Program Director(s):
Jon Wee
Raphael Bueno
Desiree Steimer
Description:
This is a comprehensive training program in advanced non-cardiac thoracic surgery, intended for those who have graduated from or intend to complete an ACGME cardiothoracic residency. Foreign medical graduates who do not plan to practice in the United States are also eligible. It is not intended as an alternative path to thoracic credentialing, but rather as an enhancement for specialized training in minimally invasive and robotic techniques, multidisciplinary thoracic and foregut oncology, and benign and malignant foregut surgery. The Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School offers an advanced one-year fellowship in minimally invasive general thoracic surgery for individuals who have completed their American Board of Thoracic Surgery requirements or their equivalence. Fellowships are also available for board certified cardiothoracic surgeons wishing to retool in general thoracic surgery and in minimally invasive thoracic surgery with emphasis on esophageal and lung surgery. Outpatient, operative and postoperative management of the entire spectrum of minimally invasive general thoracic surgical cases is provided including endoscopic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive thoracoscopic and robotic surgery. In addition, there is expected access to both simulation and animal work as well as research. There are eighteen general thoracic surgeons staffing the Division of Thoracic Surgery at BWH, performing over 3,000 procedures in the last academic year. The fellows will work alongside residents enrolled in the accredited Thoracic Surgery program at BWH and actively participate in all educational conferences and activities. There is also an opportunity for clinical research. We use an apprenticeship model whereby each minimally invasive thoracic fellow is assigned to surgeons two months at a time to gain exposure to the breadth and depth of minimally invasive practice The focus changes from lung surgery to esophageal surgery based on the surgeon. The fellow is the primary resident with the assigned surgeon so that there is no competition with the accredited residents. The case volume is more than sufficient to accommodate all residents and fellows.
This is one of the busiest Thoracic surgery program in the country. The fellows are primarily at Brigham and Women's Hospital where over 3,000 cases are performed each year. In addition, our surgeons operate at 5 additional satellite hospitals (South Shore Hospital, VA Medical Center West Roxbury, Faulkner Hospital, Milford Hospital and Kent Hospital) where fellows may occasionally rotate to supplement fellow interests.
We also have one of the largest practices of esophageal cases with nearly 200 laparoscopic fundoplication per year (including first time lap nissens, redo nissens/ Collis nissens, heller myotomy, giant paraesophageal hernias, diverticulae, etc.). We also perform over 100 esophagectomy cases a year, mostly minimally invasively, and evenly divided between anastomoses in the neck and chest. Finally, we incorporate esophageal and laparoscopic staging routinely for esophageal and gastric cancer staging.
On the lung side, we perform over 150 lobectomies and segementectomies per year many using complete minimally invasive techniques. In addition, approximately 250 Video thoracoscopic lung wedge resection are performed per year as well as many other miscellaneous video thoracoscopic cases such as sympatectomy, thymectomy, resection of all types of mediastinal and pleural masses etc.
We are performing robotic surgery for the lung and esophagus, and endoscopic therapies like POEM. We also perform hundreds of therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopies and bronchoscopies using EUS, EBUS, laser, PDT and stents.
Surgeons on our staff have trained in many institutions and bring multiple techniques to their students.
Basic Program Information:
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Primary Program Site: Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds: total number of staffed beds: 888; total operating rooms: 44
- Secondary Program Site:
- Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds:
- Clinic locations and schedule:
- University Affiliation: Harvard Medical School
- School of Medicine Affiliation: Harvard Medical School
- Year Program and/or Designation Established: 2004
- Number of Faculty:
- % 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? No
- 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: 8
- Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 2
- Are funds available for the Fellow to attend conferences? No
Malpractice Insurance Information:
- No Information provided.
Contact Information For Questions:
Cynthia Gordon
Phone: 617-256-1062
Fax: 617-730-2898
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.chestsurg.org/education/residencies-and-fellowships.aspx
Facilities
Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Clinical Research
Simulation Lab
Citizenship and Visa Requirements:
US Citizens US Permanent Residents (Green Card) Canadian Citizens Canadian Permanent Residents Non U.S./Non Canadian Citizens Non U.S. Citizens eligible for/with planned J-1 Visa during their fellowship (For U.S. Fellowship Programs) 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 accept graduates of U.S. or Canadian Medical Schools and Foreign Medical Schools We accept graduates of Foreign Medical Schools only if ECFMG Certified We accept graduates of Foreign Medical Schools only if listed in the FAIMER Directory (https://imed.faimer.org/)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 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 certifiedLicensure Requirements and Information:
Licensure requirements: all applicant must be eligible for a Massachusetts medical license.
| Accreditation Status | Accreditation Period | Length of Accreditation | Accredited for Advanced Thoracic | 2024-2027 | 3 |
|---|
Fellowship Opportunity # 1
- Number of Positions Available: 2
- Type of Fellowship: Thoracic
- Duration: 1 year
- Start Day: August 1
- End Day: July 30
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
Clinical Outpatient Experience
Research/Scholarship Resources
Program Director(s) Detailed Information
Dr. Jon Wee M.D.
