Hernia and Abdominal Wall

The Minimally Invasive Surgery, Abdominal Wall Reconstruction and Hernia Fellowship is a broad-spanning compilation of surgical cases, composed of open, laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic procedures. The fellow has diverse exposure to complex abdominal wall pathology in both an academic referral center as well as an affiliate community hospital. The fellowship consists of three abdominal wall core faculty at the primary academic site, Hershey Medical Center, plus exposure to a community-based complex abdominal wall practice at Hampden Medical Center (1-2 days per month). There is an opportunity to work with four other MIS faculty at Hershey Medical Center who perform a variety of hernia, flexible endoscopy, foregut, and bariatric procedures. Due to many patients’ complex surgical needs, frequent collaboration occurs with surgeons within surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, urology, vascular surgery, and pediatric surgery.

The fellow is appointed as an Instructor within the Department of Surgery. Clinical responsibilities include all aspects of care of the abdominal wall reconstruction patients, spanning from initial clinic evaluation, operative and in-hospital care, through post-operative visits. The fellow will attend or present at weekly educational sessions with attendings, medical students and resident learners, and mid-level providers with presentations on an MIS, bariatric, or abdominal wall topic.

The fellow has full attending privileges at the institution and is expected to take general surgery call, with faculty oversight, as part of their educational experience.