Celebrating its 41st year, the Resident and Fellows Research Conference is dedicated to empowering the next generation of surgical leaders. This event highlights the outstanding research and achievements of our residents and fellows, providing them with a dynamic platform to showcase their work. Beyond the presentation of innovative surgical abstracts, the conference fosters invaluable networking opportunities - connecting trainees with mentors, peers, and established experts. Participation not only elevates academic profiles but also opens doors for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement. Join us in supporting our residents and fellows as they take important steps forward in their professional journeys.

This session honors the legacy of Tom R. DeMeester by focusing on the surgical management of esophageal motility disorders through a physiologic lens. Experts will discuss the nuanced decision-making required in treating achalasia, EGJ outflow obstruction, spastic motility disorders, and foregut diverticula. Emphasis will be placed on integrating esophageal function testing into operative planning, selecting between endoscopic and surgical therapies, and addressing challenging or atypical cases. The session offers practical insights grounded in physiology, outcomes, and evolving operative strategies.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify key patient-specific factors - such as BMI, gastroparesis, and functional symptoms - that influence outcomes after antireflux surgery.
• Understand how esophageal physiologic testing (HRM and FLIP) can guide patient selection and procedural planning.
• Apply evidence-based strategies to optimize patient satisfaction and long-term success following antireflux surgery.

Participants will be able to:

• Evaluate and implement preoperative risk stratification methods, understanding the importance of these processes in clinical decision-making for surgical candidates
• Acquire knowledge and practical skills for the management of patients with cirrhosis undergoing invasive procedures and surgeries, including approaches to mitigate peri-operative complications related to liver disease
• Develop strategies to identify and manage bleeding risks and other portal hypertensive complications in patients with cirrhosis, improving patient outcomes through informed decision-making and effective perioperative care

Starting a surgical career is an art that many graduating residents and fellows must learn to perfect. While trainees spend an incredible amount of time learning the art of medicine and the technical aspect of surgery, very little time is spent on aspects of professional development beyond training. In this session, we will address several fundamental aspects of starting a new career in surgery for surgeons both in academics and private or hospital-based practices.

Participants will be able to:

• Understand basic concepts of surgical billing and coding: Participants should be able to articulate basic financial concepts in reimbursement for both the outpatient and inpatient settings in a surgical practice.
• Identify strategies for difficult surgical scenarios: Participants should be able to walk through common scenarios about difficulties faced in the operating room in the early career phase and highlight strategies for management.
• Discuss conflict resolution: Attendees should be able to articulate a framework for managing several common types of conflict.

Participants will be able to:

• Understand implications of acid suppression with PPIs and PCABs
• Describe evaluation and management of foregut symptoms after esophageal intervention
• Recognize foregut consequences of medical, surgical and interventional weight loss options

Advances in gastric cancer management are redefining the balance between oncologic cure and preservation of function. With emerging techniques and improved risk stratification, treatment is shifting from radical resection toward precision, minimally invasive, and organ-sparing strategies. Techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), proximal gastrectomy with functional reconstruction, and sentinel lymph node navigation surgery offer the potential to maintain gastric reservoir function, reduce morbidity, and improve long-term quality of life without compromising oncologic outcomes. This session will review the scientific rationale, technical approaches, patient selection, and emerging evidence supporting these innovations. Faculty will highlight how these strategies challenge traditional paradigms of total or distal gastrectomy and explore how multidisciplinary integration can safely expand the role of precision surgery in gastric cancer care.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify appropriate candidates for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) based on tumor biology, depth of invasion, and guideline-based criteria for curative resection.
• Describe techniques for proximal gastrectomy with functional reconstruction (e.g., double-tract reconstruction, U-flap/esophagogastrostomy modifications) and understand their role in reducing post-gastrectomy syndromes.
• Explain the principles and current evidence supporting sentinel lymph node biopsy/navigation surgery in gastric cancer and its potential to minimize the extent of lymphadenectomy.

This symposium will explore the growing role of endoscopic resection and third space endoscopic surgery in managing foregut disease. International experts will provide a comprehensive review of EMR, ESD, POEM, STER, and full-thickness resection, with practical guidance on technique selection, complication management, and innovations shaping the field. The session is designed to bridge surgical and endoscopic perspectives, offering actionable insights for foregut specialists across disciplines.

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles, capabilities, and limitations of third space?endoscopic surgery
• Distinguish between EMR, ESD, and full-thickness resection techniques? and apply them appropriately in esophageal pathology
• Anticipate, prevent, and manage complications associated with advanced? endoscopic procedures in the foregut

Participants will be able to:

• Describe clinical outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection for locally advanced rectal cancer after total neoadjuvant therapy
• Identify recurrence patterns of surgical managed T4 colon cancers