Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship
Overview Heading link
The Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship world-class program that is among the best in the country. It is a broadly-based and comprehensive surgical training program. Many of its features are unique and set it above and apart from other Colorectal fellowships. The fellows spend equal time at each of three very different institutions: The University of Illinois, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Stroger Hospital of Cook County—A University hospital, a large private community hospital and a public hospital.
Fellows are selected for one (1) additional year of fellowship (second residency, actually, as Colon and Rectal Surgery has a primary board ABCRS) training whom have completed five or more years of General Surgery training at an ACGME-accredited program. The over-riding educational objective is to train residents in the use of modern techniques in the diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of benign and malignant disorders of the colon, rectum and anus.
The goal of the training program is to train residents to become safe and effective Colon and Rectal Surgeons and to become certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Our graduates are leaders in the field with nearly 50% entering academic practice in recent years
Strengths Heading link
The strengths of the program are:
Strengths
- breadth and depth of the clinical activity available
- volume of endoscopy
- availability and expertise of national leaders in the field
- level of clinical independence available to residents
- continuity of care of advanced rectal cancer from diagnosis, to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, surgery, and follow-up. Including multidisciplinary exposure
Strengths
- Diverse, independent and extensive clinic experience
- Private, Public and University hospital settings
- Laparoscopic surgery experience
- Structured education curriculum
- Comprehensive evaluation process
- Pathology teaching.
Fellowship Curriculum Heading link
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Fellowship Curriculum
- Weekly Didactic Lecture Series
- Weekly Clinical Pathology Review, Preoperative Preparation and Indications Conference
- Journal Club (Evidence Based Reviews in Colon and Rectal Surgery)
- Monthly Fellowship Colon and Rectal Surgery Morbidity and Mortality Conference (across institutions)
- Weekly Departmental (Rush + Cook County) Surgical Morbidity and Mortality Conference
- Weekly Departmental UIC Surgical Morbidity and Mortality Conference
- Bi-weekly Multidisciplinary Colon, Rectal and Anal Cancer Tumor Board Conference
The formal teaching sessions are tailored to meet the Institutional and Program Requirements. The primary education in these issues is integrated into the clinical training. Ethical issues are discussed during Tumor Boards. There is an annual lecture in appropriate and successful coding.
As a surgical training program, supervision is primarily during performance of procedures. Our residents are graduates of General Surgery Training Programs, and as such are allowed a degree of independence in the daily clinical management. Staff surgeons are present for every operative procedure.
Numerous ongoing research projects are available for resident involvement. Publications and presentations at regional and national meetings have resulted. This is adequate. A research program is in place and a publication requirement is enforced. The faculty is directly involved in research and scholarly activities. We meet on a monthly basis in addition to electronic communications.
Application Process Heading link
Fellows apply for selection in the July and August prior to anticipated start of Colon and Rectal Fellowship through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). After review of the application, the program director and associate program director select applicants for interview in August and September.
We currently take 3 residents each year for one year of training. Residency selection criteria include, but are not limited to the following:
- College and medical educational training
- Research and publications
- General Surgery Residency Program
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Exam scores (ABSITE and USMLE)
- Interview performance