Curriculum
The objective of fellows in the Pediatric Colorectal Research Fellowship is to conduct research on the treatment and long-term outcomes of patients with pediatric colorectal and pelvic reconstruction problems, including but not limited to:
- Newborn assessment of anorectal malformations: Urologic, spinal, sacral, gastrointestinal and gynecologic
- Different types of anorectal malformations: Rectoperineal fistula, rectourethral fistula, rectovestibular fistula, no fistula and cloacal malformation
- Proper newborn radiologic evaluation for anorectal malformations: AP spine, sacral X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, renal ultrasound, spinal ultrasound and cross-table lateral X-Ray
- Correct newborn surgical intervention in anorectal malformations: Anoplasty, colostomy and hydrocolpos drainage
- Newborn assessment and treatment of Hirschsprung's disease: Radiologic evaluation, irrigations, primary pull-through and colostomy
- Surgical management of index colorectal conditions
- Medical management for a variety of colorectal problems: Idiopathic constipation, constipation in anorectal malformation, constipation in Hirschsprung's disease, hypermotility in anorectal malformations, hypermotility in Hirschsprung's disease and enterocolitis
- Medical management and surgical interventions for fecal incontinence: Bowel management, sigmoid resection and Malone procedure
- Assessment of complex Hirschsprung's disease in postoperative soiling or obstructive symptoms: Medical management, rectal biopsy, indications for re-operation
- Medical and surgical management of intractable idiopathic constipation: Laxative trial, colonic resection therapies and motility evaluation
Surgical Assistant Responsibilities
Fellows who wish to participate in colorectal cases as a surgical assistant will have an added patient care responsibility, assigned and monitored by the program director for the sole purpose of providing additional clinical educational experiences under the following limitations: supervised by attending surgeon, practice limited to OR and defined by the surgical assistant scope of practice, and cases of patient care and clinical research interest in the division. The patient care responsibilities will not interfere with or replace duties performed by general surgery, pediatric surgery and surgical subspecialty residents and fellows.
Fellows will directly observe, and as scope of practice allows, participate in the procedures on which they are conducting research. This will enhance the educational value of the overall fellowship experience, enable fellows to maintain some surgical skills previously acquired in their training and increase generalizability of experience to future clinical settings as an attending surgeon.
The fellow will be evaluated on a quarterly basis by the program director.