Minimally Invasive Surgical Fellowship

The one-year Advanced Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at Saint Luke’s prepares fellows to excel in laparoscopic and robotic surgery for abdominal wall reconstructions, foregut, bariatric, and general surgery.

Through this program, fellows gain extensive experience in:

• Fundoplication or LINX
• Colectomy
• Laparoscopic and robotic hernia repair
• Simple and complex hernia repair
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Program training

Fellows perform more than 400 surgeries representing procedures of varying complexity. The program consists of both clinical and operative components with an emphasis on enhancing technical skills in the operating room. Most of the instructors in this program are fellowship trained in advanced laparoscopic procedures and offer extensive teaching experience that ensures fellows achieve full competency.

Fellows have the freedom to tailor their schedule based on areas of interest and future career goals. Minimal call is required, of which the fellow will take ACS call and have complete autonomy for the management of their patients.

Rotations

There are two surgical fellows per year that rotate at separate hospitals. Time is divided in two-month rotations between Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, and Saint Luke’s South Hospital. Trauma call is available, but not required.

Saint Luke’s Hospital rotation focuses on bariatrics, foregut, complex hernia repair, and oncologic procedures. Located north of the Country Club Plaza in the center of Kansas City, Missouri, this tertiary hospital includes multiple comprehensive specialty services—kidney, liver, and heart transplantation, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and bariatrics. The hospital houses Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute, and is a Level I Trauma Center. Located at the hospital are two da Vinci Xi surgical robots with teaching consoles.

Saint Luke’s Hospital is a primary teaching hospital for medical students and residents of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine.

The second rotation will take place at Saint Luke’s South Hospital and Saint Luke’s East Hospital. Saint Luke’s South in Overland Park, Kansas, is a 125-bed acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency services. General, colorectal, bariatric, and foregut surgeries are performed here, with both laparoscopic and robotic (Xi) availability. Saint Luke's South also houses the Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, a one-of-a-kind facility with leading-edge technology for rehabilitation care.

Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee's Summit, Missouri, is a 201-bed acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency services. Similar services are provided at this suburban hospital, with both Xi and Si Da Vinci systems.

Conferences and other opportunities 

As part of Saint Luke’s Hospital rotation, fellows are encouraged to participate in didactics in conjunction with the UMKC General Surgery program, which includes M&M and grand rounds. Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in conferences throughout the year.

Fellows also should expect to participate in research activities with faculty and are welcome to pursue projects based on their interests.

Application process

Please visit the Fellowship Council for more information about the application process and deadlines.

Saint Luke’s faculty

Program leadership

• B. Todd Moore, MD, Program Director
• Michael Arroyo, MD, Assistant Program Director

Additional faculty

• Robert Kenney, DO
• Benjamin Kulow, MD
• Megan McNally, MD
• G. Brent Sorensen, MD
• Geoffrey Slayden, MD
• Kathryn Sobba, MD

More information

We welcome your interest in the Advanced Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. For more information, contact us at 816-932-3406. 

About Kansas City

Saint Luke’s is proud to call Kansas City home. The health system spans the Kansas and Missouri state line, serving more than 2.1 million residents and 240 neighborhoods. USA Today has regularly named Kansas City a top area for affordability, high-quality schools, and low traffic. Learn more at visitkc.com.