• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / Benefits of Laparoscopic Fellowship Training: A Survey of Former Fellows

Benefits of Laparoscopic Fellowship Training: A Survey of Former Fellows

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the impact of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowship training on the fellows’ clinical practice as well as former fellows’ perception of their experience.
Methods: A survey composed of 50 multiple-choice questions was e-mailed to 270 former MIS fellows who began a fellowship in the U.S. between 2000 and 2005. E-mail addresses were obtained from the industry sponsor of MIS fellowships (Covidien). All identifying information was kept confidential.
Results: 215 of the 270 email addresses were valid at the time of the survey. 64 surveys were completed for a response rate of 29%. 88% of the respondents were male. The most frequent reason for choosing an MIS fellowship was to enhance laparoscopic skills (34%), followed by improving chances of obtaining a job in a competitive market (22%) and improving chances of becoming a future leader in the field (20%). Laparoscopic procedures currently performed by former fellows include appendectomy(94%), cholecystectomy(92%), ventral herniorraphy(84%), colectomy(83%), nissen fundoplication (83%), inguinal herniorraphy(76%), splenectomy(70%), gastric bypass(62%), lap-band(61%), common bile duct exploration(52%), adrenalectomy(49%), esophagectomy(11%). 75% reported no training experience in advanced endoscopic procedures. 85% felt completion of an MIS fellowship provided an edge on referral of advanced laparoscopic procedures. 63% reported that their presence enhanced the laparoscopic experience of surgical resident(s). 91% reported that the fellowship either met or exceeded their expectations. 75% stated that their fellowship was extremely beneficial to their career and 86% would recommend their former fellowship to future applicants.
Conclusion: Upon completion of an MIS fellowship, the majority of former fellows felt the experience was beneficial with a positive impact on laparoscopic knowledge base, skills, referrals and career. Long-term followup of all MIS fellow experiences could help tailor fellowships to meet the needs of future trainees. Further study is necessary to validate these results on a larger scale.


Session: Poster

Program Number: P168

View Poster

447

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals