Colon and rectal surgery fellows at WashU Medicine benefit from training in one of the longest-standing colorectal fellowships in the United States with a high volume of complex cases.
Contact
Gina Yu
Fellowship coordinator
[email protected]
314-362-8028
Program overview
The colon and rectal surgery fellowship at WashU Medicine is board accredited for three positions each year. The one-year program trains board-eligible surgeons seeking in-depth exposure to all aspects of colorectal disease and surgery. Our program offers:
- High clinical volume ranging from “bread and butter” cases to complex colorectal surgery.
- Advanced minimally invasive experience, including laparoscopic, robotic and transanal endoscopic microsurgical procedures.
- Rotations that immerse you in all aspects of colorectal care, including operative, inpatient and outpatient experiences.
- Collaboration with experts, including gastroenterologists, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists, enterostomal therapists, and professionals from other disciplines who expand and enhance the educational experience of the fellowship.
- A legacy of excellence at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Established in 1980, our program has trained leaders in colon and rectal surgery for 45+ years, and we’re still innovating today.
Learn more about the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery>>
Program director
Matthew Silviera, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Division of General Surgery
Director, Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship Program
- Phone: 314-454-7177
Associate program director
Michelle L. Cowan, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Associate Director, Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship Program
- Phone: 314-454-7177
See all colon and rectal faculty>>
How to apply
Colon and rectal surgery fellowship applicants must be board-eligible surgeons who have completed a general surgery residency at an accredited institution.
Fellows are chosen through the National Residency Match Program.
Interested candidates should submit applications through the Electronic Residency Applications Services (ERAS) website.
Completed applications are reviewed by the colorectal faculty, and qualified applicants are given the opportunity to interview.
Clinical experience
Fellows gain exposure to all aspects of colorectal surgery, including colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, colonoscopy, and rectal prolapse. Our fellows perform a high volume of minimally invasive procedures. By the end of the fellowship, fellows achieve a level of proficiency allowing for credentialing in any future faculty position.
Our fellows rotate through four clinical rotations in one-month blocks at two separate medical facilities.
The two rotations at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus focus on extensive operative and inpatient experiences. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a tertiary medical center so there is ample exposure to “bread and butter” — as well as diverse and complex — colorectal surgery.
Additionally, there are two rotations at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. One rotation is an inpatient rotation that focuses on the operative and inpatient experiences. The second rotation is an outpatient experience that focuses on outpatient clinic evaluations, colonoscopy, anal physiology and surgical management. On this rotation, residents gain extensive knowledge of endoscopy, anorectal manometry and transrectal ultrasonography.
Curriculum
Our curriculum has been designed to prepare fellows for careers in colon and rectal surgery. Fellows participate in biweekly and monthly conferences, including M&Ms, tumor boards, and pelvic floor disorder conferences.
Research & academic opportunities
Fellows are required to perform a clinical research project of personal interest during the program. This can be drawn from the colorectal databases or labs established at WashU Medicine.
Fellows are required to submit an abstract for the annual meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons as well as a manuscript for publication.
Research education and support is provided throughout the year to allow for continued future collaborations and a seamless transition into an academic practice for those who choose to pursue that career path.
Current fellows
Andrea Mesiti, MD
Residency: New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
Andrea Wiliamson, MD
Residency: University of Utah Hospitals
Shahrose Rahman, MD
Residency: Oregon Health and Science University
Recent graduates
- Allie E. Kidd, MD, MPH
- Next appointment: WashU Medicine
- Karishma Kodia, MD
- Next appointment: Emory School of Medicine
- Alisha Lussiez, MD
- Next appointment: University of Michigan Health
- Austin Dosch, MD
- Next appointment: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Harika Nalluri-Butz, MD
- Next appointment: University of Minnesota
- Lindsey Zhang, MD
- Mayo Clinic
- Anna De Roo, MD, MSc
- Maggie Westfal (Cassidy), MD, MPH
- Beiqun Zhao, MD
- Jessica Felton, MD
- Kasim Mirza, MD
- Pridvi Kandagalta, MD
- Kristen Ban, MD, MS
- Gregory Low, MD
- Zhifei (Jeff) Sun, MD
| Graduating year | Name |
| 2020 | Jonathan Abelson, MD |
| 2020 | Kerri Ohman, MD |
| 2020 | Christine Schad, MD |
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