Foregut Surgery Fellowship

The Hoag Foregut Surgery Fellowship offers a uniquely comprehensive experience, encompassing the entire spectrum from diagnostics to therapeutic interventions for both benign and malignant foregut diseases. This fellowship is designed for physicians who have completed a general surgery residency and possess a specialized interest in foregut pathophysiology, with a desire for mastery and innovation.

Although Hoag is a newly designated fellowship, our faculty boasts extensive educational proficiency. Dr. Christy Dunst, the program director, brings 20 years of expertise in surgical fellow training and developed the national foregut surgery fellowship curriculum. Training at Hoag provides not only an exceptional surgical experience, but the opportunity to work alongside well known foregut educator, gastroenterologist Dr. Kenneth Chang, whose contributions to interventional endoscopy are internationally recognized. Together, Dr. Dunst and Dr. Chang’s vision is to establish a collaborative and innovative educational experience aligned with the future of foregut care.

Fellows will gain exposure to the latest technologies and procedures, including advanced imaging, flexible endoscopy, and laparoscopic and robotic surgery. While we embrace innovation and advanced technology, we are deeply committed to providing a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of foregut disease. Fellows will learn these fundamentals alongside Hoag’s advanced interventional gastroenterology fellows, fostering collaboration with these vital partners. The program focuses on delivering an intensive educational environment aimed at creating uniquely qualified foregut surgical specialists. This mission is accomplished through high-level didactic lectures, a structured syllabus, and dedicated research time. Additional support includes journal club activities and ample opportunities to attend national conferences.

Rotations are meticulously designed to ensure training in all aspects of foregut disease. In addition to core esophageal surgery procedures, fellows will have the opportunity to acquire a wide variety of complementary skills, including bariatric interventions (such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty), hepatobiliary surgery (for exposure to duodenal and pancreatic procedures necessary for certain gastric cancer resections), thoracic surgery (for complex diaphragmatic hernias and esophagectomy approaches), and cutting-edge flexible endoscopic procedures (including POEM, TIF, ESD, EVAC, etc.).

Graduates of the Hoag Foregut Surgical Fellowship will have an unparalleled experience, positioning them as leaders in the field of foregut disease. Upon completion of the training, we expect our graduates to be competent in establishing a foregut program at their own hospitals, maintaining a high-volume practice managing complex foregut disease processes, and continuing to advance the field through clinical research and development.

For more information, please visit The Fellowship Council Hoag Foregut Surgery Fellowship program listing.