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Program Director(s):
Robert Simon
Alejandro Pita

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Description:

Hepatobiliary Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic

Overview

Cleveland Clinic's Hepatobiliary fellowship offers a 2-year Fellowship Council and American Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Association (AHPBA) accredited fellowship following the completion of a general surgery residency in the United States or Canada. We accept graduates of other foreign medical schools only if ECFMG certified. Non US citizens may apply for planned H-1B or O-1 Visa during their fellowship. Appointments to the fellowship are made on a competitive basis and can be initiated via the fellowship council (https://fellowshipcouncil.org/)

Our educational goal is to improve the knowledge and skills of our trainees in the full spectrum of liver, pancreatic, and biliary surgery. The operative experience includes open, minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

Clinical Role: This is primarily a clinical fellowship with over 80% of the program year spent in clinical activities. The fellow will have a junior staff role for HPB consults. The fellowship will consist of clinical duties including patient evaluation, operative experience, post-operative management, and patient follow-up. In addition to conventional liver, pancreatic, and biliary cases, the fellow will participate selectively in the liver transplant program, principally in donor procedures and living related transplants. The clinical experience includes a wide variety of complex patients that includes both benign and malignant pathology. The fellow will also act as the primary staff for Emergency General Surgery on the weekends, taking call one weekend out of every six. They will be expected to work with the residents to manage the acute consults and take them to the operting room as needed. A faculty member will always be available as their backup.

Teaching role: The fellowship teaching responsibilities will include involvement an HPB multi-disciplinary conference, formal HPB teaching rounds in addition to resident and medical student teaching in the outpatient areas, ward and the operating room. The fellow is also responsible for organizing and moderating the HPB Journal clubs. We try to have them once every 2 months. 

Research role: Research responsibilities will include clinical research protocols and retrospective chart reviews and clinical trials. The fellow is expected to prepare several papers, posters and abstracts for publication and possible presentation at national and local meetings.

 

Staff

Our surgical staff includes 10 surgeons with diverse clinical, research, and administrative expertise and interests. Many are well-known leaders in the field.

R. Matthew Walsh, MD

Toms Augustin, MD, MPH

Robert Simon, M.D.

Daniel Joyce, M.D.

Robert Naples, D.O.

Federico Aucejo, M.D.

Jaekeun Kim, M.D.

David Kwon, M.D.

Alejandro Pita, M.D.

Samer Naffouje, M.D.

Alumni Career Pathways

1995

Jalink    Diederick, MD

Queen's Unviersity Ontario

1996

Iannitti  David, MD

Carolina's Heath Care

1997

Evans Peter, MD

Alfred Hospital, Prahan

1998

Li John, MD     

Duke University, Asheville VAMC

1999

Campbell Connie, MD   

Catholic Medical Center NH

2000

Wu Justin, MD

Kaiser Permanente Med Ctr San Diego

2001

Connelly Marc, MD

Alaska Natative Med Ctr

2003

Smith Andrew, MD

United Kingdom

2004

Yang Yolanda, MD

Redwood City, CA

2005

Simpfendorfer Conrad, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Florida

2006

Mackey Richard, MD

St. Joseph Medical Center

2007

Hirose Kenzo, MD

Johns Hopkins

2008

Johnson Michael

Kettering Medical Center

2009

Morris-Stiff Gareth, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System

2010

Aguilar Saavedra Juan, MD

Mexico

2011

Bui Au, MD

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

2012

El-Hayek Kevin, MD

Metrohealth

2013

Ali Noaman, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Akron

2014

Stafford Anthony , MD  

United Kingdom

2015

Augustin Toms, MD      

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Fairview

2016

Royall Nelson, MD

St. John Medical Center

2017

Simon Robert, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Main Campus

2018

Khithani Amit, MD

HCA Florida Physicians

2019

Essa Aleassa, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Abu Dhabi

2021

Alexander DeMare, MD

Beaumont Hospital, MI

2022

Katheryn Stackhouse, MD

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Akron General

2023

Robert Naples, DO

Cleveland Clinic Health System - Main Campus

2024 - Current Fellow

Breanna Perlmutter, MD

Training Environment Our fellows develop a rich clinical experience across the spectrum of surgical practice: a quaternary care research hospital, and high volume community hospitals. All of our locations have excellent nursing, case managers, ancillary staff levels (with physician assistant on each service and physician assistant and general surgery resident junior support on the high volume services) allowing fellows to concentrate on their role as surgeons. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by George Crile Sr., a general and endocrine surgeon; Frank Bunts, a neurosurgeon; William Lower, an urologist; and John Phillips, an internist. It was a new kind of medical center: a physician-lead, not-for-profit, integrated hospital and group practice, equally dedicated to patient care, research, and education. Cleveland Clinic quickly became a world renowned training hospital, medical school and research institute, known for offering the most advanced medical care. Cleveland Clinic's main campus consists of 41 buildings and more than 85 operating rooms, with constant expansion and renovation. Cleveland Clinic’s subspecialty surgeons are at the forefront of surgical care and are behind its reputation as a top-ranked, quaternary care hospital with an international referral base, and high volume critical care transfer service, that cares for the most complex patients.

