- Residency and Fellowship Programs
- Advanced Airway Management Fellowship
- Advanced Colon and Rectal Surgical Oncology Fellowship
- Advanced Radiation Oncology Fellowship
- Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship
- Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship
- Body Imaging Fellowship
- Breast Imaging Fellowship
- Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
- Cancer Anesthesia Residency/Fellowship
- Cancer Rehabilitation Fellowship
- Cardio-oncology Fellowship
- Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship
- Cytopathology Fellowship
- Dermatopathology Fellowship
- Diagnostic Radiology Fellowship
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Fellowship
- General Internal Medicine Fellowship
- Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship
- Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Reconstruction Fellowship
- Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
- Hematopathology Fellowship
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Fellowship
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowships
- Internal Medicine Residency Program
- International Surgical Oncology Fellowship
- Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship
- Interventional Radiology Independent Residency
- Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship
- Leukemia Fellowship
- Lymphoma/Myeloma Fellowship
- Melanoma Oncology Fellowship
- Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
- Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
- Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship
- Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship
- Neuro-Oncology Fellowship
- Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship
- Oncologic Emergency Medicine Fellowship
- Oncologic Endocrinology Fellowship
- Onco-Hospitalist Fellowship
- Onco-nephrology Fellowship
- Oncologic Audiology Fellowship
- Oncological Neuroradiology
- Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship (ASOPRS /ACGME)
- Advanced Oral Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Fellowship
- Pain Medicine Fellowship
- Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Fellowship
- Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
- Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Fellowship
- Radiation Oncology Residency
- Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship
- Selective Breast Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Gastrointestinal & Liver Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Genitourinary Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Gynecologic Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Head & Neck Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Soft Tissue Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship
- Selective Thoracic Pathology Fellowship
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
- Surgical Endocrinology Fellowship
- Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology Fellowship
- Thoracic Radiology Fellowship
- Thoracic Surgery Fellowship
- Urinary Tract and Pelvic Reconstruction Fellowship
- Urologic Oncology Fellowship
Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship
The aim of the Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship program is to improve the lives of people with cancer through state-of-the-art clinical care, continuous discovery and innovation, and the education and development of leaders in surgical oncology.
About the Program
MD Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology offers a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology. Fellows are exposed to a large volume of complex surgical problems and are involved in the initial evaluation of new patients, treatment planning including multidisciplinary approaches, design of the surgical approach, and postoperative and long-term follow-up care.
This clinical experience, combined with numerous opportunities for research, provides graduates with a rich experience that prepares them to enter academic careers, establish successful surgical oncology programs at university centers, and develop productive research and training programs. Graduates will be well poised to take on future leadership roles in surgery. More than 85% of our graduates assume a full-time appointment in academic surgery.
Eligibility
Applicants for the CGSO fellowship must meet the following educational qualifications:
- Successful completion of an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency program in the U.S. or Canada
- Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada must have a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
- At the time of entry into the fellowship program all applicants will be board-eligible or board-certified general surgeons under the auspices of the American Board of Surgery
- Applicants must have passed each step of the USMLE by the third attempt
Eligibility for the research fellowship track are the same as for the CGSO fellowship but applicants must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents in order to qualify for the NIH research grant funding. MD Anderson requires international medical graduates to meet requirements for an institutional permit as outlined by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and have the necessary documents for a J-1 visa.
How to Apply
Applications for fellowship positions will be made through ERAS.
All eligible, completed applications will be holistically reviewed by at least three faculty members.
Candidates will be selected for interviews and notified in early March.
The following documents should also be included with the application:
- A current curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Medical school transcripts
- ABSITE scores
- USMLE scores
- Recent photograph
MD Anderson will participate in the national match program for Complex General Surgical Oncology administered by the National Resident Matching Program.
Leadership
Department Chair
Brian Bednarski, M.D., MHEP., FACS.
Program Director
Associate Program Director
See a full list of our faculty.
Program Structure & Curriculum
MD Anderson offers seven ACGME-accredited positions annually in two tracks. Both tracks are designed to refine surgical skills and clinical judgment involving complex cancer operations, and intellectual skills encompassing all aspects of cancer management (including radiation biology, pharmacology, cancer pathology, clinical immunology and tumor biology). Fellows in both tracks are expected to conduct research projects that result in at least one finished manuscript ready for publication prior to the completion of their fellowship. These may range from a short-term clinical research project to a more sophisticated clinical investigation or laboratory science project.
Track 1: Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship
There are six positions annually for the 2-year CGSO fellowship program in Track 1. The program enables fellows to acquire an advanced body of knowledge and skill level in the surgical and multidisciplinary management of malignant diseases.
Fellows in the basic two-year clinical curriculum spend 17 months on general surgical oncology services (melanoma, sarcoma, breast, endocrine, colorectal, hepatobiliary, pancreas, gastric/HIPEC) and one month each in medical oncology, radiation oncology and pathology. The remaining four months are dedicated to learning research principles such as biostatistics, design of clinical trials, data collection and management, and protocol writing (including clinical trials conducted during the two-year fellowship). The second-year curriculum allows for specialization of training tailored to match the individual fellow’s goals.
Sample 2-Year Curriculum:
Year 1
- Melanoma
- Pathology
- Colon and Rectal
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Research
- Sarcoma
- Breast
- Endocrine
- Research
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancy
- Medical Oncology
Year 2
- Research
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Colon and Rectal
- Radiation Oncology
- Melanoma
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Hepatopancreatobiliary
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancy
- Sarcoma
- Research
- Colon and Rectal
Track 2: Combined Complex General Surgical Oncology/Research Fellowship
Fellows can choose from numerous opportunities in the Surgical Oncology department, the various basic/translational research programs throughout MD Anderson, or in the Health Services Research department. The research track has an additional goal of preparing individuals for a productive career in academic surgery by providing a teaching program in biostatistics, principles of clinical research, molecular biology, genomics, tumor immunology, grantsmanship and the writing of scientific manuscripts.There is one position annually for the Track 2 combined fellowship program. This program includes the 2-year CGSO fellowship with an additional year of laboratory, translational or health services/outcomes research funded by a NIH T32 grant for the training of academic surgical oncologists. This 3-year program allows fellows who have not had a significant research experience as part of their general surgical residency to spend an additional 12 months training. This program is also especially helpful for fellows who have already had significant basic/translational research experience who desire to spend additional research time to acquire new skills, expertise and preliminary data to excel as an independently funded surgeon-scientist.
Research Opportunities & Career Development
Fellows have access to a wide range of research opportunities, from translational research to prospective clinical trials. All fellows participate in a formal Clinical Trials training course and have access to a variety of research methodology workshops offered by the institution.
Fellows in the 3-year T32 track can choose from numerous opportunities in the Surgical Oncology department, the various basic/translational research programs throughout MD Anderson, or in the Health Services Research department. The research track has an additional goal of preparing individuals for a productive career in academic surgery by providing a teaching program in biostatistics, principles of clinical research, molecular biology, genomics, tumor immunology, grantsmanship and the writing of scientific manuscripts.
All first-year fellows take part in the Annual Surgical Oncology Fellows’ Clinical Trials Design Course. This course consists of four half-day sessions in the first few months of the year that focus on answering research questions in the world of oncology. With 30+ participating faculty and more than15 experienced speakers, the didactic sessions review clinical trial logistics and design, budgeting, statistical considerations, ethics in clinical trials, alternative trial design, and other important topics. Each fellow has the opportunity to mature a clinical research question into a clinical trial with the help of faculty-lead small group sessions. Fellows are protected from clinical duties during the course.
Fellows are offered a variety of career development opportunities including leadership training through the institution, sponsored attendance to the AAS/SUS Fall Courses, sponsored attendance to the SSO Fellow’s Institute, and many more experiences tailored to the individual’s interests.
Living in Houston
MD Anderson is located within Houston's Texas Medical Center – the largest medical city in the world. Located in central Houston, Texas, the area is rich in academic and cultural opportunity. The Medical Center lies adjacent to Rice University, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Arts, and is near Houston’s prestigious symphony orchestra, opera, theater, and ballet. There are also numerous parks, including neighboring Hermann Park which has an outdoor theater and large zoo.
Other sites that are close to the Medical Center are Sam Houston Raceway Park, Downtown Aquarium, Space Center Houston, Lone Star Flight Museum, NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center. For more information, go to Visit Houston.
Our trainees live throughout the various neighborhoods of Houston, including West University/Rice Village, Montrose, the Houston Heights, the Museum District, or immediately adjacent to the Medical Center.
Diversity, Equality & Inclusion
Beyond MD Anderson Cancer Center’s institutional commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the Department of Surgical Oncology values and promotes ideas and individuals who represent diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a department, we recognize the significant barriers that have always existed for members of marginalized communities, and we are specifically dedicated to making our department a more welcoming place for all faculty, staff, trainees and patients. Our collective efforts in DEI include cultivating a supportive environment for employees and patients from all backgrounds, recruiting and retaining a diverse physician workforce, and community outreach and relationship building in the Houston community, with a particular focus in medically underserved populations.
Visit https://jobs.mdanderson.org/creative/about to learn more about working at MD Anderson.
Current Fellows & Alumni
First-Year Fellows
Christopher Childers, M.D., PhD.
Hometown: ½ England, ½ Salt Lake City
Education: Residency – University of California, Los Angeles, MD – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Undergraduate – University of California San Diego
Clinical/Research Interests: GI/HPB, healthcare finance, health services research
Hobbies: Daytrips with the wife and kids, golf, hiking
Gretchen Edwards, M.D., MPH
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Education: Residency – Vanderbilt University Medical Center, MD – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, MPH – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Undergraduate – Georgetown University
Clinical/Research Interests: GI/colorectal, quality improvement, health services research
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, cooking, spending time with family
Eleanor A. Fallon, M.D.
Hometown: Queens, NY
Education: Residency – Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, MD – Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Undergraduate – The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, CUNY accelerated medical program
Clinical/Research Interests: PSM, gastric cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, palliative surgery. Immuno-oncology, microbiome, interplay of sepsis and cancer, palliative care quality improvement.
Hobbies: Ukulele rock band, having fun outdoors, spending time with husband & 3 boys.
Alicia Gingrich, M.D., MS
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Education: Residency – University of California, Davis; MD – University of Kansas School of Medicine; Masters – University of California, Davis; Undergraduate – Johns Hopkins University
Clinical/Research Interests: sarcoma, cancer genomics, transcriptomic response to immunotherapy, improving access to sequencing databases
Hobbies: camping, hiking, skiing, being with family
Pamela Lu, M.D., MPH
Hometown: Bedford, MA
Education: Residency – Brigham and Women’s Hospital; MD – University of Massachusetts Medical School; Undergraduate – Columbia University; MPH – Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Clinical/Research Interests: HPB, GI, sarcoma, clinical outcomes and health services research
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, recreational skiing
Madeline B. Torres, M.D.
Hometown: Denver, CO
Education: Residency – Penn State Hershey Medical Center; MD – University of Utah School of Medicine, Undergraduate – University of Colorado at Denver
Clinical/Research Interests: Sarcoma, gastric cancer and peritoneal malignancies, immunotherapy, CAR T cell therapy
Hobbies: Biking, video games, walking with family and dogs
Yun Song, M.D.
Hometown: Savannah, GA
Education: Residency – University of Pennsylvania; MD – Harvard Medical School, Undergraduate – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Clinical/Research Interests: gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, clinical outcomes research
Hobbies: photography, traveling, exploring playgrounds with my toddler
Second-Year Fellows
Reed I. Ayabe, M.D.
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Education: Residency – Harbor UCLA Medical
Center; M.D. – David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA;
Undergraduate – Pomona College
Clinical/Research
Interests: HPB and GI Oncology, metastasis biology
Hobbies: Blues guitar, snowboarding, skiing
Neal Bhutiani, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown: Winter Haven, FL
Education: Residency – University of Louisville;
Ph.D. – University of Louisville (Immunology); M.D. – Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Undergraduate – Duke University
Clinical/Research Interests: Colon/rectal/anal
cancer, peritoneal disease, mucosal tumor immunology,
microbiome-tumor-immune system interaction
Hobbies: Tennis, running, cycling, cooking,
hiking/backpacking, camping, traveling
Seth J. Concors, M.D.
Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
Education: Residency – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; M.D. – New York University; Undergraduate – New York University
Clinical/Research Interests: Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncology, with a focus on Neuroendocrine Tumors
Hobbies: Sports, Peloton, cooking, travel
Heather A. Lillemoe, M.D.
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Education: Residency – Vanderbilt University Medical Center; M.D. – University of Maryland School of Medicine; Undergraduate – Vanderbilt University
Clinical/Research Interests: Breast and sarcoma surgery, surgical education, clinical outcomes research
Hobbies: Music and concerts, Ravens football, Peloton, spending time exploring Houston with my husband and rescue dog, Duncan
Elizabeth Lilley, M.D., MPH
Hometown: Westwood, NJ
Education: Residency – Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, M.D. – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; MPH – Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Undergraduate – Lafayette College
Clinical research/interest: integrating palliative care for surgical patients, surgical decision making.
Hobbies: Cooking, brunching, traveling, shopping
Heather Lyu, M.D., MBI
Hometown: Great Falls, VA
Education: Residency – Brigham and Women’s Hospital; M.D. – Johns Hopkins University; Undergraduate – University of Virginia; Master of Biomedical Informatics – Harvard University
Clinical/Research Interests: GI/Pancreas/Sarcoma, clinical Informatics – specifically, creation and utilization of real world data for clinical research, improving database quality
Hobbies: Spinning, baking, and traveling
Russell Witt, M.D., MAS
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Education: Residency – Brigham and Women’s Hospital; M.D. – University of California Davis; Master's (Clinical Research), University of California Davis Undergraduate – University of California Santa Cruz
Clinical/Research Interests: Sarcoma, melanoma, merkel cell carcinoma, GI malignancy, translational research, oncoimmunology, microbiome, opioid reduction strategies
Hobbies: Cats, art, videogames, MMA, memes, exercise
Research Fellow 2022
Y. David Seo, M.D.
Hometown: Los Gatos, CA
Education: Residency – University of Washington; M.D. – University of Michigan Medical School; Undergraduate – Harvard University
Clinical/Research Interests: Immuno-oncology, pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, HPB surgery
Hobbies: Hiking, fishing, cycling, Michigan football, home brewing, music
Recent Alumni
2022:
- Sandra DiBrito: Assistant Professor, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
- Derek Erstad: Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Allison Martin: 2022-2023 Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Michael White: Assistant Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Caitlin Hester: Assistant Professor, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Andrew Newton: Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA
- Douglas Swords: GenesisCare Surgical Specialists, Asheville, NC
2021:
- Casey Allen: Assistant Professor, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
- Cameron Gaskill: Assistant Professor, University of California Davis, CA
- Bradford Kim: Hepatopancreaticobiliary Fellow, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Anai Kothari: Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
- Meredith Mason: Assistant Professor, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Natalia Paez Arango: Surgical Oncologist, Trihealth PHO, Cincinnati, OH
- Rachel Voss: Assistant Professor, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
2020:
- Ryan Day: Abdominal Transplantation Fellow, University of California San Francisco
- James Griffin: Surgical Oncologist, Piedmont Healthcare, Atlanta, GA
- Mark Healy: Surgical Oncologist, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, AZ
- Beth Helmink: Assistant Professor, Washington University St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Jessica Maxwell: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Alexander Stark: Surgical Oncologist, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN
- Nabeel Zafar: Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
2019:
- Elliot Asare: Assistant Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Emily Keung: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Colleen Kiernan: Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
- Geoffrey Krampitz: Surgical Oncologist, Sharp Healthcare, San Diego, CA
- Andrew Lee: Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- Timothy Newhook: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Christopher Scally: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Timothy Vreeland: Lieutenant Colonel, Associate Professor, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
2018:
- Sarah Fisher: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Annabelle Fonseca: Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
- Naruhiko Ikoma: Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- James Lindberg, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, MA
- Andrew Loehrer: Assistant Professor, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
- Lakhbir Sandhu: Surgical Oncologist, Kaiser Permanente Healthcare, Sacramento, CA
- Diego Vicente: Commander, Associate Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
2017:
- Jordan Cloyd: Ward Family Endowed Professor, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Casey Duncan: Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
- Michael Egger: Assistant Professor, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
- Travis Grotz: Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Ashley Holder: Assistant Professor, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- Sameer Patel: Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
- Peter Prieto: Assistant Professor, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
- Rebecca Snyder: Associate Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Contact Information
For inquiries about the Complex General Surgical Oncology fellowship program, contact:
Brian Bednarski, M.D., MHEP., FACS.
Program Director
Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484
P.O. Box 301402
Houston, TX 77230
Phone: 713-745-9799
Email: bkbednarski@mdanderson.org
Brigitte Taylor
Education Program Coordinator
Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484
P.O. Box 301402
Houston, TX 77230
Phone: 713-794-1552
Fax: 713-745-1921
Email: bmtaylor@mdanderson.org
For inquiries about the Track 2 research year, contact:
Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D.
T-32 Research Fellowship Director
Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics
1400 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 455
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-794-1226
Email: fmeric@mdanderson.org
Related Resources
MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to encouraging good health and staying true to our mission to end cancer. If you are applying for a GME fellowship or residency program starting on or after July 1, 2016, please be advised that MD Anderson will have instituted a tobacco-free hiring process as part of its efforts to achieve these goals. If you are offered an appointment, you will be subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Screen for tobacco compounds in compliance with applicable state laws. If you do not pass the urine drug screening which includes testing for tobacco compounds, you CANNOT be appointed at MD Anderson. Should you fail to meet this contingency, MD Anderson will withdraw your offer of appointment for the academic year. You may reapply for the following academic year, but there are no guarantees that you will be offered a position as many of our programs are already filled for several years out.
Our Labs
Learn more about our faculty and research taking place in our labs.
Conferences
View conferences available for continuing education credit.