Program Director(s):
Brandon Williams
Jessica Ardila
Michael Holzman
Description:
The Vanderbilt Fellowship is accredited by the Fellowship Council as an Advanced GI MIS/Bariatric fellowship due to the extensive experience provided in laparoscopic bariatric and foregut surgery. It is largely a clinical fellowship with a robust operative exposure to advanced laparoscopic surgery as well as endoscopy. In particular, the fellowship promotes expertise in bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revisional bariatric surgery), foregut surgery (paraesophageal hernia repair, Heller myotomy, Nissen and Toupet fundoplication, and revisional foregut surgery), as well as diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy. There is ample opportunity to participate in research in those areas.
Vanderbilt also has an extensive basic science research program evaluating the metabolic effects of bariatric surgery and the underlying mechanisms of bariatric surgery.
Basic Program Information:
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Primary Program Site: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Primary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds:
- Secondary Program Site:
- Secondary Hospital: Total bed size, # OR's, # Surgical ICU beds:
- Clinic locations and schedule:
- University Affiliation: Vanderbilt University
- School of Medicine Affiliation:
- Year Program and/or Designation Established: 1995
- Number of Faculty:
- % of Program Clinical: 85
- % of Program Research: 15
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: 22
- Publications that Involved Input from the Fellow: 10
- Are funds available for the Fellow to attend conferences? No
Malpractice Insurance Information:
- No Information provided.
Contact Information For Questions:
Connie Head
Phone: 615-875-0779
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://ww2.mc.vanderbilt.edu/DivisionofGeneralSurgery/41620
Facilities
Dry Lab
Wet lab
Library
Administrative Support
Basic Science Research
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 SchoolsExaminations 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 certifiedLicensure Requirements and Information:
If accepted into the fellowship, a Tennessee state medical license will be required prior to the fellowship start date. If an applicant is not elgible for a lisence in Tennessee, this person will not be considered for the fellowship.
Website: https://tn.gov/health/article/ME-applications
Medical License Application: https://tn.gov/assets/entities/health/attachments/PH-0235.pdf
| Accreditation Status | Accreditation Period | Length of Accreditation | Accredited for Advanced GI MIS/Bariatrics | 2022-2025 | 3 |
|---|
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? No
- 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
Fellows will be expected to participate in outpatient clinics during their rotations, including both pre- and post-operative bariatric and general surgical clinics. Fellows are expected to follow their patients while they remain in hospital.
Research/Scholarship Resources
We have a very active research effort within the Department of General Surgery. There are numerous options for the fellow to participate in these activities including basic science, clinical outcome studies, and population based health sciences. There are multiple collaborative research efforts including metabolic, endocrine, gastroenterology, and healthcare policy opportunities.
Program Director(s) Detailed Information
Dr. Brandon Williams MD
- At Institution Since: 2007
- Program Director Since : 2015
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
ASMBS
Areas of Expertise
Bariatric SurgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
Dr. Brandon Williams is a fellowship-trained minimally invasive bariatric surgeon. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). Dr. Williams is the immediate past president of the Tennessee State Chapter of ASMBS.
During his General Surgery Residency at Stanford University, Dr. Williams investigated the use of computer-based simulators in surgical skills training and improvement in cardiac risk markers after gastric bypass. Also while at Stanford, he was the recipient of the Trauma and Critical Care Resident Award in 2005. He received the Kountz Humanitarian Award in 2007 related to medical missions work in Haiti.
Dr. Williams completed a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at Vanderbilt University in 2008 and joined the faculty following that. His clinical interests focus on endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical techniques in the treatment of obesity and related comorbidities. He has received the national 5-Star Excellence in Healthcare Award multiple times.
His academic interests involve surgical education and outcomes related to bariatric surgery. He has authored numerous book chapters and journal articles related to bariatric surgery. He has been highly active in multiple national surgical societies.
Within ASMBS, Dr. Williams has been a co-chair of the Access to Care Committee, is an MBSAQIP site surveyor, a member of the Program Committee and chair of multiple Program Subcommittees, a member of the MBSAQIP Quality Improvement Committee, and served a term on the Nominating Committee. He received the MBSAQIP Quality Ambassador Award in 2016.
Within SAGES, Dr. Williams has been a co-chair of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Committee and a member of the Quality, Outcomes, and Safety Committee and Resident Education Committee.
Within the Fellowship Council, he has been a member of the Accreditation Committee, serving as a fellowship site surveyor.
Jessica Ardila
- At Institution Since: 0
- Program Director Since : 0
- Board Certification:
Society Memberships
Areas of Expertise
Teaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
Dr. Michael Holzman
- At Institution Since: 1999
- Program Director Since : 2005
- Board Certification: Board Certified
Society Memberships
SAGES
ACS
SSAT
Areas of Expertise
Laparoscopic foregut surgeryTeaching Qualifications
Summary of Qualifications
Dr. Holzman is a member of the H. William Scott, Jr. Society, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. He is an associate fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Within Vanderbilt University Medical Center he serves on the Graduate Medical Education Committee and the Laparoscopy Subcommittee/Value Analysis Committee.
Dr. Holzman has published 31 articles, 8 book chapters, and 5 videos. In addition, he has presented numerous posters at scientific conferences and has been an invited lecturer on the use of laparoscopy for palliation of periampullary malignancies, toupet fundoplication, highly selective vagotomy, and splenectomy.
Division of Time
Percentage of Time Spent in Clinical Activity:
85%
Percentage of Time Spent in Research
Activity:15%
Case Load as Reported By Fellow(s)
1 Fellow(s) performed 27 cases with 42 procedures during the 2024-2025 Fellowship Year.
1 Fellow(s) performed 262 cases with 396 procedures during the 2023-2024 Fellowship Year.
List of Contributing Faculty
| Brandon Williams MD | 25% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery and upper endoscopy |
|
| Role in Training Faculty, Program Director |
|
| Matthew Spann MD | 25% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery and upper endoscopy |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
| Wayne English MD | 20% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatric surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
| Mike Holzman MD | 15% |
| Area of Expertise Foregut and hernia surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty, Associate Program Director |
|
| Jessica Ardila MD | 15% |
| Area of Expertise Bariatrics |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
| Jason Samuels MD | 15% |
| Area of Expertise bariatrics |
|
| Role in Training FACULTY |
|
| Chetan Aher MD | 5% |
| Area of Expertise Foregut surgery and upper endoscopy |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
| Meredith Duke MD | 5% |
| Area of Expertise Hernia, foregut, bariatric, and robotic surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
| Joe Broucek MD | 5% |
| Area of Expertise Hernia, foregut, bariatric, and robotic surgery |
|
| Role in Training Faculty |
|
Accreditation History
| Director | Program | Length | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Williams | Advanced GI MIS/Bariatrics | 3 | 2022 | 2025 |