Program Overview

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Introduction to the Thoracic Surgery Independent Fellowship

The Thoracic Surgery Independent Fellowship is a comprehensive program designed to provide fellows with a broad range of experiences in thoracic surgery. The program is tailored to meet the needs of fellows pursuing a career in thoracic surgery, with a focus on providing a well-rounded education and training experience.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Thoracic Surgery Independent Fellowship is designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive education and training experience in thoracic surgery. The program includes:

• Didactic sessions
• Rotations at various hospitals, including:
  • Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  • Texas Children's Hospital
  • Ben Taub Hospital
  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Hands-on experience with various surgical procedures, including:
  • Adult cardiac surgery
  • General thoracic surgery
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Thoracic oncology

Rotations

The fellowship program includes rotations at various hospitals, each providing a unique experience and exposure to different aspects of thoracic surgery. The rotations are designed to provide fellows with a broad range of experiences, including:

First Year

• Three months at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, where fellows will rotate on the cardiothoracic surgery service
• Three months at Texas Children's Hospital, where fellows will participate in pediatric surgery
• Three months at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where fellows will work on the thoracic surgery service
• Three months at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where fellows will participate in thoracic oncology

Second Year

• Six months as Chief Fellow on the General Thoracic Surgery Service at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
• Three months on the Adult Cardiovascular Surgery service at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
• Three months as Chief Fellow of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Third Year

• Six months on the General Thoracic Surgery service at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
• Three months on the Heart/Lung Transplant Surgery service at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
• Three months at Ben Taub Hospital, where fellows will be the only thoracic surgery fellow covering a large thoracic trauma, general thoracic, and adult cardiac service

Research

The Thoracic Surgery Independent Fellowship program places a strong emphasis on research, with fellows having ample opportunity and support to participate in research projects. The program includes:

• Quarterly research meetings to review progress and discuss new opportunities
• Access to a core of departmental experts in education, clinical study design and analysis, and scientific writing
• Expectation to submit at least two manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals before the start of the third year

Training Locations

Fellows will receive rotational experience at the following hospitals:

• Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
• Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Texas Children's Hospital
• Ben Taub Hospital
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Program Tracks

The fellowship program offers two tracks:

• General Thoracic Track
• Cardiothoracic Track

Each track has a unique curriculum and rotation schedule, designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive education and training experience in their chosen specialty.

Program Completion

Upon completion of the program, fellows will be board-eligible in Thoracic Surgery through the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS).