Fellowship Description

Program Director:

Christopher DuCoin, MD, MPH, FASMBS, FACS

 

Program Faculty:

 

Adham Saad, MD

Ashley Mooney, MD

Vic Velanovich, MD  

 

University of South Florida is proud to offer an Advanced GI & Bariatric Surgical Fellowship.  The focus of this fellowship is training a highly skilled and marketable fellow.  Upon completion we expect the fellow to meet the Fellowship requirements set forth by both SAGES and ASMBS, and be able to obtain credentials in bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, and advanced endoscopy. 

This fellowship provides comprehensive training in the surgical management of obesity and complex GI disorders.  The bariatric portion of the fellowship will focus on laparoscopic and robotic gastric bypass and sleeve, along with duodenal switch.  Our program is versed in complex endoscopy and bariatric endoscopy.  The other portion of the fellowship will be dedicated to Advanced GI surgery, specifically foregut, esophageal, hernia, and surgical endoscopy such as POEM.  There were be a section of the Fellowship dedicated to esophageal motility disorders, where you will work with one of the leaders in the field to master manometry, pH studies, and swallow studies deepening your knowledge of foregut pathology. 

Strong emphasis is placed on evidence-based outcomes and clinical research. The fellows will participate in all aspects of in- and out-patient care and the daily running of a busy clinical practice and are expected to participate in quality improvement projects and the MBSAQIP. In addition, the fellows are expected to participate in clinical research projects based on our large prospective database and to present their data at national meetings.

Special features of this fellowship highlight our large clinical volume and the mix of laparoscopic and open procedures including re-operative bariatric and foregut surgery. Fellows will be supported by a junior resident and two mid-level providers (ARNP and PA) in addition to a full inter-disciplinary team including a bariatrician, dietitian, psychologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, and endocrinologist.

We have a systemic approach to case assignment where in the fellow does near all gastric bypass procedures over the course of a year.  The fellow will work in close relation with the residents in regard to complex laparoscopic operations and sleeve gastrectomies, and move into a teaching assistant role over the course of the year. The fellow will supervise care of all patients on the service in addition to 'staffing' residents on 'select' general surgery procedures. The fellows are on home call for our service only and do not cross-cover any other services. Night call is covered by residents on the 'night float team'. The fellows are expected to participate in educating medical students and training residents as part of their scholarly activities.  There fellow will also host a bariatric/foregut meeting with a predetermined curriculum.

We utilize state-of-the-art laparo-endoscopic suites (renovation in Jan 2015) and dedicated OR teams in a large university-affiliated, quaternary referral center. Tampa General Hospital is named #1 hospital in Tampa Bay by the US News & World Report. USF has built the largest simulation training center in the USA. The Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) includes a virtual OR, animate labs, 4 robotic training stations and advanced training facilities. These two outstanding facilities will be the main training grounds for Fellows. Another feature of our fellowship is our ability to tailor research opportunities based on the Fellows' interest and previous experience.

The newly built Bariatric Center is a 6,000 sq. ft. one-stop care clinic for metabolic surgery and weight management. The Bariatric Center is designed with patients in mind and will house an inter-disciplinary as well the outpatient clinic and research activities. The center provides an extraordinary patient experience and enhances training of Fellows and other learners. All providers and Fellows will have offices in the Bariatric Center to promote effective communication and team building.

Upon completion of training, fellows will be able to establish and build comprehensive programs for the treatment of obesity and minimally invasive surgery. Fellows will learn leadership skills and business development and communication skills so they will become effective leaders in their field.

 

Basic Program Information:

Location: Tampa, Florida

Primary Program Site: University of South Florida-Tampa General Hospital

Year Program Established: 2019

Number of MIS Fellows: 1

% of program Clinical: 90

% of Program Research: 10

 

Contact Information

Christopher DuCoin MD MPH FASMBS FACS

Director of Bariatric Surgery Chief, Section of Bariatric and MIS Surgery

Harbourside Medical Tower 5 Tampa General Circle, Suite 410

Tampa, FL 33606

Email: cducoin@health.usf.edu

 

Contact Information for Questions Only:

Wendy Mccrorey

Phone: 813-844-4314

Fax: 813-844-3976

Email: wmccrore@health.usf.edu