Program Director(s):
Keith Scharf
Sherif Aly
Description:
The Advanced MIS/Bariatric surgery Fellowship at Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) gives a well rounded experience in all aspects of MIS surgery including foregut, bariatrics, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, complex ventral hernia, natural orifice surgery (Apollo), and robotic surgery. Bariatric surgery includes lap band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and revisional surgery. The program also offers a robust experience in robotic surgery. In addition to operating at the main campus, the fellow will also have the opportunity to operate at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital, where they will receive additional bariatric and minimally invasive cases. The fellow will also be granted status as clinical instructor at Loma Linda Univesity School of Medicine. Upon completion of the fellowship the fellow will gain competency in Bariatric, Foregut, Robotic, and Complex Ventral Hernia surgery as well as both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.
Basic Program Information:
- Location: Loma Linda, California
- Primary Program Site: Loma Linda University Health
- Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 482 beds, 32 ORs, 44-64 ICU beds
- Secondary Program Site: VA Loma Linda Healthcare
- Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: 500 beds, 8 ORs, 40 ICU beds
- Clinic locations and schedule:
The clinic is located at the Faculty Medical Clinic (FMC), which is located across the street from the main hospital. The fellow will participate in the PD's clinic on Wednesdays.
- University Affiliation: Loma Linda University
- School of Medicine Affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- Year Program and/or Designation Established: 2015
- Number of Faculty: 7
- % of Program Clinical: 90
- % of Program Research: 10
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: 9
- Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 5
- 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:Occurrence-based malpractice coverage
Contact Information For Questions:
Alana Symons
Phone: 909-651-9863x19863
Fax: 909-558-0236
Email: [email protected]
Web: llusurgery.org
Facilities
Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab
Citizenship and Visa Requirements:
- US Citizens
- US Permanent Residents (Green Card)
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 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 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 valid California state license is required
Accreditation Status | Accreditation Period | Length of Accreditation | Accredited for Advanced GI MIS/Bariatrics | 2024-2026 | 2 |
---|
Fellowship Opportunity # 1
- Number of Positions Available: 1
- Type of Fellowship: Adv GI MIS/Bariatric
- Duration: 1 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? - 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? No
- Does the fellowship contract include a non-compete clause? No
Clinical Outpatient Experience
The fellow with be involved with evaluating (under attending supervision) pre and post operative patients as well as new consults in the outpatient clinic setting in the area of general, forgut and bariatirc surgery. The fellow will also gain outpatient experience in pH probe, manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and lap band clinic.
Research/Scholarship Resources
There is ample opportunity for clinical research and the fellow will be expected to present at least one research project to a national meeting either ACS, SAGES or ASMBS and submit one manuscript for publication.
Program Director(s) Detailed Information
Dr. Keith Scharf DO, FACS, FASMBS
- At Institution Since: 2010
- Program Director Since : 2014
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
ASMBS
Other
IFSO, AAS
Areas of Expertise
MIS/Bariatric/Forgut/RoboticsTeaching Qualifications
Previous medical student clerkship director for general surgery
Director of Advanced MIS/ Bariatric Surgery Fellowship
ASMBS former membership committee chair
ASMBS Video Committee
ASMBS Program Committee
GI Surgery QI committee
Summary of Qualifications
Director of Bariatric Surgery
Associate Professor of Surgery
Internship: Michigan State University
Residency: Loma Linda University Medical Center
Fellowship: Stanford University
Sherif Aly MD, Dipl. ABOM
- At Institution Since: 2023
- Program Director Since : 2024
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
Areas of Expertise
Bariatric, foregut, abdominal wall reconstruction & robotic surgeryTeaching Qualifications
Associate Program Director Advanced GI MIS / Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Loma Linda University Health
SAGES Resident & Fellow Training Committee Member
Fellowship Council's Education and Curriculum Committee Member
Summary of Qualifications
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Residency: Boston University Medical Center
Fellowship: Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Division of Time
Percentage of Time Spent in Clinical Activity:
90%
Percentage of Time Spent in Research
Activity:10%
Case Load as Reported By Fellow(s)
1 Fellow(s) performed 79 cases with 85 procedures during the 2024-2025 Fellowship Year.
1 Fellow(s) performed 266 cases with 306 procedures during the 2023-2024 Fellowship Year.
List of Contributing Faculty
Keith R Scharf DO, FACS, FASMBS | 45% |
Area of Expertise MIS/Foregut/Bariatric/Robotics |
|
Role in Training Program Director |
|
Sherif Aly MD | 30% |
Area of Expertise MIS/Foregut/Bariatric/Robotics |
|
Role in Training Attending/Associate Program Director |
|
Esther Yung MD | 10% |
Area of Expertise MIS/Foregut/Robotics |
|
Role in Training attending |
|
Aarthy Kannappan MD | 5% |
Area of Expertise MIS/Foregut/Bariatric/Robotics |
|
Role in Training Attending |
|
Hamza Durrani MBBS | 5% |
Area of Expertise MIS/General Surgery |
|
Role in Training Attending |
|
Jazmin Cole MD | 5% |
Area of Expertise MIS/General Surgery |
|
Role in Training Attending |
|
Accreditation History
Director | Program | Length | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keith Scharf | Advanced GI MIS/Bariatrics | 2 | 2024 | 2026 |