Cleveland Clinic is immediately adjacent to the University Circle Neighborhood, home of Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Clinic is centrally located and accessible from the downtown, east, and west side residential neighborhoods.

Fairview Hospital

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/locations/fairview-hospital

Fairview Hospital is a 488-bed hospital located at the western edge of Cleveland, overlooking the Cleveland Metroparks. Fairview Hospital has served the community for more than 110 years, offering a full range of services and physicians skilled in providing that care. 

Basic Program Information:

  • Location: Cleveland Ohio
  • Primary Program Site: Cleveland Clinic
  • Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 1,300 beds, 100 ORs, 500 ICU beds
  • Secondary Program Site: Fairview
  • Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 488 Total Beds, 12 ORs, 12 SICU Beds, 25 MICU beds 25
  • Clinic locations and schedule:

    Main Campus on Tuesdays and Fridays

  • University Affiliation: Case Western Reserve University
  • School of Medicine Affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and CWRU School of Medicine
  • Year Program and/or Designation Established: 1990
  • Number of Faculty: 10
  • % of Program Clinical: 80
  • % of Program Research: 20

Additional Program Information:

  • Interaction with Residents: Some cases shared
  • Is there a General Surgery Residency at the Primary Institution? Yes
  • Is there a General Surgery Residency at the Secondary Institution? No
  • Is there a curriculum in place for fellowship? Yes
  • Is there a skills lab at the institution with fellow access? Yes
  • Are there teaching conferences available for the fellow? Yes
  • Is there an evaluation tool for fellow by faculty in place? Yes
  • Is there an evaluation tool for faculty by fellow in place? Yes
  • Papers Accepted For Publication where PD was an author: 19
  • Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 10
  • Are funds available for the Fellow to attend conferences? Yes

Malpractice Insurance Information:

  • The fellow(s) is also required to have attending privileges (insurance coverage must also include all activities for their work while they act as a fellow and an attending) and the program provides the following:
    Claims-based malpractice coverage including a tail for the statute of limitations

Contact Information For Questions:

Janine Keough
Phone: 216-312-9206
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.clevelandclinic.org

Facilities

Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab
Robotics Lab

Citizenship and Visa Requirements:

    US Citizens
    US Permanent Residents (Green Card)
    Canadian Citizens
    Canadian Permanent Residents
    Non U.S. Citizens eligible for/with planned H-1B Visa during their fellowship (For U.S. Fellowship Programs)
    Non U.S. Citizens eligible for/with planned O-1 Visa during their fellowship (For U.S. Fellowship Programs)

Medical School Requirements:

    We ONLY accept graduates of U.S. or Canadian Medical Schools

Examinations and Certifications:

    Applicants must have passed the USMLE/COMLEX Step 1, 2, & 3 exams
    Applicants must have passed the USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 & 2 exams or the Medical Council of Canada Evaluation Exam (MCCEE)
    Applicants must have passed the TOEFEL exam
    Applicants must have had at least 2 years of prior training in an ACGME accredited residency or fellowship (or Canadian equivalent)
    Applicants who are ABS or Canadian Board Eligible or Certified
    Applicants who hold a General Surgery specialty certificate from a Board or College outside of U.S. or Canada at the beginning of the fellowship
    Applicants must have had at least 2 years of prior training in an AOA (American Osteopathic Association) accredited residency or fellowship
    Applicants must be AOBS (American Osteopathic Board of Surgery) eligible or certified

 

Licensure Requirements and Information:

A permanent Ohio License and US DEA is required.

http://med.ohio.gov/

 

Canadian citizens requesting an H1-B visa will need to have USMLE 1,2 & 3 as the MCCQE is not accepted for visa purposes.

Accreditation Status Accreditation Period Length of Accreditation
Accredited for HPB 2023-2025 2

Fellowship Opportunity # 1

  • Number of Positions Available: 1
  • Type of Fellowship: HPB
  • Duration: 2 year
  • Start Day: August 1
  • End Day: July 31
  • Is this a salaried position? Yes
  • It is a requirement that the salary must be commensurate to a PGY 6 or greater in the same city. Does your program meet this requirement? Yes
  • Is the salary guaranteed for the year? Yes
  • Is there funding available beyond salary for meeting attendance, research, etc? Yes
  • Is the salary dependent on call? No
  • Is the Fellow on call? Yes
    What are the on call requirements?

    The fellow will take ACS call one weekend every six weeks and HPB home call two weeks per month. 
  • What are the estimated fellow weekly work hours?
  • It is a requirement that Health Insurance be provided. Do you provide health insurance to your fellows? Yes
  • Teaching Responsibilities: Yes
  • Courses/Academic Presentations: Yes
  • Does reimbursement for the above make up part of the salary? Yes
  • Does the fellowship contract include a non-compete clause? Yes

Clinical Outpatient Experience

The fellowship will consist of clinical duties including patient evaluation, operative experience, post-operative management, and patient follow-up. In addition to conventional liver and pancreatic cases, the fellow will participate in the liver transplant program, principally in donor procedures and living related transplants.ss and staple height.

Research/Scholarship Resources

There is a weekly research meeting with the HPB research team including a statistian and Datamart manager.

