Program Director(s):
Gintas Antanavicius
Candice Chipman
Description:
The Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health is a one-year intensive clinical and academic experience in the total diagnostic, non-operative, operative, and postoperative treatment of morbid obesity and its related diseases. The cornerstone of the program is a singularly rich clinical experience.
The Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (IMBS) at Abington Hospital (AH) was established in 2006 and has, in a short period of time, achieved the status of Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The bariatric fellow becomes a part of the team with all attending surgeon responsibilities to ensure the safe, effective, and compassionate preoperative, operative and postoperative care of bariatric patients. The fellow spends at least one full day per week in our outpatient setting: to evaluate preoperative patients, follow up with postoperative patients, perform gastric band adjustments, and provide presentations to prospective patients. The IMBS faculty members perform an average of 400 major bariatric procedures each year and our fellow has the opportunity to learn the full range of bariatric procedures, including gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, revisional bariatric operations, and a wide range of endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Most importantly, the full spectrum of surgical techniques (laparoscopy, open surgery and robotic surgery) is available for our fellow to learn. The robotic surgical platform is the da Vinci Xi system.
The fellow has abundant support from general surgery interns, nurse practitioners, and two dedicated bariatric physician assistants. Additionally, the fellow does not compete for operative cases with upper level general surgery residents, as only the surgery interns rotate on the Bariatric team. There is no requirement for the fellow to stay for in-house call, but home call is shared with the attending bariatric surgeons and physician assistants.
The fellow is an integral member of the teaching staff of the Department of Surgery and instructs general surgery residents and medical students on the Bariatric Surgery rotation. The fellow is expected to present at a minimum of one national meeting, and to publish the results of studies in the literature. Administrative and editorial support is provided.
Our fellow has unlimited access to the same facilities and resources available to the general surgery residents at Abington Hospital including, but not limited to, the Simulation lab, library, residents lounge, etc. The fellow does have their own office. We conduct animal lab training for the fellow and general surgery residents at least twice a year. This is a great opportunity for our fellow to refine his/her laparoscopic skills and, at the same time, to teach other residents. Conferences (especially Morbidity & Mortality and Journal Club) and educational activities are shared with general surgery residents.
Our aim is to train our fellow to be compassionate, effective, and safe in bariatric patient care. Our program is designed to instill a high level technical skill in the operating room to help the fellow become a competent and confident surgeon ready to practice laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery.
Basic Program Information:
- Location: Abington, Pennsylvania
- Primary Program Site: Jefferson Health Abington Hospital
- Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 665 bed hospital, 28 ORs, Medical Surgical ICU - 45 beds
- Secondary Program Site: N/A
- Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: N/A
- Clinic locations and schedule:
Warminster campus
- University Affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University
- School of Medicine Affiliation: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
- Year Program and/or Designation Established: 2011
- Number of Faculty: 6
- % 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? No
- 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: 40
- Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 20
- Are funds available for the Fellow to attend conferences? Yes
Malpractice Insurance Information:
- The fellow(s) only works as a fellow, i.e. does not/will not have attending privileges and the program provides the following:Claims-based malpractice coverage including a tail for the statute of limitations
Contact Information For Questions:
Rebecca Augustine
Phone: 215-481-7320
Fax: 215-481-2159
Email: Rebecca.Augustine@jefferson.edu
Web: https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/about-us/academic-programs/graduate-medical-education/fellowship-programs/bariatric-surgery-fellowship-program
Facilities
Dry Lab
Library
Administrative Support
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab
Citizenship and Visa Requirements:
US Citizens US Permanent Residents (Green Card) Canadian Citizens Canadian Permanent Residents Non U.S./Non Canadian Citizens Non U.S. Citizens eligible for/with planned J-1 Visa during their fellowship (For U.S. Fellowship Programs)Medical School Requirements:
We accept graduates of U.S. or Canadian Medical Schools and Foreign Medical Schools We accept graduates of Foreign Medical Schools only if ECFMG CertifiedExaminations 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 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:
Pennsylvania State License is required.
