University of Pittsburgh

Secondary Contact Name:
Secondary Contact Title:
Secondary Contact Email:

Carol L. Bykowski
Fellowship Coordinator
[email protected]

Address/Phone:

Division of Endocrine Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Suite 101
3471 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15213

Phone: (412) 647-0467
Fax: (412) 864-1050

Applicant inquiries should be directed to Ms. Bykowski.

Objectives of the Program:

We aim to provide a rich opportunity for BC/BE surgeons who are interested in a career in Endocrine Surgery to become technically and academically proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine tumors, and work productively with colleagues in a multidisciplinary setting. Hypothesis-directed clinical outcomes research is another key component of the curriculum and is specifically taught.

Highlights of the Fellowship:

During comprehensive advanced training in endocrine surgery, fellows will learn systematic management algorithms, concise operative skills, care of complex endocrinopathies, and will develop command of the literature including molecular and genetic topics.

The operative curriculum includes initial and reoperative thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, video-assisted parathyroidectomy, cervical block anesthesia, laparoscopic retroperitoneal and transperitoneal adrenalectomy, and compartment-oriented central & lateral neck dissection. Fellows are also exposed to the Voice Center, surg-path, cytopath, inpatient and outpatient endocrinology services, the Multidisciplinary Thyroid Center, and typically participate in 6 multidisciplinary conferences monthly.

Our fellowship-trained ES faculty currently perform ~1000 endocrine operations yearly. Our Research Associate, Meghan L. Kelley manages multiple prospective clinical databases and ongoing QA/QI protocols. Recent fellows have been successfully productive in contributing peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters to the endocrine surgery literature. The option of an additional funded year for clinical outcomes or basic science research is available.

During the past 8 months our current fellow has done >200 endocrine cases of all types, including a month-long rotation on the pancreas/PNET service and two months devoted to research.

Attendance at the AAES meeting, Endocrine Surgery University, UPMC/UPCI Annual Multidisciplinary Thyroid Cancer Conference, and a national Ultrasound course is an expected part of the curriculum.

Average Thyroid Case Volume: 150
Average Parathyroid Case Volume: 120
Average Adrenal Case Volume: 25

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET)

Number of evaluation and management of NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 17
Number of operative NET (enteric and pancreatic only) cases per year: 13
Number of NET case discussions per year: 15

The fellow has an opportunity to participate in a Multidisciplinary NET (enteric and pancreatic only) Tumor Board which meets monthly.

If the fellow desires, there is an internal opportunity to engage in a more robust NET experience. The Fellow will also be assigned to operate with the Surgical Oncology group to experience additional Surg Onc pancreas cases.

International Medical Graduates 

Special Considerations:

The Endocrine Surgery Fellow is appointed as an Instructor of Surgery, and is required to obtain an unrestricted Pennsylvania Medical License and DEA. ES Fellows do not routinely moonlight or take General Surgery call during Fellowship training, but are able and welcome to choose these options if they desire.

Our AAES Endocrine Surgery Fellow is hired as a "Clinical Instructor" and NOT considered part of a GME-sponsored program.

Program Website for More Information:

http://www.upmc.com/Services/endocrine-surgery/Pages/default.aspx

Program Twitter:

Program Facebook:

Previous Fellows:

2004-2005 Nancy M. Carroll, MD
Surgical Oncology. MedStar Washington/Georgetown University, Washington, DC

2006-2007 Kelly L. McCoy, MD
Endocrine Surgery. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

2007-2008 Linwah Yip, MD
Endocrine Surgery. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

2008-2009 Michael T. Stang, MD
Endocrine Surgery. Duke University, Durham, NC

2009-2010 Adrienne L. Melck, MD
Endocrine Surgery. University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

2010-2011 Adam S. Kabaker, MD
Endocrine Surgery. Loyola University, Chicago, IL

2011-2012 Naomi H. Chen, MD
Endocrine/Breast Surgery. Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH

2012-2013 Laura I. Wharry, MD
Endocrine Surgery. ProMedica Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH

2013-2014 Cameron D. Adkisson, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. Baptist South Hospital, Jacksonville, FL

2014-2015 Jenny Y. Yoo, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. Northwestern Medicine Regional Group, McHenry, IL

2015-2016 Snehal G. Patel, MD
Endocrine Surgery. Emory University, Atlanta, GA

2016-2017 Mashaal Dhir, MD
Endocrine/Surgical Oncology. SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY

2017-2018 Janeil M. Mitchell, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. Fox Valley Surgical Association, Appleton, WI

2018-2019 Reema Mallick, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. Surgery South, Stockbridge, GA

2020-2021 Ujas S. Shah, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, NY

2021-2022 Jason B. Liu, MD
Endocrine Surgery. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

2022-2023 Katherine A. Baugh, MD
Endocrine/General Surgery. Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, AK

2023-2024 Saba Kurtom, MD
Endocrine/Surgical Oncology. University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2024-2025 Kelly A. Stahl, MD
Endocrine Surgery. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

2025-2026 Elizabeth K. Pace, MD
Current Fellow