Program Director(s) Detailed Information

Robert Simon

  • At Institution Since: 2017
  • Program Director Since : 2024
  • Board Certification:

Society Memberships

SAGES

ACS

SSAT

AHPBA

Other

CSS

Areas of Expertise

Hepatobliary and Pancreatic Surgery

Teaching Qualifications

Core4 medical student leader

October 2017 – December 2017

 

Administrative Chief Resident

July 2016 – June 2017

 

President of the Resident and Fellow Council (RFC)

July 2014 - June 2015

 

Robert J. Lucas Surgical Society Panelist

August 2014

 

Resident Didactic Coordinator

July 2014 - June 2015

 

Medical Student Didactic Coordinator

July 2014 – June 2015

 

Medical Student Mentorship Program

July 2012 – June 2017

 

Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor

November - December 2008

 

Columbus Free Clinic (CFC) Summer Steering Committee

Summer 2008

 

Head Laboratory Volunteer at the Columbus Free Clinic (CFC)

April 2008 – June 2011

 

Kaplan MCAT Instructor

May 2008 - May 2009

 

Humanism in Medicine President

April 2008 - April 2009

 

Medical Student Orientation Coordinator

Summer 2008

 

Med Students 4 Kids

September 2007 - June 2008

 

AHPBA Program Directors Committee

Fellow representative

August 2017 – August 2018

Summary of Qualifications

Medical Student Clerkship Director

June 2022 – Present

 

Hepatopancreatobiliary Quality Improvement Chair

2019 – Present

Clinical Competency Committee

2018 – Present

Hepatopancreatobiliary Fellow

Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Cleveland, OH

August 2017 – July 2018

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Novel Treatment Option for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Lightner, Amy; Dadgar, Neda; Vaidya, Anil; Simon, Robert; Fulmer, Clifton; Siddiki, Hassan; Menon, K.V. Narayanan; Liu, Peter; Walsh, Matthew

Cell Biology International (Submitted for publication)

 

Biliary Anatomy Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Jenny H. Chang, Mir Shanaz Hossain, Charles Echstaedt, Samer Naffouje, Daniel Joyce, Robert Simon, R. Matthew Walsh

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

(Submitted for publication)

 

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Advanced Lymph Node Disease Undergoing Surgical Resection Have an Impaired Survival Compared to Patients with Limited Metastatiic Disease on Modern Chemotherapy.

Breanna C. Perlmutter MD, Mir Shanaz Hossain MD, Robert Naples MD, Chao Tu MS, Valery Vilchez MD, John McMichael BSc, Katherine Tullio MPH MS, Robert Simon MD, R. Matthew Walsh MD, Toms Augustin MD MPH.

(Submitted for publication)

 

The Isolation of Islets From Juvenile Chronic Pancreatitis Patients Does Not Present an Obstacle to Total Pancreatectomy and Autologous Islet Transplantation.

MF Knoll, J Solomina S Bertera, C. Knoll, D. Eicher, R. Simon, M. Wijkstrom, A. Humar, M. Walsh, R. Bottino, M. Trucco

(Submitted for publication)

 

Long Term Assessment of Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Biliary Microbiome in Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

HPB

Sayf A Said, Mir S Hossain, Alexander DeMare, Breanna C Perlmutter, John McMichael, Daniel Joyce, Robert Simon, Toms Augustin, R M Walsh

2022 Jul 11 (online ahead of print)

PMID: 35918214

 

A Critical Analysis of Laparoscopic and Open Approaches to Sporadic Pancreatic Insulinoma Resection in the Modern Era.

American Journal of Surgery

Robert Naples, Jonah D Thomas, Danny A Orabi, Jordan P Reynolds, Scott Robertson, Allan E Siperstein, R M Walsh, Robert Simon, Joyce J Shin, Judy Jin, Vikram D Krishnamurthy, Eren Berber

2022 May; 223(5):912-917

PMID: 34702489

 

Lessons Learned and Keys to Success: Provider Experiences During the Implementation of Virtual Oncology Tumor Boards in the Era of COVID-19.

Journal of Surgical Oncology

(Accepted for publication)

 

Survival Impact Based on Hepatic Artery Lymph Node Status in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Study of Patients Receiving Modern Chemotherapy

Journal of Surgical Oncology, 6 November, 2020; 1-8

Perlmutter B, Hossain MS, Naples R, Tu C, Vlichez V, McMichael J, Tullio K, Simon R, Walsh RM, Augustin T

 

Advances in the Management of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms.

Current Problems in Surgery

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011384020301490?via%3Dihub

 

A Critical Analysis of Localizing Studies and Surgical Management in Sporadic Pancreatic Insulinoma.

Journal of GI Surgery (Submitted for publication)

 

Short- and Long-Term Surgical Outcomes of Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation: A Comparative Analysis of Surgical Technique and Intraoperative Heparin Dosing to Optimize Outcomes.

Pancreatology. 2020 Nov; S1424-3903(20)30846-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.11.013. Epub ahead of print.

