The Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship is a two year program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education(ACGME) and by the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).
The fellowship has been in existence since 1986 and was certified by the Society of Surgical Oncology in 1991. The fellowship became ACGME accredited in 2012. Approximately 70% of graduates now occupy academic positions. Each year, three fellows are accepted through the NRMP Match for a two-year program with an option to extend one or two additional years in research upon completion.
Fellows in this program have one of the largest volumes of operative cases in the country. Each fellow should anticipate a well-rounded surgical oncology experience in the technical management of complex problems, as well as surgical decision-making related to all aspects of surgical oncology.
Clinical Rotations
The first year of the fellowship includes non-surgical rotations on medical and radiation oncology and pathology services, as well as clinical rotations on melanoma, breast, head and neck surgery, with elective time to be tailored to individual fellows' interests. Fellows are expected to participate in, present and publish results of surgical oncology research, which can include basic science, translational, outcomes or clinical trial data.
The second year of the fellowship consists of rotations on our GI, HPB, breast, and head and neck services. There is extensive exposure to colorectal, liver, gastric, pancreas, head and neck, melanoma, sarcoma, breast, thoracic and gynecologic oncology. Many of our cases are performed using minimally invasive techniques including laparoscopic, robotic and video-assisted surgery. We have regional therapy programs utilizing both isolated limb infusions (ILI) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Fellows actively participate in clinics to facilitate continuity of patient care and education.
Meetings and Conferences
Conferences include a core course in oncology given in the summer, in addition to weekly seminars in general surgical oncology, breast, head and neck surgical oncology. There are daily multidisciplinary site-specific tumor conferences, weekly preoperative conferences, multidisciplinary journal clubs and daily noon oncology lecture series. In addition to receiving formal training in cancer surgery, fellows are exposed to tumor biology, biostatistics, research design and methodology. During the first year, there is an opportunity for fellows to obtain a master’s degree in clinical research for health care professionals.
Eligibility
Applicants must have successfully completed a residency in an ACGME-accredited general surgery program in the United States or Canada accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Foreign students must have graduated from a medical school accredited by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
Applications must be completed through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service), and the Match is conducted through NRMP (National Resident Matching Program). The application process begins in December (open to 4th year general surgery residents). Deadlines and additional information may be found on the SSO website.
Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Featured on Narratives of North Broad Podcast
Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, was guest speaker on the Narratives of North Broad Podcast - hosted by Lewis Katz School of Medicine student Hank Davis and Michael Vitez, Director of Temple's Narrative Medicine program.
