|
Objectives of the Program:
|
We provide our Fellows with the following opportunities:
Clinical:
Experience the full spectrum of endocrine surgery disease.
Develop expertise in the preoperative evaluation, intraoperative decision-making, and postoperative follow-up of routine and complex endocrine surgical conditions.
Gain exposure to advanced, rare, and unique patient presentations including frequent re-operative cases and familial syndromes.
Benefit from a program of graded independence, ultimately culminating in independent operative procedures.
Academic:
Submit research projects to reputable and applicable national and international societies.
Attend regular educational conferences including weekly Chairman’s Conference, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal tumor boards, and journal clubs.
Each fellow will attend Endocrine Surgery University (ESU) and the American Association of Endocrine Surgery (AAES) annual meeting.
An optional 2nd year of fellowship exists for mixed research and clinical responsibilities.
Become future teachers of endocrine surgery.
|
|
Highlights of the Fellowship:
|
The Cleveland Clinic has a longstanding history of endocrine surgery and has been a pioneer in fellowship education for decades. Medical endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic exist within the same space both physically and philosophically. This model fosters a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to endocrine pathology.
We have instituted a program of graded independent clinical activity based upon the tenets of Entrusbable Professional Activities. During the course of the year, fellows will develop independent responsibilities in patient evaluation, billing, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration, laryngoscopy, and ultimately independent operating as a primary surgeon.
Operative Volume
The practice consists of SEVEN high-volume endocrine surgeons who perform an average of 1,600 cases per year. (This includes approximately 140 hepatobiliary cases that are optional for fellows.) Average individual fellow caseload is approximately 400 operations. Fellows are welcome to scrub more cases, however many choose to balance their fellowship experience with outpatient clinic and research days. A tailor-made curriculum allows for protected time for general surgery board exams and their preparation.
Total Average Volume (per fellow): 396
Thyroid: 160
Parathyroid: 179
Lateral neck dissection: 10
Adrenal: 45
Robotic cases: 25
Other cases: 10
Office-based Experience and Procedures:
Fellows will indubitably become proficient in head and neck ultrasonography and will perform ultrasound on patients pre-operatively, intra-operatively and post-operatively. The practice performs 650 - 700 ultrasound-guided FNAs per year. As a result of this very high volume, fellows will be competent in ultrasound-guided FNA for thyroid nodules, suspicious lymph nodes, and for selective localization of parathyroid glands.
As the year progresses, fellows will have their own weekly clinic, during which they will function as independent practitioners.
Education and Collaboration: Weekly, monthly, and annual structured educational conferences include weekly Chairman’s Conference, Thyroid Tumor Board, Thyroid Club, Thyroid Expo, Calcium Conference, Adrenal Tumor Board, and Endocrine Surgery Journal Clubs. These endocrine surgery didactics exist in addition to the robust educational opportunities afforded by working at a world class institution like the Cleveland Clinic. The Cleveland Clinic also offers free seminars in transitioning to practice, interview techniques, contract negotiations, fundamentals of research, and professional communication.
Lifestyle: Cleveland is home to major sports teams, single and family-friendly neighborhoods, outstanding public and private schools, well-curated museums, nationally acclaimed restaurants, concerts, film festivals and a vibrant art scene. With its affordable cost of living, vibrant culture and friendly people, Cleveland is one of the best-kept secrets for up-and-coming US cities.
We look forward to your application to our unique and comprehensive endocrine surgery fellowship program!
|
|
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET):
|
Number of evaluation and management of NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 20
Number of operative NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 1
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 through medical genetics.
|