Naples R, Walsh RM, Thomas J, Perlmutter B, McMichael J, Augustin T, Simon R

 

Survival Outcomes After Surgical Management of Sporadic or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Associated Duodenal Cancer

Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2020 Nov; 122(6):1132-1144Augustin T, Moslim M, Bora Cengiz T, El-Hayek K, Simon R, Bhatt A, Tang A, Burke C, Walsh RM

 

Long-Term Outcomes of Pancreas-Sparing Duodenectomy for Duodenal Polyposis in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Syndrome

Journal of Gastroenterology Surgery. 2020 May

Naples R, Simon R, Moslim M, Augustin T, Church J, Burke CA, Bhatt A, Kalady M, Walsh RM

 

Comparison of Pancreas-Sparing Duodenectomy (PSD) and Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for the Management of Duodenal Polyposis Syndromes

Surgery. 2019 Oct; 166(4): 496-502

Walsh RM, Augustin T, Aleassa EM, Simon R, El-Hayek KM, Moslim MA, Burke CA, Church JM, Morris-Stiff G

 

Preoperative HbA1c and Outcomes in Non-cardiac Surgical Patients: Analysis of the ACS-NSQIP Dataset

(Submitted for publication)

Simon R, Long G, Mangla J, Shaffer A, Jenkins C, Callahan R, Shuell C, Gates E, Welsh R

 

Using Cancer Gene Profiling to Distinguish Benign from Malignant Follicular Thyroid Lesions

International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders

Peeples C, Simon R, Nagar S, Ahmed S, Thibodeau B, Wilson G, Long G, Czako P

 

Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB): Is the Timing of an Elective Resection of Neonatal Lung Lesions Challenged?

Journal of Pediatric Surgery: Case Reports 2014 October 9:465-7

Simon R, McIntyre E, Khandhar P, Mckris J, Fischer A

 

A Case-Control Study of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Volume, Tibial Plateau Slopes and Intercondylar Notch Dimension in ACL-Injured Knees

Journal of Biomechanics 2010 June 18;43(9):1702-7

Simon R, Everhart J, Nagaraja H, Chaudhari A

 

Association of Non-Contact ACL Injury with Presence and Thickness of a Bony Ridge on Anteromedial Aspect of the Femoral Intercondylar Notch

American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2010 Aug; 38(8):1667-73

Everhart J, Flannigan D, Simon R, Chaudhari A

 

Book Chapters:

 

Complications after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Surgical Clinics, Volume 101, Issue 5, October 2021

Simon R.

 

Simon R. Cholecystectomy. Conor Delaney. Netter’s Surgical Anatomy and Approaches; Second Edition. Elsevier.

 

 

Alejandro Pita MD

  • At Institution Since: 2020
  • Program Director Since : 2024
  • Board Certification: Board Certified

Society Memberships

ACS

Other

ASTS

Areas of Expertise

Liver Transplant

Teaching Qualifications

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Invited Lectures

International

  • “Transplante Hepatico en Cleveland Clinic” Webinar in Spanish to Dominican Society of Gastroenterology, Domican Republic. 11/12/2020
  • “Situacion Actual del Trasplante Hepatico”. Gastro Summit 2023, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 7/29/2023
  • Ateneo en Uruguay: “Trasplante Hepatico en Cleveland Clinic”. Webinar in Spanish for the Uruguayan Congress of Intensive Care Medicine. 10/25/2023

 

National

  1. “Transplant Considerations for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma.” Digestive Disease Interventions Conference, Cleveland, OH. 05/2022
  2. “From Resectable to Unresectable: Surgical management of colorectal cancer liver metastases”. Surgery Live, Cleveland Clinic, OH 3/31/2023.
  3. Invited Lecture to MetroHealth General Surgery Residency Program on Transplantation and Immunology. MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. 4/11/2023
  4. Annual Lecture: “Liver Transplant for the ID physician”. Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. 4/22/2024
  5. Invited Lecture to organ procurement organization Medical Board of Directors. “Overview of donors and perfusion strategies in liver transplantation”. Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. 4/25/2024

 

 

Grand Rounds

National

  1. “Ode to the Liver: A Brief Journey Through the History of Hepatic Surgery.” University of Southern California Grand Rounds, Los Angeles, CA. 01/2020

 

Other Presentations

National

 

  1. “Sarcopenia and Immune Function in ICU Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation: a Prospective Study” Oral Presentation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons 19th Winter Symposium. Miami Beach, FL. 01/2019

 

Trainees/Mentees

  1. Mazhar Khalil, MD; Clinical Fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2022-2023

 

  1. Eduardo Fernandes, MD; Clinical fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2022-2023

 

  1. Esteban Calderon, MD; Clinical fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2022-present

 

  1. Jiro Kusakabe, MD; Clinical fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2022-present

 

  1. Glenn Wakam, MD; Clinical fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2023-present

 

  1. Kumaran Shanmugarajah, MD; Clinical fellow, Liver/Kidney transplant and hepatobiliary surgery, 2023-present

 

 

CCLCM Medical Students

  • Oral examiner for general surgery clerkship, 2022 – present

 

Cleveland General Surgery Mentorship Program

  • Advisor/Faculty Mentor for Amani Atallah, MD, general surgery resident, 2022 – 2023
  • Advisor/Faculty Mentor for Hadika Mubashir, MD, general surgery resident 2023 – present
  • Interviewer for general surgery residency candidates, Nov 2023 - present

Teaching Activities

  1. Teaching Assistant, Biostatistics. 6 hours/week. Undergraduate Students of the University of Miami, 01/2009-06/2009.

 

  1. Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy. 8 hours/week Undergraduate Students of the University of Miami, 01/2009-06/2009.

 

  1. Non-didactic teaching during transplant surgery rounds in the General Surgery Department. Bedside teaching to residents, fellows, nurses and nurse practitioners. Cleveland Clinic, 2020-present.

 

  1. M&M and Readmissions Conference in Liver Transplantation, 1-2 hours/week. Supervision over 4 clinical fellows.

 

Summary of Qualifications

Post-Graduate Training

Institution & City, State / Country          University of Southern California, LAC+USC, Los Angeles, CA

Position                                                   Intern, General Surgery (PGY 1)

Start-End Dates                                       06/2014-06/2015

 

Institution & City, State / Country          University of Southern California, LAC+USC, Los Angeles, CA

Position                                                   Resident, General Surgery (PGY 2-3)

Start-End Dates                                       06/2015-06/2017

 

Institution & City, State / Country          University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Position                                                   Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Research Fellow (PGY-4)

Start-End Dates                                       06/2017-06/2018

 

Institution & City, State / Country          University of Southern California, LAC+USC, Los Angeles, CA

Position                                                   Chief Resident, General Surgery (PGY 5-6)

Start-End Dates                                       06/2018-06/2020

 

Institution & City, State / Country          Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Position                                                   Fellow; Liver, Kidney Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery

Start-End Dates                                       08/2020-07/2022

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Position                                                   Assistant Professor of Surgery

Institution & Institute                              Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University

Department                                              General Surgery

City, State / Country                                Cleveland, OH

Start-End Dates                                       11/2023-present

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Clinical Development

School / Institution                                  University of Southern California

Title / Certificate                                     Biostatistics Course

Start-End Dates                                       08/2017-04/2018

 

School / Institution                                  Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Title / Certificate                                     Medical Biostatistics I

Start-End Dates                                       09/2023-12/2023

 

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

Name of Society                                      American Medical Association

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2010-present

 

Name of Society                                      American College of Surgeons

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2014-present

 

Name of Society                                      American Society of Transplant Surgeons

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2017-present

 

Name of Society                                      American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2021-present

 

Name of Society                                      International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2021-present

 

Name of Society                                      International Laparoscopic Liver Society

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2022-present

 

Name of Society                                      International Liver Transplantation Society

Role / Title                                              Member

Start-End Dates                                       2023-present

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

 

Manuscript Reviewer

Journal 1                                                  Liver Transplantation

Start-End Dates                                       2022 – present

 

Journal 2                                                  HPB

Start-End Dates                                       2023 – present

 

 

UNOS/OPTN National Liver Review Board (NLRB)

Board Member, Center Representative   2024 – present

 

Deceased-donor uterus procurement team

Transplant surgeon 2023 - present

 

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

Graduation with Magna Cum Laude Honors, University of Miami, 2010

 

Induction to Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, 2010

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medical Student Education, University of Southern California, 2016-2017

 

Poster of Distinction Award, American Transplant Congress, 2019

 

American Society of Transplant Surgeons Young Investigator Award (American Transplant Congress), 2021

 

Cleveland Clinic Caregiver Celebrations: Patient Recognition Award, 2022

 

