Advanced GI MIS Fellowship Program

Program Mission

Our mission at USC is to facilitate the transition from trainee to respected surgeon in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery. We are dedicated to integrating the most cutting-edge technologies into our training curriculum, so our fellows leave with highly sought after skillsets in bariatric, foregut and general surgery.

Fellowship Overview

We train outstanding surgeons with clinical competence and excellent technical skills in all areas of foregut surgery, bariatric surgery and advanced endoscopy. We take pride in offering one of the most thorough clinical fellowships in the country, incorporating comprehensive training in bariatric surgery (including revisional cases), foregut surgery (both benign and malignant diseases), general MIS surgery (abdominal wall, solid organ and robotics) and advanced endoscopy. Our fellows have gone on to secure positions in prestigious academic medical centers and coveted community practices.

The USC Advanced GI MIS Fellowship Program is under the direct supervision of Dr. Caitlin Houghton. She is dedicated not only to refining surgical skills and clinical expertise for our fellows but also to personalizing each fellow’s experience, advancing them towards their personalized goals. She is the director of robotic surgery for Keck of USC and is highly regarded in the field as an educator and mentor in robotic and foregut surgery alike.

The operative experience is split between sites in Los Angeles and Orange County. At Keck of USC in Los Angeles, the fellows have a broad operative experience with Drs Lipham, Houghton, Samakar, Putnam, Abel, Shiraga and Hawley. Keck is a designated bariatric center of excellence and provides patients with the most up to date options including bypass, sleeve, SADI and revisional surgery. The fellows also get exposure to a large number of advanced laparoscopic and robotic foregut procedures, including esophagectomy, gastrectomy, Heller myotomy, Paraesophageal hernia repair and Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation (LINX). We are often involved in clinical trials using the most innovative new technologies in the field. Minimally invasive general surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction procedures are also done predominately at KECK.

At the Orange County locations, we focus on skills required for building a complete foregut surgery practice. The fellows participate in the whole patient experience refining their clinical acumen, determining the appropriate work up and interpretation of studies required to consult patients on their surgical options. The surgical skills are focused on laparoscopic and robotic benign and malignant foregut pathologies. Endoscopic work-up, surveillance and treatment techniques are also acquired during this portion of the fellowship experience.

At USC, we have a strong research interest, and fellows and faculty members meet frequently to discuss current research projects. Past fellows have presented at both regional and national conferences. We have an active research fellow and multiple projects at different stages of development that also will involve the clinical fellows. The program supports fellows with conferences, publications, and academic positions after the fellowship.

USC is committed to equal opportunity in employment. This program is open to all eligible individuals. The Department of Surgery operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. Everyone is encouraged to apply.