Overview

Our Mission

The mission of our Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship is to train exceptional surgeons who are prepared to lead in every dimension of their careers: in the operating room, in the clinic, and across the broader landscape of healthcare.

Clinical Excellence

Our fellowship provides comprehensive training in the full spectrum of colorectal surgery, with particular emphasis on advanced robotic techniques and minimally invasive surgery. Fellows develop technical mastery through:

• High-volume operative experience
• Dedicated operative video review and coaching sessions
• Structured progression toward independent practice
• Exposure to complex colorectal pathology

The autonomous Fellows' Clinic provides a unique opportunity to develop clinical judgment, patient management skills, and surgical decision-making essential for successful independent practice.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Complex colorectal disease requires coordinated, team-based care. Fellows are active participants in several multidisciplinary conferences:

Weekly Tumor Board Conference

Collaborative oncologic decision-making involving colorectal surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology.

Monthly Inflammatory Bowel Disease Conference

Partnership with gastroenterology and allied specialists to optimize treatment strategies for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Monthly Pelvic Health Conference

Collaboration with urogynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, and pelvic floor specialists to address the complexity of pelvic floor disorders and functional colorectal disease.

Academic Immersion

A dedicated three-month academic immersion at the University of Michigan provides fellows with protected time to advance their scholarly development, engage with nationally recognized researchers and educators, and build the foundation for a career driven by inquiry, innovation, and academic achievement.

Professional Development

We believe that surgical training extends beyond technical expertise. Our goal is not simply to train colorectal surgeons, but to help fellows intentionally design the careers they aspire to build. Whether a fellow's interests lie in academic surgery, residency education, healthcare leadership, quality improvement, global surgery, or community practice, individualized coaching and mentorship help transform career goals into actionable plans.

The fellow works with an executive coach throughout the fellowship year, providing individualized guidance in leadership development, communication skills, career planning, and professional growth.

Fellows also work with mentors in areas aligned with their career goals and interests, examples include:

• Healthcare leadership and administration
• Surgical education
• Quality improvement and patient safety
• Research and innovation
• Healthcare finance

This individualized mentorship model helps ensure that graduates are prepared not only to excel clinically but also to lead, teach, innovate, and advance the specialty.

Robotic Surgery Training

Robotic surgery is deeply integrated into the fellowship curriculum. Fellows receive progressive responsibility in robotic colorectal procedures, participate in structured video-based learning, and gain extensive experience with advanced robotic techniques. Graduates leave the program with the skills and confidence necessary to incorporate robotic surgery into independent practice.

Scholarly Activity

Scholarly activity is an expected and fully supported component of the fellowship experience. Fellows are encouraged to engage in clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, surgical education projects, and other academic endeavors that advance the field of colorectal surgery.

The fellowship supports attendance at the annual American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Scientific Meeting, where fellows have the opportunity to present their work, engage with national leaders in the specialty, and stay current with the latest advances in colorectal surgery.

In addition to ASCRS, fellows are encouraged to participate in regional and national meetings, courses, and educational forums throughout the year. These experiences provide valuable opportunities for professional networking, academic collaboration, and career development while fostering a lifelong commitment to scholarship and innovation.

Our Commitment

We are committed to graduating colorectal surgeons who embody clinical excellence, collaborative leadership, academic curiosity, and a lifelong commitment to learning. Our graduates are prepared to excel in academic and community practice settings and to make meaningful contributions to the future of colorectal surgery.