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FSF Generations: Fellowships Continue To Transform

 

FSF Generations: Ensuring That Future Physicians Receive The Same Opportunities

 

Written by Michele Riordon, MD, FRCSC

 

Dr. Michele Riordon is the newest member to join the Foundation for Surgical Fellowships Board of Directors. Dr. Riordon is the first board member who is a former fellow in a program funded by the FSF. Her fellowship experience demonstrates the value of postgraduate surgical training opportunities supported by the Foundation. Over the past two years, she has been working at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre just North of Toronto, Canada to develop a minimally invasive surgery program. Dr. Riordon joins a prestigious list of physicians who make up the board of directors at the FSF. Board President Dennis Fowler, MD said “Year after year, I’m astounded at the level of experience and knowledge we’re able to access with our board. We have a strong leadership foundation in place and we couldn’t be more pleased with the addition of Dr. Riordon to our board. Each of our individual board member’s deep professional background and passionate commitment to advanced surgical education has brought insightful perspectives to our board.”  Dr. Riordon hopes to play a pivotal role in helping to provide future surgeons just starting out on their career path with the same opportunities that were given to her. ”Until graduating residents are comfortable with providing complex surgery using minimally invasive techniques, there will be a role for my involvement and FSF funded fellowships.”

 

Dr. Riordon, a 2011 Gold Star Award recipient for excellence in teaching medical students, completed her MIS/Bariatric fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College – The Methodist Hospital in Houston under the guidance of Dr. Patrick Reardon. Her fellowship experience prepared her to embark on her current tasks of developing a MIS program, an enhanced recovery program and initiate department wide morbidity and mortality rounds, while also continuing to perform procedures and teach residents. When asked what inspires her as a surgeon she said, “I’m committed to minimizing the effects of surgery and getting patients back to enjoying their life as soon as possible. All the extra committees that I’m involved with are to improve patient care and patient experience.”

 

In her spare time, Dr. Riordon is a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a passion for outdoor activities such as water and downhill skiing. She especially enjoys back-country skiing, leaving the resorts and chairlifts behind. She also loves to travel and is plannning a trip to Canada's Yukon Territory and to the Galapagos Islands.

 

The Foundation for Surgical Fellowships looks forward to Dr. Riordon’s involvement, especially as she brings a unique perspective to help the Foundation provide and sustain post-residency fellowships for future fellows to come.

 

FSF Generations: The Most Important Year Of My Career

 

Written by Dennis Fowler, MD, MPH

 

 Although I have had a long career as a surgeon, the most important year in my entire career was my fellowship.  My training as a fellow enabled most of what followed.  In 1979, against the recommendations of numerous mentors in my residency, I chose to pursue a fellowship in “Surgical Endoscopy”.  This was no small decision, because it meant that I would not be in the operating room as a surgeon for the first year after completing my chief resident year.  Like every graduating chief resident, I wanted to operate and take care of patients.  However, my fellowship year was focused on upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP, and diagnostic laparoscopy.  The program was at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where, because he was active as an endoscopist, even my mentor was questioned about his commitment to surgery.

 

The fellowship year was transformative in several ways.  First, I learned endoscopic techniques that gave me skills most surgeons at the time did not have.  I completed hundreds of each type of endoscopy during that year and I also learned the techniques of diagnostic laparoscopy 10 years or more before therapeutic laparoscopy became routinely possible (who knew).  Second, it gave me better insight into the diseases of the GI tract.  Third, I was immersed in a focused learning environment for a significant but finite period of time.  My only responsibility was to learn endoscopy and staff resident endoscopy cases for the ward service.  Fourth, I befriended my mentor at a level not usually achievable during the shorter rotations during residency.

 

In mid-career I became a program director for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowships.  Between 1998 and 2008, I was program director for 15 MIS fellows in Pittsburgh and New York.  In almost every case, I developed a close relationship with the individual.  In that role, it was very satisfying to enable great people to achieve their potential by sharing patient care every day and by providing an immersive learning environment.  Many have advanced to positions of leadership in fine institutions, in part because of the training they received during fellowship.  To this day, they are among my best friends.

 

As the structure of surgical education evolves, the role of fellowship training should not be underestimated.  Whether it is a focused year near the end of resident training or whether it is a separate program, the year can transform the career of the fellow and provide enormous life-long satisfaction to the mentors.  Funding for the non-ACGME accredited fellowships is being significantly reduced and fellowships are at risk.  Please join us in supporting the mission of the FSF to sustain fellowship training.

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FSF Fellow Testimonial: From Residency to Fellowship

Deciding to pursue an MIS/Bariatric fellowship was certainly not easy for me.  While professionally, it seemed an obvious choice, I was leaving my husband and family and moving states away for a year.  Within days of coming to Stony Brook University in New York, I realize that my experience will be well worth the sacrifice.

Fellows Talk Fellowships: Did My Fellowship Make An Impact?

1. "The interaction and experience that I received instilled in me confidence in my skill set and clinical skills. I was blessed to work with great surgeons and mentors."
   -Former MIS Fellow from Amarillo, TX.
2. "My entire surgical career will be based on MIS procedures."
   -Former MIS Bariatric Robotic Fellow from Atlanta, GA.
3. "I cannot say enough good things about the training I received. Worth it every minute!"
   -Former Bariatric Fellow from Stamford, CT.
4. "The learning curve during fellowship was much steeper than during residency. Fellowship allowed me to develop skills that I wouldn't otherwise have today. My current career is defined by MIS and the fellowship training I received. Fellowship also helped me to advance the academic side of my career."
   -Former MIS Bariatric Fellow, Dallas, TX.
5. "My fellowship was in advanced foregut MIS and HPB. I'm now finishing my last years of residency. It has made me much more skilled inside and outside of the operating room. It has opened opportunities for work down the road."
   -Former HPB Fellow from Tampa, FL.
6. "Fellowship strengthened my skills which were inadequate following residency. I was able to introduce new procedures in several hospitals"
   -Former Flexible Endoscopy Fellow from Great Falls, MT.
7. "The fellowship included both MIS and open procedures, including thoracic and esophageal work. This allowed me to be more 'polished' prior to starting a job."
   -Former Thoracic Fellow from Tulsa, OK.

THANK YOU!
Celebrating the Generosity of FSF Donors