Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

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The advanced general thoracic surgery fellowship program at UPMC provides experiential instruction in minimally invasive surgical techniques of the esophagus, lung, and mediastinum.

With full accreditation by the Fellowship Council, we have expanded the program to provide advanced training for CT surgeons entering the rapidly growing discipline of general thoracic surgery. This 12-month fellowship includes non-cardiothoracic surgery and associated outpatient work-up as well as planning of operative approaches and subsequent follow-up.

Four fellows per year can participate in the program.

Training in Endoscopic Techniques and Cases

Fellows receive exposure to a broad variety of endoscopic techniques, including:

  • Rigid bronchoscopy
  • Flexible bronchoscopy
  • Fluorescence bronchoscopy
  • Associated advanced laser techniques

Fellows also receive instruction and training in managing complex endoscopic cases for a wide variety of malignant and benign esophageal disorders.

This includes:

  • Minimally invasive esophagectomy
  • Laparoscopic gastric bypass
  • Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
  • Rigid and flexible esophagoscopy
  • Placement of expandable metal stents
  • Applications of photodynamic and YAG lasers

Fellows typically act as the operating surgeon on most procedures and the faculty member acts as the teaching surgeon or first assistant. On occasion, the complexity of an operative case surpasses the experience and current capabilities of the fellow. In these circumstances, the fellow acts as first assistant to the attending surgeon.

Fellows receive a competitive salary, as well as the opportunity for moonlighting with additional compensation.

Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Procedural Requirements

Thoracic surgery fellows must maintain an up-to-date log of their operative cases and are expected to show competency in advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques and will have completed, with minimal support from the attending surgeon, the following procedures:

Airway

  • Flexible bronchoscopy
  • Rigid bronchoscopy
  • Tracheostomy
  • Tracheal stent
  • Airway laser/Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • Mediastinoscopy
  • Tracheal resection

Lung

  • Open Lung Resection:
  • Wedge
  • Segment
  • Lobectomy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS):
  • Wedge/lung biopsy
  • Pleural biopsy
  • Empyema/decortication
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Mediastinum

Mass Resection

  • Lap Nissen
  • Lap redo-Nissen/Lap Collis-Nissen
  • Lap redo-Collis Nissen
  • Lap Heller myotomy
  • Lap Roux En-Y RY Gastric Bypass
  • Lap staging +/- infusaport
  • Minimally invasive esophagectomy
  • Open Esophagectomy
  • Zenker’s Diverticulectomy
  • EGD
  • EGD and dilation
  • EGD and stent
  • EGD and laser/PDT

Meetings and Conferences

Fellows are also able to present at two national meetings and are encouraged to attend weekly:

  • Morbidity and mortality conferences
  • Esophageal conferences
  • Thoracic oncology tumor board
  • Grand rounds
  • Journal club

How to Apply to the Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine accepts applications through the ERAS® (Electronic Residency Application Service) Fellowships website.

Please visit the ERAS site to learn more about application requirements, fees, and other details.

Or contact:

Amy Teoli
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency and Fellowship Coordinator
Phone: 412-692-4458
teolial@upmc.edu

Address:

UPMC Presbyterian
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suite C800
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA  15213