Surgical Oncology Fellowships
The Division of Surgical Oncology offers a two-year fellowship consisting of four months of basic science research and 20 months of clinical rotations. The fellow rotates with specific faculty members of the Division of Surgical Oncology rather than at certain hospitals so that the fellow performs all complex procedures with the designated faculty and then provides post-operative care for those patients with the assistance of the junior residents on service at each hospital. The diverse clinical interests and expertise of the faculty members allows the fellow to gain surgical experience in all aspects of surgical oncology.
The fellow will gain extensive experience in upper gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreatico-biliary, endocrine, melanoma, and breast. The fellow also has the opportunity to pursue additional basic science or clinical research and may combine the fellowship with an MSc program.
The fellow will also have the opportunity to pursue a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary fellowship certification from the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
Educational Objectives
The Division of Surgical Oncology at the University of Louisville has established an ACGME accredited two-year fellowship in order to train general surgeons in the art and science of modern academic surgical oncology. The fellowship accepts one highly qualified applicant per year. The ultimate goal of the faculty is to empower young surgical oncologists with the tools and resources necessary to provide compassionate care to patients afflicted with cancer and to conduct meaningful research in the field of oncology.
The fellowship is divided into two main categories: research and clinical. Each fellow spends 4 months in one of the laboratories at the University of Louisville conducting basic science and translational research. The experience gained during this time is invaluable: not only will important data be generated and findings presented at national meetings, but the trainees gain access to some of the brightest minds in research. In addition, the fellows have the option to enroll in the University of Louisville MSc program, a biostatistics and research design program sponsored by the School of Public Health. Research does not end when the fellows leave the lab; instead, the focus shifts to clinical research, of which some of the most important findings in the field of surgical oncology have been discovered by investigators at UofL. Clinical experience forms the basis of the fellow’s operative and clinical education.
Educational Conferences
The goal of the Division of Surgical Oncology's fellowship is to educate young surgeons and equip them with the tools and resources to be productive surgical oncologists. To this end, several conferences have been created to focus on both didactics and treatment planning using actual patients. The conference schedule is designed with efficiency in mind: busy surgeons should not have to spend an inordinate amount of time sitting in a conference room, but instead should be able to contribute and learn from well-run, interesting conferences that actually educate.
Weekly Conferences
- Department of Surgery Grand Rounds
- GI Multidisciplinary
- Multidisciplinary Breast Conference
- Multidisciplinary Melanoma Conference
- Quality Improvement Conference
- UGI/HPB Tumor Conference
Bi-Weekly Conferences
- Fellow Board Prep Session
- Fellow Journal Club
Monthly Conference
- AHPBA HPB Grand Rounds Video Conference
Quarterly Conference
- Sarcoma Conference
- CGSO SSO Video Conference
Clinical Experience
The 20 months of clinical rotations that comprise the surgical oncology fellowship provide extensive exposure to all areas of general surgical oncology. The faculty has expertise in treating patients afflicted with a wide range of malignancies, and the fellows reap the benefits of this experience. This is the cornerstone of surgical oncology fellowship. The Louisville fellows will encounter and treat many patients with complex malignancies in a close, personal setting and develop one-on-one relationships with the faculty. It is these relationships and autonomy that foster growth in judgment and clinical excellence. Each fellow gains extensive operative experience in breast, melanoma, sarcoma, liver, pancreas, esophagus, and other GI cancers while at the University of Louisville.
How to Apply
The University of Louisville Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship is an ACGME accredited 24 month training program and participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Resident Match Program (NRMP). One fellow is accepted into the program each year at the Fellow-1 position.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Graduate of medical school in the United States accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); or Canada (LMCC); or Graduate of medical school outside of the United States or Canada who have a current valid certificate from the ECFMG
- Completion of an ACGME accredited general surgery residency program in the United States or an RCPSC accredited general surgery residency in Canada.
- Applicants who are not citizens of the United States must possess or be eligible for J1 Clinical Visa, Valid Employment Authorization Document, or Valid Permanent Resident Card
- Be admissible to examination by the American Board of Surgery; or be certified by the American Board of Surgery
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted through ERAS. A list of some of the documentation required is below (note: this is not the complete list, refer to ERAS for additional specifications):
- Four letters of recommendation - Letters must be dated no more than six months prior to application submission and one letter must be from your current program director
- Copy of Medical School Diploma or transcript showing date degree conferred
- USMLE I, II and III Transcript and/or all COMLEX Transcripts
- Canadian Medical Graduates who do not have a USMLE transcript must submit the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) transcripts
- Absite In-Training transcripts
- Canadian General Surgery Residents - CAGS In-Training Exam transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Scholarly Activity
- CV
- Photograph
Candidates must register with the NRMP prior to interview to become eligible for ranking.
Applicants chosen for interview will be notified via email by the program coordinator.
Applicants accepted into the program must receive verification of each level of competency in the required field using ACGME or CanMEDS Milestones assessments from the core general surgery residency program thirty days prior to start of fellowship.
| Surgical Oncology Current Fellows
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Zachary J. Senders, M.D.
Thomas Jefferson University
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Mackenzie Leigh Shindorf, M.D.
University of Toledo
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Surgical Oncology Fellowships Faculty
Please click on a physician's name to view their information.
| Surgical Oncology Division Faculty
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Nicolas Ajkay, M.D.
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Michael E. Egger, M.D.
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Kelly M. McMasters, M.D., Ph.D.
Ben A. Reid, Sr, M.D. Professor and Chair
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Prejesh Philips, M.D.
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Hiram C. Polk, Jr., M.D.
Ben A. Reid, Sr, M.D. Emeritus
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Charles R. Scoggins,
M.D., M.B.A.
Vice Chair for Operations and Finance
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