University of Pittsburgh

Institution:

University of Pittsburgh

Duration of Fellowship:

1 year

Number of Available Fellowship Positions:

1

Program Director:
Program Director Email:

Associate Program Director:
Associate Program Director Email:

Linwah Yip MD FACS 
[email protected]

Kimberly M. Ramonell, MD
[email protected]

Secondary Contact Name:
Secondary Contact Title:
Secondary Contact Email:

Carol L. Bykowski
Fellowship Coordinator
[email protected]

Address/Phone:

Division of Endocrine Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Suite 101
3471 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15213

Phone: (412) 647-0467
Fax: (412) 864-1050

Applicant inquiries should be directed to Ms. Bykowski.

Objectives of the Program:

We aim to provide a rich opportunity for BC/BE surgeons who are interested in a career in Endocrine Surgery to become technically and academically proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine tumors, and work productively with colleagues in a multidisciplinary setting. Hypothesis-directed clinical outcomes research is another key component of the curriculum and is specifically taught.

Highlights of the Fellowship:

During comprehensive advanced training in endocrine surgery, fellows will learn systematic management algorithms, concise operative skills, care of complex endocrinopathies, and will develop command of the literature including molecular and genetic topics.

The operative curriculum includes initial and reoperative thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, video-assisted parathyroidectomy, cervical block anesthesia, laparoscopic retroperitoneal and transperitoneal adrenalectomy, and compartment-oriented central & lateral neck dissection. Fellows are also exposed to the Voice Center, surg-path, cytopath, inpatient and outpatient endocrinology services, the Multidisciplinary Thyroid Center, and typically participate in 6 multidisciplinary conferences monthly.

Our fellowship-trained ES faculty currently perform ~1000 endocrine operations yearly. Our Research Associate, Meghan L. Kelley manages multiple prospective clinical databases and ongoing QA/QI protocols. Recent fellows have been successfully productive in contributing peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters to the endocrine surgery literature. The option of an additional funded year for clinical outcomes or basic science research is available.

During the past 8 months our current fellow has done >200 endocrine cases of all types, including a month-long rotation on the pancreas/PNET service and two months devoted to research.

Attendance at the AAES meeting, Endocrine Surgery University, UPMC/UPCI Annual Multidisciplinary Thyroid Cancer Conference, and a national Ultrasound course is an expected part of the curriculum.

Average Thyroid Case Volume: 150
Average Parathyroid Case Volume: 120
Average Adrenal Case Volume: 25

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET)

Number of evaluation and management of NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 17
Number of operative NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 13
Number of NET case discussions per year: 15

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

If the fellow desires, there is an internal opportunity to engage in a more robust NET experience. The Fellow will also be assigned to operate with the Surgical Oncology group to experience additional Surg Onc pancreas cases.

International Medical Graduates 

Fellow must be American Board of Surgery eligible or certified:

Fellow must obtain a full (unrestricted) state license:

Special Considerations:

The Endocrine Surgery Fellow is appointed as an Instructor of Surgery, and is required to obtain an unrestricted Pennsylvania Medical License and DEA. ES Fellows do not routinely moonlight or take General Surgery call during Fellowship training, but are able and welcome to choose these options if they desire.

Our AAES Endocrine Surgery Fellow is hired as a "Clinical Instructor" and NOT considered part of a GME-sponsored program.

Program Website for More Information:

http://www.upmc.com/Services/endocrine-surgery/Pages/default.aspx

Program Twitter:

Program Facebook:

Previous Fellows:

2004-5 Nancy M. Carroll, Surgical Oncology, Washington Hospital/Georgetown University

2006-7 Kelly L. McCoy, Endocrine Surgery, University of Pittsburgh

2007-8 Linwah Yip, Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh

2008-9 Michael T. Stang, Endocrine Surgery, Duke University

2009-10 Adrienne L. Melck, Endocrine Surgery, University of British Columbia

2010-11 Adam S. Kabaker, Endocrine Surgery, Loyola University, Chicago, IL

2011-12 Naomi H. Chen, Endocrine/Breast, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio

2012-13 Laura I. Wharry, Endocrine Surgery, Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio

2013-14 Cameron D. Adkisson, Endocrine/General Surgery, Baptist South Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida

2014-15 Jenny Y. Yoo, Endocrine/General Surgery, Centegra Health Systems, IL

2015-16 Snehal G. Patel, Endocrine Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

2016-17 Mashaal Dhir, Surgical Oncology/Endocrine Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY

2017-18 Janeil M. Mitchell, Endocrine/General Surgery, Fox Valley Surgical Association, Appleton, WI

2018-19 Reema Mallick, Endocrine/General Surgery, Surgery South, Stockbridge, GA

2020-21 Ujas S. Shah, Endocrine/General Surgery, St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, NY

2021-22 Jason B. Liu, Endocrine Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

2022-23 Katherine A. Baugh, MD, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center

2023-2024 Saba Kurtom, MD, University of Washington

2024-2025 Kelly A. Stahl, MD, Present Fellow

2025-2026 Elizabeth K. Pace, MD, Incoming Fellow