Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship

Northwest Hospital offers a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery led by W. Peter Geis, M.D, F.A.C.S., a pioneer in the field of laparoscopic surgery and a leading laparoscopic surgeon. Dr. Geis is head of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Northwest Hospital, which every year performs hundreds of laparoscopic colon resections, ventral incisional hernias, splenectomies, adrenalectomies, and procedures for bariatrics and upper GI conditions, tumors and hiatus hernias, among others. Laparoscopic emergency procedures, including treatment for appendicitis, bowel obstruction and perforated ulcers, are also common.

The fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at Northwest Hospital includes instruction in bariatric procedures; broad-spectrum exposure of complex UGI, LGI, spleen, adrenal, renal, biliary, and ventral and flank hernias; and detailed pre- and post-operative decision-making. The program focuses on the skills, experiences and competencies that fully trained surgeons must have in their armamentarium to be competitive in today's surgical marketplace.

Specific Focus Areas

• Laparoscopic and retroperitoneal surgery of the abdomen, including upper GI, colorectal, solid organ surgery and tumor staging
• A spectrum of surgical approaches to bariatric surgery

Expectations

Expectations for participants should include not only the development of skills and competencies in the specific areas described above, but also an in-depth experience in the mature management of the full spectrum of patient care in complex and minimally invasive surgery. This includes office practice, business and financial aspects of designing and implementing clinical programs of excellence in the focused areas of surgery, and meaningful interactions with families and other stakeholders regarding successful outcomes.

It is expected that the surgeon will also have an in-depth grasp of the concepts of adult education and the successful preceptoring of peers, and the ability to design and implement a credentialing and competence program in a department of surgery and will gain experience in collaborating to influence future changes as necessary in surgical health care.

Experience

The program promotes a steady and graduated increase in responsibility at all levels of patient care and decision-making. In addition to the technical aspects, judgment decisions, strategies and tactics to address, various disease processes are also emphasized.

About the Program

• The Mastery of Complex Minimally Invasive Surgery Program is a two-year, intense educational and clinical experience program designed for the fully trained surgeon who has completed at least a five-year residency program in Surgery.
• In 1994, Dr. Geis implemented one of the first laparoscopic surgery fellowships in the United States.
• Former fellows are now directors of minimally invasive surgery at university hospitals or in residency program hospitals or are directors of bariatric surgery programs.
• One- and two-year fellowships offer versatility for the surgeon to maximize his or her educational experience and/or a comprehensive minimally invasive surgery program.

Conferences

• Biweekly laparoscopic education conferences
• Pre- and post-case conferences
• Monthly clinical progress assessments
• Monthly team conferences
• Interval assessments of new technology

Skill Development

A skill development laboratory is an active part of the program. Its focus is on suturing, geometry, table-tilt, procedure strategy and technology.