URL - http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_board_of_medicine/12512/licensure_information/599413
| Accreditation Status | Accreditation Period | Length of Accreditation | Accredited for Bariatrics | 2025-2028 | 3 |
|---|
Fellowship Opportunity # 1
- Number of Positions Available: 1
- Type of Fellowship: Bariatric
- 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? Yes
- 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? Yes
- Does the fellowship contract include a non-compete clause? No
Clinical Outpatient Experience
The Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (IMBS) has established comprehensive preoperative and postoperative care guidelines for all bariatric patients in our program. The bariatric fellow will become a part of the team with all attending surgeon responsibilities to ensure the safe, effective, and compassionate preoperative, operative and postoperative care of bariatric patients. Our outpatient office is dedicated to only bariatric patients with 9,000 sq ft facilities, an office manager, 3 RN’s, 2 front desk clerks and 2 precertification nurses. Fellow will have a requirement to spend at least one full day per week in our outpatient setting: to evaluate preoperative patients, follow up with postoperative patients, perform band adjustments in an office setting, and provide presentations in info sessions to prospective patients. Besides responsibilities in the office acting on call, the fellow will have the opportunity to evaluate bariatric patients with emergency concerns from the hospital and from the office. In the hospital, the fellow will participate in immediate preoperative and postoperative care by writing orders, responding to hospital emergencies, and evaluating patients for in-house consultations. Two designated bariatric PAs will always be available to help in fulfilling our duties to patients.
Research/Scholarship Resources
Program Director(s) Detailed Information
Dr. Gintas Antanavicius MD
- At Institution Since: 2008
- Program Director Since : 2011
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
ASMBS
Areas of Expertise
bariatric surgery, laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
A. Name in full:
Gintaras Antanavicius, MD
B. Current professional mailing address:
Office: Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 225 Newtown Rd, 2nd floor Warminster, PA 18974 Tel 215 441 6800 Fax 215 441 6810
C. Postgraduate Training:
Fellowship Exchange Program for joint replacement, YALE UNIVERSITY, Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury, CT, 1998
General Surgery Residency, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 2005
Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatric Fellowship, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, MN, 2008
D. Academic Appointments:
Medical Director, Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Abington Health, Abington, PA, since 2008
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA since 2005 - 2019
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA since 2012 - 2019
Associate Professor of Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University since 2019
E. Educational Activities:
7/2004-6/2005 Director, MIS/Simulation Lab. The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Jan. 2006 Invited lecturer, Course Instructor “Innovations of Minimally Invasive Surgery”. Palm Beach, FL
7/2009-7/2011 Director, Senior Resident Preparation for FLS Examination/Certification Abington Hospital. Abington, PA
7/2008-2019 Instructor, Residents’ PIG Lab, Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. Philadelphia, PA
7/2008-2017 Leader and Coordinator, Abington Health Site. MIS Teleconference with Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota, Univ. of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Univ. of New Mexico, Gundersen Lutheran, and Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
7/2011-2020 Associate Director Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Abington Health, Abington, PA
7/2011-present Director, Bariatric Fellowship Program, Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA
2020 - present Director, Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Abington, PA
F. Special clinical interests:
Bariatric Surgery, GERD, Minimal Access Intestinal Surgery, Robotic surgery, Laparoscopic hernia repair G. Bibliography:
1. Peer-Reviewed papers *Antanavicius G, Lamb J, Papasavas P, Caushaj P: Initial chest tube management after pulmonary resection. Am Surg 2005;7(5):416-9.
*Antanavicius G, Leslie D, Torres-Villalobos G, Andale R, et al: Distal esophagheal erosion after laparoscopic adjustable band placement with Nissen fundoplication takedown. Obes Surg 2008;18(10):1350-3.
*Torres-Villalobos G, Leslie D, Hellog T, Antanavicius G, et al: Small bowel obstruction and internal hernias during pregnancy after gastric bypass. Obes Surg 2009;19(7):944-50.
*Strobos E, Antanavicius G, Josloff R: Unusual complication: small bowel obstruction caused by tubing of gastric band. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2009;5(5):637-
*Antanavicius G, Leslie D, Torres-Villalobos G, Kellog T, et al: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion via gastro-gastric fistula in a gastric bypass patient. Obes Surg 2010; July 20(7):957-9.
