Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Colorectal Service offers a one-year fellowship for fully trained surgeons who demonstrate a strong interest in colon and rectal cancer surgery. The fellowship provides an unparalleled opportunity to develop expertise in the multimodality management of the colorectal cancer patient as well as in the latest techniques in colorectal surgery, such as robotic and other minimally invasive approaches, cytoreductive surgery, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and en-bloc exenterative resections for recurrent pelvic disease incorporating intraoperative radiation therapy.
Clinical Training
The clinical training throughout the fellowship is divided into one-month rotations and follows the apprenticeship model. Fellows spend one to two months with each surgeon on the Colorectal Service and electives, including radiology (including rectal MRI), clinical genetics, medical oncology, radiation oncology, endoscopy, gynecologic oncology, and pathology, are available.
Fellows are responsible for preoperative and postoperative patient care and will perform surgical procedures under the direction of an attending surgeon. They are exposed to approximately 200 major operative cases, including 60 robotic colorectal resections, during the year. Fellows also participate in outpatient clinics, rounds, lectures, seminars, journal club, and research conferences. In addition, they are responsible for helping supervise and instruct residents and medical students.
Education
The Colorectal Oncology Surgery Fellow will participate fully in all academic activities within the Department of Surgery. These include weekly Grand Rounds, a core course in surgical oncology, surgical oncology conferences, and a weekly Colorectal Disease Management Team conference, which includes a journal club meeting each month. We place a special emphasis on acquiring preclinical robotic skills with open access to a simulator and have initiated an annual dry and wet robotic lab for MSK colorectal fellows led by our faculty. There are also weekly lecture series on topics related to surgical oncology, weekly service discussions, research conferences, and a fellow-run conference dedicated to resident education. Fellows have access to all conferences within the Center, which number up to 50 per week.
View the members of our Disease Management Team.
Research
Research interests and opportunities are discussed at the beginning of the fellowship. The fellow is expected to complete one to two research projects during the academic year to be submitted for presentation at a national meeting, such as ASCRS, SSO, or ACS, and subsequent publication in high impact journals. Travel to such meetings is supported by MSK.
Benefits and Environment
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan — a vibrant, safe community with many nearby activities for adults and children. Salary and benefits are provided to all fellows according to level of training (number of postgraduate years). There is extra compensation provided for rounding/operating on weekends. In addition, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center provides housing accommodations at a subsidized rate to all fellows in the form of unfurnished apartments within a short walking distance of the hospital. There are many schools and affordable childcare options nearby.
Deadline
September 30
Length of Program
One year
Eligibility
Candidates must be graduates of a US, Canadian, or recognized foreign medical school and have completed a general surgery residency training program in their country or a minimum of five years of clinical training with a supporting letter from their program director. Candidates are generally not competitive for this position unless they have completed an ACGME Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency, or its international specialty training equivalent, prior to commencing our fellowship. Foreign candidates must have passed the USMLE examinations or any equivalent predecessor or successor examination and hold a valid ECFMG certificate. Selected candidates are encouraged to come to New York to interview; however virtual/ telephone interviews are also offered. Selected foreign candidates must qualify and obtain a limited permit to practice medicine from the New York State Education Department, in accordance with its requirements. New York State requires accreditation by the Federal Medical Credential Verification System, which can be completed at www.fsmb.org. In addition, foreign candidates must certify intent to return to their home country upon completion of training. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please feel free to contact us at the email address below so we may address your specific circumstances.
Number of Positions
Two
How to Apply
Applications must include the following items:
-
Full ECFMG certification: Applicants should have passed USMLE step 3 and be eligible to apply for the H1B visa
-
Current Curriculum Vitae
-
Copy of MD diploma ( with translation if necessary)
-
Personal statement: This should include a description of the candidate’s personal qualifications and motivation for applying to the program, as well as a detailed professional plan to return to his or her home country upon completion of training
-
Three letters of recommendation addressed to Dr. Garrett Nash, One of these letter must be from the department chairman
-
Photograph
Completed applications should be returned by September 30. Selected candidates are encouraged to come to New York to interview; however telephone interviews are also offered. Selections will be made before January 1.
If any of these requirements are not met or are incomplete upon submission, the application will not be processed.