In order to meet the designation of comprehensive training, fellows by the end of the program must be exposed to more than 125 endocrine operations, and should have assumed the role of primary surgeon in at least 51 percent of cases, defined as having performed the key components of the operation.
The curriculum for our endocrine surgery fellowship is based on the core competencies commonly required for this level of training: patient care; medical knowledge; practice-based learning and improvement; interpersonal and communication skills; professionalism; and systems-based practice.
Patient Care
Incoming fellows will demonstrate fundamental competency relevant to their area of expertise. These include some or all of the following:
Basic Skills:
- Preoperative preparation (positioning, knowledge of necessary equipment);
- Evaluations of cardiopulmonary system, age, body habitus;
- Exposure; retraction; tissue handling; camera navigation; two-handed manipulation; port-site placement; alternative access techniques; use of angled scopes; fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) completion; vascular control and algorithm for control of bleeding;
- Knot-tying ability, both hands, intracorporeal and extracorporeal
Advanced Skills:
- Intraoperative ultrasound
- Suturing
- Stapling
- Knowledge of energy sources
During the course of the program, fellows will learn to perform preoperative assessment of patients and demonstrate an understanding of the management options, indications, contraindications, and complications associated with the recommended procedure. They will be able to demonstrate understanding of, ability to order, integrate, and interpret perioperative testing, and evaluation of all organ systems as related to endocrine surgery. They will acquire skill in diagnostic ultrasonography relevant to their area of expertise.
Fellows will demonstrate intraoperative decision-making that minimizes complications and shows an awareness of the limitations of his or her technical skills. They will demonstrate knowledge of a variety of approaches (both operative and nonoperative) to a given endocrine disease and exhibit reasoning to arrive at the correct procedure and/or plan of action for a given patient.
Fellows will demonstrate knowledge of anatomy of the endocrine organs, both normal and abnormal, and will be experts in interpreting anatomic and physiologic studies of the endocrine organs and systems.
Learn more about the curriculum.