgery fellowship DOES NOT under any circumstances qualify for eligibility for certification by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

This is primarily a clinical fellowship in advanced colon and rectal / minimally invasive surgery.  This advanced colon & rectal / minimally invasive surgical program is offered at the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando through the sponsoring institution of Orlando Health.

The main objectives for the fellowship program is to become a master of advanced pelvic surgery in the area of colon and rectal through open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery.  The high volume of laparoscopic and robotic cases performed has accumulated a source of data for publications.  

Part of the curriculum is for the fellows to attend animal and cadaver labs for laparoscopic and robotic surgery.  They also attend a monthly robotic conference and a quarterly simulation lab.  

The fellows are encouraged to participate in investigative and clinical research studies.  Starting the first month of the program, the fellows are encouraged to select research topics for abstract preparation to submit to ASCRS, SAGES, SLS, and DDW.  A formal research conference is scheduled every month to review the  fellow's progress which is moderated by Drs. Gallagher and Ferrara.  In addition, several research meetings are added a couple times a week to check on the fellow's progress before the  fellows presents at a national meeting. Papers are also submitted for publication to peer review journals.

Basic Program Information:

  • Location: Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando, Orlando, Florida
  • Primary Program Site: Orlando Health
  • Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds:
  • Secondary Program Site:
  • Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds:
  • Clinic locations and schedule:
  • University Affiliation: University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida
  • School of Medicine Affiliation:
  • Year Program Established: 2005
  • Number of Faculty:
  • % of Program Clinical: 80
  • % of Program Research: 20

Additional Program Information:

  • Interaction with Residents: Do not share cases with residents
  • 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? No
  • 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: 15
  • Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 14

Malpractice Insurance Information:

  • No Information provided.

Contact Information For Questions:

Nancy Joiner
Phone: 407-422-3790 x 3021
Fax: 407-776-9868
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.CRCOrlando.com

Facilities

Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Basic Science Research
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab

Citizenship and Visa Requirements:

    US Citizens
    US Permanent Residents (Green Card)

Medical School Requirements:

    We ONLY accept graduates of U.S. or Canadian Medical Schools

Examinations and Certifications:

    Applicants must have passed the USMLE/COMLEX Step 1, 2, & 3 exams
    Applicants must have had at least 2 years of prior training in an ACGME accredited residency or fellowship (or Canadian equivalent)
    Applicants who are ABS or Canadian Board Eligible or Certified
    Applicants who hold a General Surgery specialty certificate from a Board or College outside of U.S. or Canada at the beginning of the fellowship
    Applicants must have had at least 2 years of prior training in an AOA (American Osteopathic Association) accredited residency or fellowship
    Applicants must be AOBS (American Osteopathic Board of Surgery) eligible or certified

 

Licensure Requirements and Information:

Florida State License is required. http://www.doh.state.fl.us

Accreditation Status Accreditation Period Length of Accreditation
Accredited for Advanced Colorectal 2021-2024 3

Fellowship Opportunity # 1

  • Number of Positions Available: 1
  • Type of Fellowship: Colorectal/MIS
  • Duration: 1 year
  • Start Day: August 1
  • End Day: July 31
  • Is this a salaried position? Yes
  • It is a requirement that the salary must be commensurate to a PGY 6 or greater in the same city. Does your program meet this requirement? Yes
  • Is the salary guaranteed for the year? Yes
  • Is there funding available beyond salary for meeting attendance, research, etc? No
  • Is the salary dependent on call? No
  • Is the Fellow on call? Yes
    What are the on call requirements?
  • What are the estimated fellow weekly work hours?
  • It is a requirement that Health Insurance be provided. Do you provide health insurance to your fellows? Yes
  • Teaching Responsibilities: Yes
  • Courses/Academic Presentations: Yes
  • Does reimbursement for the above make up part of the salary? No
  • Does the fellowship contract include a non-compete clause? No

Clinical Outpatient Experience

Time is spent in private practice offices, medical education clinic, endoscopy unit, emergency department and operating theater.  For patients in the hospital, the fellow is responsible for the admission orders, the history and physical examinations, preoperative orders, postoperative orders, progress notes, operative dictations and discharge summaries.  The fellow gains a complete familiarity with the pre and post-operative management of patients and provides care for his or her post-operative patients until discharge, or until the patients’ postoperative conditions are stable and only non-surgical issues remain.

