Program Overview

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Medical College of Wisconsin Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship

The Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO) Fellowship in the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin is an ACGME-accredited, two-year program offered by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH). Each graduate will be eligible for dual certification by pursuing American Board of Surgery CGSO Board Certification in addition to the AHPBA Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery certification.

Program Details

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the CGSO fellowship must meet the following educational qualifications:

• Successful completion of an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency program in the United States or Canada
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada must have a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
• Applicants must have passed each of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) steps
• At the time of entry into the fellowship program, all applicants will be board eligible or board certified general surgeons under the auspices of the American Board of Surgery
• Candidates must be eligible to obtain licensure to practice medicine in the State of Wisconsin. A valid license to practice medicine in the State of Wisconsin must be obtained prior to the start the fellowship year.

Visa

Applicants must have an appropriate visa to begin Graduate Medical Education with the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. If a candidate does not obtain an appropriate visa that permits MCWAH to employ him/her on the designated start date, the training position will not be held and may be offered to another candidate.

Dual Certification: Surgical Oncology - HPB Surgery

The CGSO Fellowship training and experience allows for each fellow to earn dual certification by pursuing American Board of Surgery CGSO Board Certification and AHPBA HPB Surgery Certification.

Program Overview

• The Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO) Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited, two-year program.
• Graduates will be eligible to sit for the American Board of Surgery examination in CGSO and for the HPB certificate awarded by the AHPBA.
• One fellow is accepted into the program each year.
• Fellows are mentored and expected to pursue research interests during the fellowship.
• CGSO graduates will join the surgical profession competent and confident that they are ready to provide the extraordinary care to their patients as actively practicing board certified surgical oncologists with, if desired, HPB specialty designation.

Objectives of Surgical Education

The goal of our CGSO Fellowship program is to cultivate four major objectives of surgical education:

• Foster development of positive humanistic attitudes as essential to providing excellence in surgical patient care.
• Assure acquisition of appropriate technical surgical skills and an appreciation of surgical anatomy and physiology.
• Provide opportunity to develop mature surgical judgment based on theoretical considerations and on practical experience.
• Develop an inquiring mind, tempered by appropriate skepticism, by means of vigorous and candid review of one's surgical work and by exposure to the problems of basic and clinical research.

Clinical Experience

The clinical experience is diverse and includes training in all aspects of Surgical Oncology including participation in the initial clinical evaluation of patients, planning of the treatment including multidisciplinary and surgical approaches, and postoperative and follow-up care. Fellows will learn to perform complex and technically challenging oncologic operations and to participate in the multidisciplinary management of these cases. Rotations include:

• Breast
• Colorectal
• Endocrine
• Hepatobiliary and Pancreas
• Medical oncology
• Melanoma / Sarcoma / Gastrointestinal / Peritoneal malignancies
• Radiation oncology
• Surgical pathology

Fellows have the option to take elective rotations in areas of specific interest, which include:

• Genetics
• HPB
• OB/GYN
• Ortho
• Otolaryngology
• Palliative care services
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Plastics
• Urology

Curriculum

Weekly

• CGSO Fellows' Weekly Conference
• Service-specific educational conferences
• Service-specific multidisciplinary tumor conferences
• Surgery morbidity and mortality conferences
• Surgical and institutional grand rounds

Monthly

• Service-specific journal clubs
• AHPBA HPB Fellow Grand Rounds Video Conference

Quarterly

• SSO National Video Conference Series

Other Opportunities

• Annual SSO Fellows Institute
• AHPBA Annual Meeting – HPB Fellows Practicum
• SSO Annual Meeting
• Service-specific suggested reading list

Research

Interest in research is expected and significant infrastructure supports a productive research experience. Fellows can expect:

Mentorship

Fellows will develop a research plan with specific research mentors and the Program Directors. This will occur early in the first year of fellowship with the goal of completing projects prior to graduation.

Extensive database resources

The Division of Surgical Oncology has five full-time database managers who maintain multiple prospective databases (breast, parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, liver, peritoneal malignancies, and sarcoma).

Support

The Cancer Center's Clinical Trials Office provides access to full-time clinical research coordinators, regulatory staff, and financial staff to assist with clinical trials. The Division of Surgical Oncology also has access to biostatistical support and many of the surgical oncology faculty have advanced training in clinical research.

Protected research time

• The CGSO fellowship includes four months of research which are used to develop clinical and/or translational research skills and to design, initiate and carryout various projects.
• Fellows will have exposure to principles of conducting clinical research, scientific communications, grantsmanship, surgical education, and research ethics.

Outcomes

It is anticipated that all fellows conduct at least two clinical or scientific research projects that result in finished manuscripts ready for publication. This may range from a short-term clinical research project to a more sophisticated clinical investigation or laboratory science project.

Faculty

• Tina Wei-Fang Yen, MD, MS
• Jed Calata, MD
• Kathleen K. Christians, MD
• Callisia N. Clarke, MD, MS
• Adrienne N. Cobb, MD, MS
• Chandler S. Cortina, MD, MS
• Adam D. Currey, MD
• Douglas B. Evans, MD
• Alexandra C. Istl, MD, MPH
• Julie Jorns, MD
• Amanda L. Kong, MD, MS
• Anai N. Kothari, MD, MS
• Kirk A. Ludwig, MD
• Ugwuji N. Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH
• Caitlin R. Patten, MD
• Carrie Peterson, MD, MS
• Timothy J. Ridolfi, MD, MS
• Tracy S. Wang, MD, MPH

Past Fellows

• Chad E. Cragle, MD, PhD
• Ricardo J. Bello, MD, MPH
• Chad A. Barnes, MD
• Erin P. Ward, MD

Application

Applications and supporting documentation are accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The following documents are required for your application:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Copy of Medical School Diploma or transcript showing date degree conferred
• USMLE Steps I, II and III Transcript and/or all COMLEX Transcripts
• Canadian Medical Graduates who do not have a USMLE transcript must submit the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) transcripts
• Personal Statement
• CV curriculum vitae
• Recent photograph
• American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) report
• ECFMG status report, as applicable

Matching

The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Candidates are required to register for the NRMP Specialties Matching Service (SMS) Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Match.

Benefits, Conditions, and Terms of Employment

The CGSO Fellow position benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, free parking, and a three-week paid vacation. Fellows are allowed up to one week of educational leave, without interruption of pay or benefits, contingent upon the approval by the Program Director.

Fellow Life

• Underrepresented in Medicine
• Discover Milwaukee
• Housing Information
• Special Events in Milwaukee
• Sporting Events
• Resident Spouse/Significant Other Association

Why MCW?

As a major academic medical center, and the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area, the Medical College of Wisconsin is a distinguished leader in the advanced training of physicians, researchers, pharmacists and health professionals. Together with its top-tier partner institutions, the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) puts you at the forefront of advancement that's improving the vitality of society.

Current Fellows

• Sam Z. Thalji, MD
• Jennifer T. Castle, MD, PhD

Reasons to live in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you're catching a show at Summerfest, the world's largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city's riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW residents and fellows take pride in calling Milwaukee home.