- At Institution Since: 2006
- Program Director Since : 2013
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
Other
AATS, STS, SSO, SUS
Areas of Expertise
Thoracic Surgery, Minimally Invasive Thoracic SurgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
Education
06/1993 B.A. Biology Harvard University
05/1997 M.D. Medicine Duke University School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Training:
07/97 – 06/98 Intern General Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
07/98 – 06/00 Resident General Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
07/00 – 06/02 Research Fellow General Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
07/02 – 06/03 Resident General Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
07/03 – 06/04 Chief Resident General Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
10/05 – 11/05 Visiting Fellow Thoracic Surgery Memorial-Sloan Kettering
07/04 – 06/06 Fellow Thoracic Surgery University of Pittsburgh
Faculty Academic Appointments
08/06 - Instructor in Surgery Thoracic Surgery Harvard Medical School
Appointments at Hospitals/Affiliated Institutions
09/2006 - Associate Surgeon Thoracic Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
12/2006 - Associate Surgeon Thoracic Surgery Faulkner Hospital
09/2006 – 09/2009 Provisional Staff Thoracic Surgery MetroWest Medical Center
01/2007- Associate Surgeon Thoracic Surgery South Shore Hospital
01/2007 - Associate Surgeon Thoracic Surgery Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
10/2008 - Provisional Staff Thoracic Surgery Milford Regional Medical Center
06/2009 Associate Surgeon Thoracic Surgery Carney Hospital
Other Professional Positions
2006 - Co-Director Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Major Administrative Leadership Positions
National and International
2008 Course Co-Director, The Science of Thoracic Surgery 20th Anniversary Course Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2009 Symposium Co-Director, 2nd International Bi-Annual Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Summit Harvard Medical School
2011 Symposium Co-Director, 3rd International Bi-Annual Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Summit Harvard Medical School
Committee Service
2012- RoboticCommittee Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2012- Robotic Safety Committee Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2012- Quality Improvement Committee Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2012- Fellowship Council Education Committee American College of Surgeons
2012- Robot Advisory Committee South Shore Hospital
Professional Societies
05/1999 Massachusetts Medical Society Member
06/2005 American College of Chest Physicians Member
06/2005 Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons Member
10/2006 Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Member
03/2008 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus Member
02/2009 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Member
11/2009 American College of Surgeons Fellow
Honors and Prizes
1988 U.S. D.O.E. Honors Research Program Scholar
United States Department of Education
1988 Science Now D.O.E. Award
United States Department of Education
1989 Nevada Scholar State of Nevada
1989 Presidential Scholar The Presidential Scholars Program Excellence in education
1991 Harvard College Scholarship Harvard University
1992 John Harvard Scholarship Harvard University
1995 Four Schools Physician –Scientist Program Scholar
1996 AOA Original Studies Symposium Outstanding Poster Presentation Award
2004 Francis D. Moore Award Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Raphael Bueno MD
- At Institution Since: 1996
- Program Director Since : 2006
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
Other
AATS, STS, SSO, SUS
Areas of Expertise
Thoracic Surgery, Minimally Invasive Thoracic SurgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
Education
1981 A.B. Magna cum laude, Biochemical Sciences, Harvard University
1985 M.D. Cum laude, Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral Training
1985-1988 Intern and Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
1985-1995 Clinical Fellow, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
1988-1990 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA
1990-1992 Resident and Chief Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
1992-1993 Assistant to the Surgeon-in-Chief, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Roxbury, MA
1993-1995 Resident in Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Faculty Academic Appointments
1996-2000 Instructor, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
2000-2003 Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
2003-2010 Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
2011- Professor, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Appointments at Hospitals/ Affiliated Institutions
Past
1988-1990 Assistant Surgeon, Harvard University Health Services
1992-1993 Associate Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
1996-2004 Associate Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Thoracic Surgery Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
1997-2008 Assistant in Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
1997-2009 Staff Surgeon, Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Roxbury, MA
2003-2008 Provisional Staff, Department of Surgery, MetroWest Medical Center,
Framingham, MA
Current
1996- Associate Surgeon, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
1996- Associate Surgeon, Carney Hospital, Dorchester, MA
1997- Associate Surgeon, Faulkner Hospital, West Roxbury, MA
1997- Provisional Staff, New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
2001- Affiliate-Provisional Staff, Department of Surgery, South Shore Hospital, So.
Weymouth, MA
2004- Senior Surgeon, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
2008- Courtesy Staff, Department of Surgery, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA
2013- Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Desiree Steimer MD
- At Institution Since: 2017
- Program Director Since : 2024
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
ACS
Areas of Expertise
General Thoracic SurgeryTeaching Qualifications
Teaching of Students in Courses: 4
2021-2022
Introduction to the Thorax Anatomy Lab 2: The Organization of the Mediastinum and the Heart
1st year medical students
Harvard Medical School
One 1.5-hour session per year
Summary of Qualifications
2011-2019
American College of Surgeons
2011 - 2019
Resident Member
2015-
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
2015-
Member
2018-
Women in Thoracic Surgery
2018-
Member
2022-
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
2022-
Member
2022-
International Society of Geriatric Oncology
2022-
Member
2023-
American College of Surgeons
2023-
Fellow
2023-
American College of Surgeons Massachusetts Chapter
2023-
Member
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 187 cases with 187 procedures during the 2024-2025 Fellowship Year.
2 Fellow(s) performed 605 cases with 649 procedures during the 2023-2024 Fellowship Year.
List of Contributing Faculty
| Christopher Ducko MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training |
|
| Ciaran McNamee MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training |
|
| Jon Wee MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training Program Director |
|
| Scott Swanson MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training |
|
| Raphael Bueno MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training Chief of Thoracic Surgery |
|
| Daniel Wiener MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise Thoracic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty Member |
|
| Michael Jaklitsch MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training |
|
| Steven Mentzer MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise |
|
| Role in Training |
|
| Brian Whang MD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Thoracic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty Member |
|
| Hisashi Tsukada MD, PhD | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Thoracic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty Member |
|
| Namrata Patil M.D.,M.P.H. | 10% |
| Area of Expertise Thoracic Surgery |
|
| Role in Training Director, Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit |
|
Accreditation History
| Director | Program | Length | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon Wee | Advanced Thoracic | 3 | 2024 | 2027 |