The fellows have access to an outpatient surgical facility associated with the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando where outpatient operative care and diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures are performed.  This gives the fellow experience in a large number of endoscopy and outpatient anorectal surgeries.  Approximately 2100 diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies and 1800 anorectal surgeries are performed annually which exposes the resident to essential colon and rectal disorders and treatment in anorectal and perineal procedures.  Performing procedures at this facility also gives the resident a high level of skill for the administration of conscious sedation and local anesthesia. Outpatient surgery is also performed at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital outpatient facility. 
 

Research/Scholarship Resources

The fellows are encouraged to participate in investigative and clinical research studies.  Starting the first month of the program, the fellows are encouraged to select research topics for abstract preparation to submit to ASCRS, SAGES, SLS, and DDW.  A formal research conference is scheduled every month to review the  fellow's progress which is moderated by Drs. Gallagher and Ferrara.  In addition, several research meetings are added a couple times a week to check on the fellow's progress before the  fellows presents at a national meeting. Papers are also submitted for publication to peer review journals.


Program Director(s) Detailed Information

Dr. Joshua Karas MD

  • At Institution Since: 2015
  • Program Director Since : 2019
  • Board Certification: Board Certified

Society Memberships

SAGES

ACS

ASCRS

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Karas specializes in laparoscopic-assisted colon surgery for benign and malignant disease, anal physiology testing for chronic constipation, and fecal incontinence.

Teaching Qualifications

Summary of Qualifications


Dr. Renee J. Mueller M.D.

  • At Institution Since: 2007
  • Program Director Since : 2012
  • Board Certification: Board Certified

Society Memberships

ACS

ASCRS

Areas of Expertise

laparoscopic surgery, transanal endoscopic microsurgery

Teaching Qualifications

Summary of Qualifications

TRAINING:

July 2001 - June 2006- Resident in General Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

July 2006 - June 2007-,Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery,  Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, Louisiana

LEADERSHIP AND TEACHING ROLES:

Co-Director, Advanced Colon and Rectal Minimally Invasive Fellowship

Associate Director,  Colon and Rectal PGY VI Residency Program,  Orlando Health / Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando

Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept of Clinical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine

Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, University South Florida College of Medicine

PUBLICATIONS:

Izquierdo KM, Foley K, von Muchow M, Ferrara A, Mueller R, Bastawrous A, Cleary RK, Soliman M,  Colon and Rectal Robotic Surgery Curriculum:  Does Expansion Mean Dilution? Dis Colon Rectum, 2019: Volume 61, Issue 5, e179

Matos, Monique, Gallagher, Joseph, M.D., Cha E, Mueller Renee M.D., Ferrara Marco, Machado-Hopkins Ana M.D.,                                        Outcomes and Reasons of Noncompliance with Treatment of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Advanced Rectal Cancer                                                            Dis Colon Rectum, 2020: Volume 63, Issue 6, 429

Rosen P, Soliman M, DeJesus S, Ferrara A., Gallagher J, Karas J. Mueller R, Williamson PR.  Screening for Institutional Bias:  Do Race, Ethnicity and Age Affect,  National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Recommended       Therapy Completion Rates for Rectal Cancer.      Dis Colon Rectum, 2020: Volume 63, Issue 6, e442-443

Bahna H, Donigan M, Loh B, Ferrara A, Norcross LA, Aversa J, Ferrara, M, Williamson PR, DeJesus S, Mueller RJ, Gallagher JT, Immune Response After Open, Laparoscopic, and Hand-Assisted Colon & Rectal Resections, Dis Colon Rectum, 2010: 53:672-673.