Cleveland Clinic Caregiver Celebrations: Teaching Recognition Award, 2022

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Peer Reviewed Articles

  1. Nekrasov V, Matsuoka L, Kaur N, Pita A, Whang G, Cao S, Groshen S, Alexopoulos S. Improvement in the Outcomes of MELD ≥ 40 Liver Transplantation: An Analysis of 207 Consecutive Transplants in a Highly Competitive DSA. Transplantation. 2017 Oct;101(10):2360-2367.
  2. Pita A, Sher LS, Kaur N, Kandil SH, Khemichian S, Genyk Y, Dhanireddy KK. Severe Intra-Abdominal Hemorrhage Secondary to Spontaneous Gallbladder Rupture in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease: Presentation of Two Cases and Literature Review. ACS Case Reviews in Surgery. 2017;1(1):35-37.
  3. Tejura TK, Pita A, Romero C, Genyk YS, Sher L, Palmer SL. Living donor liver transplantation: Post-operative imaging follow-up of right lobe liver donors. Abdominal Radiology. 2018 Oct;43(10):2673-2678
  4. Pita A, Nguyen B, Maalouf N, Rios D, Lo M, Genyk Y, Sher L, Cobb JP. Variability in Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay After Liver Transplant: Determinants and Potential Opportunities for Improvement. Journal of Critical Care. 2019 Apr; 50:296-302
  5. Pita A, Kaur N, Emamaullee J, Lo M, Nguyen B, Sabour A, Tristan V, Nadim M, Genyk Y, Sher L. Outcomes of Liver Transplantation in Patients on Renal Replacement Therapy: Considerations for Simultaneous Liver Kidney Transplantation Versus Safety Net. Transplantation Direct. 2019 Sep 19;5(10)
  6. Oberkofler CE, Raptis D, DiNorcia J, Kaldas FM, Müller PC, Pita A, Genyk Y, Schlegel A, Muiesan P, Tun Abraham ME, Dokus K, Hernandez-Alejandro R, Rayar M, Boudjema K, Mohkam K, Lesurtel M, Esser H, Maglione M, Vijayanand D, Lodge JPA, Owen T, Malagó M, Mittler J, Lang H, Khajeh E, Mehrabi A, Ravaioli M, Pinna AD, Dutkowski P, Clavien PA, Busuttil RW, Petrowsky H. How to Handle Arterial Conduits in Liver Transplantation? Evidence From the First Multicenter Risk Analysis. Annals of Surgery: January 16, 2020
  7. Choi HY, Siddique HR, Zheng M, Kou Y, Yeh DW, Machida T, Chen CL, Kumar DBU, Punj V, Winer P, Pita A, Sher L, Tahara SM, Ray RB, Elowitz M, Liang C, Chen L, Tsukamoto H, Machida K. P53 destabilizing protein skews asymmetric division and enhances NOTCH 2 activation to direct self-renewal of TICs. Nature Communications 2020 Jun 17;11(1):3084
  8. Pita A, Ziogas IA, Ye F, Chen Y, Rauf MA, Matsuoka LK, Kaur N, Whang G, Zielsdorf SM, Bastas G, Izzy M, Alexopoulos SP. Feasibility of Serial Ultrasound Measurements of the Rectus Femoris Muscle Area to Assess Muscle Loss in Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation in the Intensive Care Unit. Transplantation Direct 2020 Oct 20;6(11)
  9. Liu Q, Del Prete L, Ali K, Grady P, Bilancini M, Etterling J, D'Amico G, Diago Uso T, Hashimoto K, Aucejo F, Fujiki M, Eghtesad B, Sasaki K, Kwon CHD, Chaudhry S, Doi J, Pita A, New B, Bennett A, Cywinski J, Miller C, Quintini C. Sequential hypothermic and normothermic perfusion preservation and transplantation of expanded criteria donor livers. Surgery. 2022 Oct 24:S0039-6060(22)00683-3
  10. Campbell RA, Hoffmann M, Lin YC, Pita A, McKenney JK, Yasuda Y, Zhang JJ, Attawettayanon W, Ornstein M, Eltemamy M, Campbell SC. Ex-Vivo partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney. Kidney Cancer Journal. Vol 21, Issue 2. Jun 2023
  11. Fujiki M, Pita A, Kusakabe J, Sasaki K, You T, Tuul M, Aucejo FN, Quintini C, Eghtesad B, Pinna A, Miller C, Hashimoto K, Kwon CHD. Left Lobe First with Purely Laparoscopic Approach: A Novel Strategy to Maximize Donor Safety in Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation. Annals of Surgery. 2023 Jul 11. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005988. Epub ahead of print
  12. Maspero M, Holubar SD, Raj R, Yilmaz S, Prien C, Lavryk O, Pita A, Hashimoto K, Steele SR, Hull TL. Ileal Pouch-anal Anastomosis in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis-Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PSC-IBD): Long-term Pouch and Liver Transplant Outcomes. Annals of Surgery. 2023 Jul 21. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006041. Epub ahead of print.
  13. Wehrle CJ, Fujiki M, Schlegel A, Whitsett Linganna M, Pita A, Kim JK, Kwon DCH, Miller C, Hashimoto K, Dueland S, Sasaki K, Sapisochin G, Line PD, Hernandez-Alejandro R, Aucejo F. Update to 'A Contemporary Systematic Review on Liver Transplantation for Unresectable Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer'. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2023 Nov 23. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14611-z. Epub ahead of print.
  14. Wehrle CJ, Schlegel A, Khalil M, Rotroff D, Del Prete L, Maspero M, Raj R, Frankel WC, Eghtesad B, Aucejo F, Fujiki M, Kwon CD, Kim J, Tong MZY, Unai S, Cywinski J, Modaresi Esfeh J, Fares M, Pita A, Miller C, Quintini C, Hashimoto K, Diago-Uso T. Combined Liver Transplant and Cardiac Surgery: Long-Term Outcomes and Predictors of Success. Annals of Surgery. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006171. Epub ahead of print.
  15. Wehrle CJ, Raj R, Maspero M, Satish S, Eghtesad B, Pita A, Kim J, Khalil M, Calderon E, Orabi D, Zervos B, Modaresi Esfeh J, Whitsett Linganna M, Diago-Uso T, Fujiki M, Quintini C, Kwon CD, Miller C, Pinna A, Aucejo F, Hashimoto K, Schlegel A. Risk assessment in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term follow-up of a two-center experience. Int J Surg. 2024 Jan 22. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001104. Epub ahead of print.
  16. Hong H, Wehrle CJ, Zhang M, Fares S, Stitzel H, Garib D, Estfan B, Kamath S, Krishnamurthi S, Ma WW, Kuzmanovic T, Azzato E, Yilmaz E, Modaresi Esfeh J, Whitsett Linganna M, Khalil M, Pita A, Schlegel A, Kim J, Walsh RM, Miller C, Hashimoto K, Kwon DCH, Aucejo F. Circulating Tumor DNA Profiling in Liver Transplant for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, and Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Programmatic Proof of Concept. Cancers. 2024; 16(5):927.
  17. Wehrle CJ, Zhang M, Khalil M, Pita A, Modaresi Esfeh J, Diago-Uso T, Kim J, Aucejo F, Kwon DC, Ali K, Cazzaniga B, Miyazaki Y, Liu Q, Fares S, Hong H, Tuul M, Jiao C, Sun K, Fairchild RL, Quintini C, Fujiki M, Pinna AD, Miller C, Hashimoto K, Schlegel A. Impact of Back-to-Base Normothermic Machine Perfusion on Complications and Costs: A Multi-Center, Real-World Risk-Matched Analysis. Ann Surg. 2024 Apr 1. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006291. Epub ahead of print.
  18. Ghanem, OM, Pita A, Nazzal M, Johnson S, Diwan T, Obeid NR, Croome KP, Lim R, Quintini C, Whitson BA, Burt HA, Miller C, Kroh M; On behalf of SAGES & ASTS. Obesity, Organ Failure, and Transplantation: A Review of the Role of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Transplant Candidates and Recipients. Accepted for simultaneous publication on May 25, 2024 in the American Journal of Transplantation and Surgical Endoscopy.

