Division of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery

In April 1997, the most advanced specialized Endosurgery Center in the Northeast opened at UMass Medical Center. This unique educational center is equipped for the innovation, application, and demonstration of all forms of advanced minimally invasive surgery. All divisions within the Department of Surgery participate.

Telemedicine and electronic distance learning are central components of the Endosurgery Center. In addition to disseminating education and new technological advances regionally, advanced telecommunications permit participation in minimally invasive surgery conferences nationally and worldwide.

Two one-year endosurgery fellowships are offered as of July 1997. Fellows will have completed an accredited general surgical residency program. In addition to advanced training in Endosurgery, there is extensive emphasis on basic and clinical research, telemedicine, clinical and technological innovations, and outcomes analysis. Fellows play pivotal pivotal roles in identifying, participating in, and leading national clinical trials evaluating new techniques and their clinical outcome data ranging from surgical efficacy to cost-effectiveness. Specific clinical projects underway include laparascopic hepatic surgery, laparascopic ultra-sonography, minimally invasive cardiovascular and peripheral vascular surgery, and advanced thoracoscopic surgery.