*Marquez S, Mharquez TT, Ikramuddin S, Kandaswamy R, Antanavicius G, et al: Laparoscopic and da Vinci robot-assisted total pancearticoduodenectomy and intraportal islet autotransplantation: case report of a definitive minimally invasive treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Pancreas 2010;39(7):1109-11.
*Polavarapu H, Kurian A, Antanavicius G et al Intraoperative fetal monitoring, an invaluable tool in pregnant patients with internal hernia after gastric bypass and review of literature. Surg Obes Relat Dis 20011.
* Kimball R, Antanavicius G, Kurian A, Bonanni F: Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis related to Peterson's hernia, Surg Obes Relat Diseases, 2011.
* Sucandy I, Antanavicius G. A novel use of endoscopic cutter: Endoscopic retrieval of a retained nasogastric tube following a robotically assisted laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. North Am J Med Sci 2011; 3:486-488.
* Casillas-Berumen S, Antanavicius, G: Swallow syncope after laparoscopic vertical sleeve gatrectomy: fn·st reported case."[Abstr]. Surg Endosc, in press.
*Cutini Cingozoglu CA, Antanavicius G, Serafini V, Moran Azzi R, eta!: Incidence of unsuspected stones in the common bile duct during elective laparscopic cholecystectomy: a word of caution." [Abstr]. Surg Endosc, in press.
*Cutini Cingozoglu CA, Serafini V, Moran Azzi R, Munin R, Antanavicius G: One-stage laparoscopic cholcsytectomy and common bile duct exploration with primary closure. [Abstr]. Surg Endosc, in press.
*Sucandy I, Antanavicius G: Robotically-assisted laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch: the utility of the robotic system in baraiatric surgery[ Abstr] Surg Endosc, in press.
*Sucandy I, Antanavicius G, Bonanni F: Comparative outcomes of weight loss and perioperative complications in the morbidly obese population undergoing biliopancreatic diversion based on age.[Abstr] Surg Endosc, in press.
*Sucandy I, Leibrandt T, Antanavicius G: Do resident training levels affect outcomes in assisting complex laparoscopic surgery. The American Surgeon. Accepted for publication Sept 2012
* Sucandy I, Antanavicius G: Comparative analysis of gender differences in outcomes following biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. The American Surgeon. Accepted for publication Sept 2012
*Antanavicius G, Sucandy I,: Robotically-assisted laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch: the utility of the robotic system in bariatric surgery. J Robotic Surg, July 2012.
2. Books and chapters in book:
Lamb J, Antanavicius G, Landreneau R –chapter “VATS Management of the Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodule” The SAGES Manual – 2006; 793-99
Ikramuddin S, Antanavicius G – “Laparoscopic RY Gastric Bypass” in German version book “Verfahren, Varianten und Komplikationen” 2010. 320 S., 259 Abb., 12 Tab., 4f, Gb. English version book “Technical Variations and Complications” 1st Edition., 2011,Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-642-16244-2
Candice Chipman MD
- At Institution Since: 2021
- Program Director Since : 2022
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
ASMBS
Areas of Expertise
Robotic surgery, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, revisional bariatric surgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
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)
1 Fellow(s) performed 357 cases with 447 procedures during the 2024-2025 Fellowship Year.
1 Fellow(s) performed 389 cases with 414 procedures during the 2023-2024 Fellowship Year.
List of Contributing Faculty
| Gintas Antanavicius MD | 40% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Robotic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Program Director |
|
| Candice Chipman MD | 30% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery |
|
| Role in Training Associate Program Director |
|
| Kristin M Noonan MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Teaching in operating room, endoscopy suite, dry lab, animal lab. Supervising fellow in preoperative and postoperative patient care. Assisting fellow with research projects. |
|
| Luca Giordano MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery |
|
| Role in Training Teaching in operating room, endoscopy suite, dry lab, animal lab. Supervising fellow in preoperative and postoperative patient care. Assisting fellow with research projects. |
|
| Ramsey Dallal MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Attending faculty |
|
| Artun Aksade MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Attending Surgeon/Faculty. |
|
Accreditation History
| Director | Program | Length | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gintas Antanavicius | Bariatrics | 3 | 2025 | 2028 |
Please visit the link below for a virtual tour of our institution.
jefferson.edu/abington