Invited, Non-Peer Reviewed

  1. Matsuoka L, Pita A, Parekh D. The Role of Minimally Invasive Enucleation in the Treatment of Pancreatic Tumors. J Pancreas 2016 Feb 23; S(1): 114-118
  2. Pita A, Kwon CHD (2022) How to Achieve Institutional Success in Minimally-Invasive Hepatic Surgery: The Cleveland Clinic Experience. J Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 6:36

Books & Book Chapters

  1. Pita A, Aucejo F, Kwon CHD. Living Donor Liver Transplantation – The Donor, Surgical Procedures: Laparoscopic Donor Procedures for the Adult Recipient. In Living Donor Organ Transplantation, 2nd Edited by Rainer W Gruessner and Enrico Benedetti. Jan 2024.
  2. Pita A, Aucejo F, Hashimoto K. Very Early and Early HCC – Liver Resection and Transplant. In Digestive Disease Interventions, 2nd Edited by Baljendra S. Kapoor and Jonathan M. Lorenz (Submitted; in press)
  3. Pita A, Aucejo F, Chapman W. Liver Transplant after Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Therapy. In Hepatic Artery Infusion for Malignancy. Edited by Michael D’Angelica and Michael Lidsky (Submitted; in press)
  4. Pita A, Hashimoto K, Eghtesad B. Liver Transplantation in Children. In Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th Edited by Robert Wyllie, Jeffrey S Hyams, and Marsha Kay. (Submitted; in press)
  5. Pita A, Kingham TP, Kwon CHD. Minimally Invasive Techniques of Hepatic Resection. In Shackelford’s Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 9th (Submitted; in press)

 

 

 

Media Appearances & Coverage / Podcasts

  1. USC News. Health Section. “As a kid in Cuba, he watched his dad perform surgery — now he’s a resident at USC”. 08/2/2017. https://news.usc.edu/125370/as-a-kid-in-cuba-he-watched-his-dad-perform-surgery-now-hes-a-resident-at-usc/.

 

Abstracts

  1. Kaur N, Pita A, Lane C, Bhatnagar M, Matsuoka L, Selby R, Dhanireddy K. Preoperative Anemia in Transfusion Free Patients Undergoing Kidney Transplant May Be Associated with Poor Outcome [ATC abstract C173]. American Journal of Transplantation.2018;18 (S4).
  2. Nguyen, BM, Pita A, Hogen R, Dhanireddy K, Clark D, Cobb JP, Biswas S, Inaba K, Strumwasswer A. Aggressive Pre-Operative Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) Improves Outcomes for Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. Abstract presented at the Pacific Coast Surgical Association 89th Annual Meeting; 2018 Feb 16-19; Napa, CA.
  3. Choi HY, Siddique HR, Zheng M, Kou Y, Yeh DW, Machida T, Chen CL, Kumar DBU, Punj V, Winer P, Pita A, Sher L, Tahara SM, Ray RB, , Liang C, Liang C, Chen L, Tsukamoto H, Machida K. P53 destabilizing protein skews asymmetric division and enhances NOTCH activation to direct self-renewal of tumor-initiating stem-like cells induced by alcohol Western Diet. Hepatology. Vol 72, Issue S1, p182A.
  4. Aucejo F, Sasaki K, Pita A, Aleassa EM, Quintini C, Berber E, Kwon CHD. A review of 125 cases of laparoscopic right and left hepatectomy in Cleveland Clinic. HPB. Vol 23, Supp 2, S547-548 Jan 2021
  5. Aleassa EM, Aucejo F, Sasaki K, Quintini C, Pita A, Kwon CHD. Purely laparoscopic left donor hepatectomy with middle hepatic vein and caudate lobe. HPB. Vol 23, Supp 2, S524, Jan 2021
  6. Hofmann M, Campbell R, Lin YC, Pita A, McKenney J, Eltemamy M, Campbell S. Ex-vivo partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney. The Journal of Urology, Vol 209, No 4S, Supp 4.

