SSAT-SPONSORED ADVANCED GI FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS: FILLING A SPACE IN SURGICAL TRAINING?
Kei Nagatomo*1, Edward E. Cho1, Terence Jackson1, Houssam Osman1, James Kurtz1, Steven C. Stain2, D Rohan Jeyarajah1
1Surgery , Methodist Richardson , Garland , TX; 2Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
Background- Fellowship training is undertaken by greater than 80% of surgical residents. The reasons for this are multiple but gaining expertise in a specific area of surgery and increased attraction for jobs are two main factors. The aim of this study is to look at what SSAT-sponsored Fellowship Council (FC) AGI fellows’ case logs consist of. The hypothesis is that these fellowships provide an important role of fulfilling complex abdominal surgery post-graduate training.
Methods: Case logs for AGI fellows from 2014-19 in the 12 AGI fellowships were requested from the FC by the SSAT and were provided in a de-identified format. Categories were broken into Colorectal, Anus, Hernia/Ab, Hernia/Ing, Esoph/Hiatal hernia, Heller’s, Pancreas, Liver, Bile duct, Upper endoscopy (therapeutic), Colonoscopy, Thoracic (Esophagus), Thoracic (Lung), Spleen, Thyroid, Stomach, Diaphragm, Abdomen, Adrenal and Bariatric.
Results: Summary data is shown in table below. Of note, 5/12 programs provided >30 colorectal cases, 6/12 provided >50 hernia cases, 8/12 provided >25 hiatal hernia, 2/12 provided >100 endoscopy, 6/12 provided >30 gastric cases, 3/12 provided >100 Bariatric cases, 6/12 provided >10 pancreas cases, 3/12 provided >10 liver cases, and 4/12 provided >6 biliary cases.
Conclusion: The SSAT-sponsored AGI fellowship programs provide a wide array of training in complex gastrointestinal surgery. Many have specific flavors; however, most provide broad based training in hiatal work, colorectal surgery, HPB surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction. This training paradigm will prepare trainees for broad-based complex abdominal surgery- an area that is sorely needed.
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