Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Program Director(s):
Joshua Karas
Renee J. Mueller
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 SchoolsExaminations 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 certifiedLicensure 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: 2
- Type of Fellowship: Advanced Colorectal
- 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 microsurgeryTeaching 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 5 cases with 5 procedures during the 2022-2023 Fellowship Year.
2 Fellow(s) performed 721 cases with 764 procedures during the 2021-2022 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 |