Abstract Presentations

  1. Pita A, Nguyen B, Maalouf N, Rios D, Lo M, Genyk Y, Sher L, Cobb JP. Variability in ICU Length of Stay After Liver Transplant: Determinants and Potential Opportunities for Improvement [ASTS abstract P-152]. American Journal of Transplantation. 2018; 18(S2):88. Poster Presentation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons 18th Winter Symposium. Miami Beach, FL. 01/2018
  2. Pita A, Kaur N, Lo M, Sabour A, Tristan V, Genyk Y, Nadim M, Sher L. “Outcomes for Liver Transplant Recipients on Renal Replacement Therapy: Who Cannot Wait for Safety Net” American Journal of Transplantation, 2019, Vol 19, p702-703. Poster Presentation, American Transplant Congress, Boston, MA. 04/2019

 

  1. Pita A, Moro A, McVey JC, Firl DJ, Fujiki M, Diago T, Quintini C, Aucejo F, Kwon CD, Menon KV, Hashimoto K, Eghtesad B, Miller C, Sasaki K. “The Impact of Donor and Recipient Age Difference on Long Term Prognosis in Young Liver Transplant Recipients” American Journal of Transplantation. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). Oral Presentation, 2021 American Transplant Congress (virtual meeting). 06/2021

 

  1. Gibbons A, Pita A, Sasaki K, Aucejo F, Quintini C, Kwon CD “Purely laparoscopic extended posterior hepatectomy for a large hepatic mass” HPB. Vol 23, Supp 2, S534, 2021. Oral Presentation, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Annual Meeting. Miami Beach, FL. 08/2021

 

  1. Pita A, Sasaki K, Aucejo F, Fujiki M, Hashimoto K, Kwon CHD. “Initial experience of 60 cases pure-laparoscopic donor hepatectomy in Cleveland Clinic”. HPB. Vol 24, Supp 1, S52, Jan 2022. Oral presentation, International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association World Congress. New York, NY. 04/2022

 

  1. PitaA, Aucejo F, Fujiki M, Hashimoto K, Kwon CHD. “Purely laparoscopic living donor right posterior sectionectomy: Expanding living donors in America”. Oral Presentation, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Annual Meeting. Miami Beach, FL. 03/11/2023

Division of Time

Percentage of Time Spent in Clinical Activity: 80%
Percentage of Time Spent in Research Activity:20%

Case Load as Reported By Fellow(s)

1 Fellow(s) performed 42 cases with 69 procedures during the 2024-2025 Fellowship Year.
1 Fellow(s) performed 200 cases with 311 procedures during the 2023-2024 Fellowship Year.

List of Contributing Faculty

R. Matthew Walsh MD 100%
Area of Expertise
Biliary and pancreatic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, general surgery, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, laparoscopy, surgical endoscopy, surgical oncology, robotic surgery
Role in Training
Teaching Faculty
   
Robert Simon M.D. 100%
Area of Expertise
HPB
Role in Training
PD, Attending Faculty
   
Daniel Joyce MD 100%
Area of Expertise
HPB surgery
Role in Training
Attending Faculty
   
Robert F Naples DO 25%
Area of Expertise
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Role in Training
Teaching Faculty
   
Alejandro Pita MD 20%
Area of Expertise
Liver transplant
Role in Training
APD, Teaching Faculty
   
Eren Berber M.D. 10%
Area of Expertise
Adrenal disease, Adrenal disorders, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Calcium Disorders, endocrine hypertension, endocrine surgery - thyroid and parathyroid diseases and surgery, endocrine surgery (thyroid and parathyroid), general and laparoscopic surgery,
Role in Training
Attending Faculty
   
Charles Miller M.D. 10%
Area of Expertise
Biliary and pancreatic surgery, hepatitis B.C., hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, immunosuppression, Intestinal transplant and surgery, liver, liver and pancreas transplantation, liver transplantation,
Role in Training
Attending Faculty
   
Federico Aucejo M.D. 10%
Area of Expertise
Hepatitis B.C., hepatobiliary surgery, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, laparoscopic liver surgery, liver, liver transplantation, living donor liver transplantation, Liver surgery, living donor liver transplantation (duplicate), pediatric liver transplant, Port
Role in Training
Attending Faculty
   
Toms Augustin M.D. 10%
Area of Expertise
Cancer of the pancreas, liver, biliary system, and gall bladder Cancer of the stomach and duodenum Gastrointestinal tumors Liver tumor and cysts Pancreatic tumor and cysts Pancreatitis
Role in Training
Teaching Faculty
   
David Kwon M.D. 10%
Area of Expertise
Liver Transplant
Role in Training
Attending Faculty
   
Samer Naffouje MD 10%
Area of Expertise
HPB
Role in Training
Faculty
   
Jaekeun Kim MD 5%
Area of Expertise
Liver Transplant
Role in Training
Faculty
   

Accreditation History

Director Program Length Start End  
Matthew Walsh HPB 2 2023 2025  

Please visit the link below for a virtual tour of our institution.

https://youtu.be/4LrQ8V6offk?si=sK0wCb8zDgJiungi