Steven R, Bahna H, Ferrara A, Itriago F, Gallagher JT, Williamson PR, DeJesus S, Mueller RJ, Long Term Results of Obstructed Defecation Syndrome after Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection, Dis Colon Rectum, 2011: 54:(5) e97

Kim R, Ferrara A, Itriago F, Gallagher JT, Williamson PR, DeJesus SD, Mueller RJ, The Use of the Detachable Anvil for Hemorrhoidopexy, Surgical Endoscopy, 2011: 25: Supplement 545

Kim R, Gallagher JT, Itriago F, Ferrara A, MacGregor JM, Baldwin K, Williamson PR, DeJesus SD, Mueller RJ,  The Impact of Compliance to Colonoscopy Screening Guidelines on the Diagnosis of Colon and Rectal Cancer,  Surgical Endoscopy, 2012: 26: Supplement 266

Avital I, Langan RC, Summers TA, Steele SR, Waldman SA, Backman V, Yee J, Nissan A, Young P, Womeldorph C, Mancusco P, Mueller R, Noto K, Grundfest W, Bilchik AJ, Protic M, Daumer M, Eberhardt J, Man YG, Brücher BL, Stojadinovic A.

Evidence-based Guidelines for Precision Risk Stratification-Based Screening (PRSBS) for Colorectal Cancer: Lessons learned from the US Armed Forces: Consensus and Future Directions, J Cancer. 2013;4 (3):172-92. doi: 10.7150/jca.5834. Epub 2013 Mar 1

Curry A, Gallagher JT, Ferrara A, Mueller R, Williamson PR, DeJesus S, Soliman M, Ghlandian A, Shanker BA, Vegeler R, Zakhaleva J., Anoplasty for Fissures:  Risk Factors for recurrence and complications, Dis Colon Rectum, 2015: 58:5 e287-288

Shanker BA, Curry A, Gallagher JT, Ghlandian A, Vegeler R, Zakhaleva J, Williamson PR, Ferrara A, DeJesus S, Mueller R, Soliman M.

Outcomes with Use of Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization (THD) for Management of Hemorrhoids, Surgical Endoscopy; April 2015, Volume 29, Issue 1 Supplement pp. 490

Zakhaleva J, Shanker BA, Curry A, Gallagher JT, Ghlandian A, Vegeler R, Williamson PR, Ferrara A, DeJesus S, Mueller R, Soliman M., Initialization Utilization of Patient Health Portal is Low in Colorectal Practice, Surgical Endoscopy; April 2015, Volume 29, Issue 1 Supplement pp. 510


Division of Time

Percentage of Time Spent in Clinical Activity: 80%
Percentage of Time Spent in Research Activity:20%


Case Load as Reported By Fellow(s)

2 Fellow(s) performed 534 cases with 573 procedures during the 2021-2022 Fellowship Year.
2 Fellow(s) performed 688 cases with 711 procedures during the 2020-2021 Fellowship Year.

List of Contributing Faculty

Andrea Ferrara M.D. 16%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
DIO/Faculty Member
   
Paul R. Williamson M.D. 16%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Faculty Member
   
Joseph T. Gallagher M.D. 16%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Faculty Member
   
Samuel DeJesus M.D. 16%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Faculty Member
   
Renee Mueller M.D. 16%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Co-Program Director / Faculty Member
   
Marco Ferrara MD 12%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Faculty Member
   
Joshua Karas M.D. 4%
Area of Expertise
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Role in Training
Program Director/Faculty Member
   

Accreditation History

Director Program Length Start End  
Joshua Karas, M.D. Colorectal 3 2021 2024  

Copyright © 2022 The Fellowship Council · All rights reserved · Contact · Account Profile · Log in
Managed by BSC Management, Inc

Non-ACGME Advanced Colorectal and Advanced Thoracic Fellowship Application and Matching Process Schedule

The Fellowship Council application and matching process has now been closed and the results have been archived.

Fellowship Application Process Opens:
August 2, 2021

Fellowship Application Closes:
November 9, 2021

Letters of Recommendation Deadline:
November 9, 2021

Deadline to Inform Applicants of Interviews:
November 23, 2021

Fellowship Ranking Order List Start:
January 5, 2022

Fellowship Ranking Order List Deadline:
January 18, 2022

Fellowship Scramble Day:
January 24, 2022

Date for Announcement of Fellowship Matches:
January 25, 2022

Fellowships Begin:
August 1, 2022

About The Fellowship Council

It is an incredible honor to serve as your Fellowship Council President this year.  I first want to acknowledge the leadership and vision of Dr. Aurora Pryor who has just concluded her term as FC President.  Dr. Pryor has guided us through a challenging year as a result of the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to move the FC steadily forward.  Her initiative of curriculum redesign will undoubtedly positively impact the fellowship experience for years to … [Read More...]