University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Institution:

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Duration of Fellowship:

1 year, potential for second year of research

Number of Available Fellowship Positions:

1

Program Director:
Program Director Email:

Paul H. Graham, MD
[email protected]

Associate Program Director:
Associate Program Director Email:

Sarah Fisher, MD
[email protected]

Secondary Contact Name:
Secondary Contact Email:

Madalena Nguyen
[email protected]

Address/Phone:

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484
Houston, TX 77030-1402

Phone: (713) 565-7016
Fax: (713) 563-5727

Objectives of the Program:

This unique, multispecialty fellowship is designed to provide a solid foundation for a career in academic endocrine surgery. The program is a collaborative effort within the Department of Surgical Oncology that focuses on multidisciplinary care at a large academic cancer center. The fellowship's mission is to provide training through three primary modalities:

1. Clinical exposure. The fellow will have a graded clinical experience through an apprentice model with expert faculty in the operating room and the outpatient clinic. Along with the dedicated time on the Surgical Endocrinology, Head and Neck, and HPB services, the fellow will have 2 months of clinical experience in nonsurgical areas working one-on-one with faculty who are international leaders in their disciplines.
2. Formal didactics. The fellow will attend organized weekly multidisciplinary conferences that offer dialogue and education on clinical endocrinologic issues.
3. Research. The program provides for integrated research under the mentorship of one or more members of our multidisciplinary faculty.

Highlights of the Fellowship:

The fellow will spend 8 months working with the Surgical Endocrinology faculty (Dr. Sarah Fisher, Dr. Paul Graham, Dr. Elizabeth Grubbs, Dr. Jeffrey Lee, Dr. Nancy Perrier), 1 month working with the Head and Neck Surgery faculty (Dr. Mark Zafereo and Dr. Jennifer Wang), and 1 month with HPB services. Advanced surgical techniques, particularly retroperitoneal and laparoscopic adrenalectomy, minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, reoperative cervical procedures, and surgical treatment of advanced thyroid tumors, will be part of the surgical curriculum.

Fellows will have broad exposure to endocrine neoplasias and will participate in several separate weekly multidisciplinary case-based and research conferences with themes such as advanced thyroid cancer, general endocrine neoplasia, parathyroid and adrenal diseases, genetics, and neuroendocrine pancreas and carcinoid tumors.

The tertiary level of multidisciplinary care, the complexity of patients treated at this institution, and the expertise of multidisciplinary faculty involved in daily clinical care allows for a comprehensive clinical experience with dedicated rotations for 2 months in nonsurgical disciplines. Nonsurgical rotations include Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Pathology (including frozen section evaluation and immediate assessment of FNA cytology), Neuroendocrine Gastrointestinal Oncology (carcinoid and adrenocortical carcinoma), Radiology (including Nuclear Medicine and ultrasound-guided FNA), Voice Pathology, and Genetic Counseling.

Number of Cases: The fellow will perform more than 200 cases during the fellowship (anticipated 100+ thyroidectomies, 70+ parathyroidectomies, 20+ adrenalectomies, 15 lateral neck dissections, up to 5 GI/pancreas neuroendocrine).

Research: The program emphasizes training future leaders in endocrine surgery. Training in and practice constructing manuscripts, protocols, grants, and presentations will be an essential component. The fellow will have regular, independent access to research support staff in statistics, scientific publications, grant writing, and IRB preparation. Attendance at national and international endocrine surgery meetings and Endocrine Surgical University will be supported. The option for a second year focusing on further research and academic development is available.

Average Thyroid Case Volume: 100
Average Parathyroid Case Volume: 70
Average Adrenal Case Volume: 25

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET)

Number of evaluation & Management of NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 10
Number of operative NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 2
Number of NET case discussions per year: 5

The fellow has an opportunity to participate in a Multidisciplinary NET (enteric and pancreatic only) Tumor Board which meets weekly.

If the fellow desires, there is an internal opportunity to engage in a more robust NET experience by helping cover further NET clinics and OR cases.

International Medical Graduates 

Fellow must be American Board of Surgery eligible or certified:

Yes

Fellow must obtain a full (unrestricted) state license:

Yes, Texas.

Special Considerations:

One fellowship position is offered each year, with the potential for extension to a second year to focus on further research and academic development. Candidates should be board eligible in general surgery and should apply through the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons fellowship match.

Program Website for More Information:

https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/clinical-research-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/surgical-endocrinology.html

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Previous Fellows:

Gili Halftec (2024) - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Thomas Yamashita (2023) - Emory Healthcare
Bernice Huang (2022) – Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Aditya Shirali (2022) – University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
Sarah Fisher (2019) – The University of TX MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Jonathan Zagzag (2018) – New York Surgical Partners, Roslyn, NY
Minerva Romero (2017) – Weill Cornell Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
Kristin Long (2016) – University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
Ashley Stewart (2015) – Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Ashley Cayo (2014) – Aurora Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI
Lilah Morris (2013) – Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Shabir Abadin (2013) – Amita Health Medical Group, Aurora, IL
Paxton Dickson (2011) – The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Knoxville, TN
Christine Landry (2010) – Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX
Glenda Callendar (2009) – Hartford Healthcare Medical Group, Bridgeport, CT
Gili Halftec (2024) - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences