Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Program

The Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at the Mount Sinai Hospital provides a rigorous two-year fellowship aimed at training one highly qualified physician annually. This ACGME-accredited program focuses on developing essential technical and cognitive skills for multidisciplinary cancer management. It offers fellows in-depth exposure to surgical oncology, enhancing their experience within a bustling clinical and academic environment.1

The fellowship notably emphasizes care for various malignancies, particularly hepatopancreatobiliary, gastroesophageal, peritoneal surface, and endocrine cancers. Fellows engage with core surgical procedures such as sentinel node biopsy, ablation of hepatic tumors, and wide excision of cutaneous malignancies, achieving competency through direct patient care and surgical experience.1

Participation in clinical research is integral to the fellowship, wherein fellows gain a profound understanding of study design, data analysis, and result presentation. This involvement ensures that fellows are not only practitioners but also contributors to the academic discourse surrounding surgical oncology.1

Surgical Simulation and Robotic Surgery Training

The program is equipped with advanced surgical training facilities, including a Surgical Simulation Center featuring laparoscopic and endoscopic simulators, inanimate models, and web-based learning modules. This center supports the development of critical surgical skills in a controlled environment.1

Additionally, the Mount Sinai Robotic Surgery Training Center provides access to the da Vinci surgical system, further enhancing fellows' ability to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. Fellows must complete a robotics curriculum and gain certification in da Vinci training during their tenure.1

Curriculum Overview

The fellowship curriculum incorporates comprehensive clinical training, covering various specialties such as breast/melanoma, hepatobiliary/transplant, general surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. Fellows also have opportunities to rotate through specialized services like orthopedic oncology and thoracic oncology.4

Education is a continuous theme throughout the program, with fellows participating in didactic lectures, divisional rounds, and national video conferences. They are encouraged to explore research avenues with ample opportunity to work on clinical projects, database reviews, and outcome studies, culminating in presentations at national meetings and publication-ready manuscripts.4

Duty Hours and Benefits

The Duty Hour Compliance at Mount Sinai strictly adheres to ACGME and New York State guidelines. Fellows are limited to an average of 80 hours per week with at least one day off weekly. Calls cannot exceed a 24-hour period, ensuring a balanced work-life structure.4

Fellows rotate through various sites including The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Morningside, serving a diverse patient population. Subsidized housing is available within walking distance, adding to the fellowship's convenience and appeal.4

Application Process

To apply for the fellowship, candidates must utilize the Association of American Medical Colleges' ERAS system. Applications are typically accepted with a deadline in January. Applicants are expected to be graduates of a five-year General Surgery Residency training program and complete in-person interviews.2

The starting salary for fellows is competitive at $99,339, providing a solid financial foundation for trainees.2

Current Fellows and Alumni

The fellowship program boasts a commendable list of current fellows and alumni who have pursued further significant roles in surgical oncology across various prestigious institutions.3

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program is highly competitive and encourages applications from individuals who have successfully completed general surgery training. The fellowship is known to be friendly towards not only US medical graduates but also for international medical graduates (IMGs) and DO graduates.1

Regarding visa sponsorship, the program typically provides support for J-1 and H-1B visa types, assisting eligible international candidates throughout the application process.1

Special Application Requirements

While setting out application criteria, it's essential to note that applicants should ideally not have more than a specified number of failed STEP exams, generally not exceeding one, and should have graduated within a certain timeframe to be most competitive for selection.2