Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

Carroll M. Harmon, MD.

As a trainee in our residency, you’ll work with knowledgeable faculty members including Carroll M. Harmon, MD. Harmon co-led the first national effort to assess the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery on adolescents.

The Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, established in 1957, is one of the original 9 training programs in Pediatric Surgery and has graduated 50 accredited pediatric surgery fellows since its inception.

Our faculty includes pediatric surgeons with expertise in a wide range of pediatric general and thoracic surgical diseases and a national presence in minimally invasive pediatric surgery, trauma, oncology, health services research, thyroid disease and obesity care.

John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital

All clinical education of our pediatric surgery residents occurs at Oishei Children’s Hospital (OCH). For more than 100 years OCH and its predecessor, Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, has been the regional center for comprehensive, specialized pediatric and women's health services for the Western New York region and beyond. Oishei Children's Hospital is a Level IV perinatology center, a Level I Trauma Center and the only freestanding children’s hospital in New York State. The hospital admits 28,000 patients annually and sees more than 123,000 outpatients in its emergency room or one of the 45 subspecialty clinics. Over 12,000 operations are performed at Oishei Children’s Hospital annually.

Program Description

The goal of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship is to provide training to pediatric surgeons who, upon completion of the program, will be qualified pediatric specialists. The program is highly competitive, selecting only 1 fellow every other year for its 2 year training duration. The teaching program emphasizes graded responsibility, self-directed learning, and exposure to a broad spectrum of clinical material. Fellows have a high level of autonomy within the program as well as constant access to faculty, allowing the opportunity for feedback and clinical instruction while giving the trainee space for independent confidence. 

On a weekly basis, Grand Rounds are held by both the Department of Surgery and the Department of Pediatrics. Grand Rounds are attended by faculty, residents, and medical students. The fellow is encouraged to attend these conferences when the subject matter is pertinent. In addition to the weekly Ground Rounds, a multidisciplinary Tumor Board is held biweekly where all surgical oncology patients are presented. At this conference, the fellow is responsible for the presentation of the surgical oncology patients. Other conference include Surgery/Pathology/Radiology, Morbidity and Mortality, Thyroid Tumors, and Journal Club.

The pediatric surgery fellow is responsible for the direct patient management of all patients on the pediatric surgery service. S/he is assigned to coordinate all patient care activities for the pediatric surgery service, namely in-patient care, operating room case assignments, emergency room consultation, daily rounds, consultations, coverage of outpatient office hours, and attendance at conferences and teaching rounds. The surgical case load allows for the trainee to gain a well rounded experience across a range of patients, including trauma, neonates, oncology pediatric general and thoracic surgery, all with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, cost-effective/conscious treatment and sensitivity to patient/parent needs across a variety of socioeconomic, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

How to Apply

Applications to the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program can be submitted with the ERAS Fellowship Application System.

To be an eligible candidate, applicants must have completed 5 years in a general surgery residency program approved by the American Board of Surgery by the time of appointment. As a level 1 trauma center, ATLS is also required during the fellowship training.

Annual Events

Fall

  • Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. Lectureship
  • Theodore C. Jewett, MD Lectureship (September)

Spring

  • Karl Storz Endoscopy Lectureship
  • Stryker Endoscopy Lectureship
  • Kiwanis Trauma Lectureship

Summer

  • James E. Allen MD Memorial Lectureship

Contact

Program Director

Vali, Kaveh

Kaveh Vali, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgeon: Oishei Children‘s Hospital

Oishei Children‘s Hospital Conventus Building 1001 Main St. - 3rd Floor Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: 716-323-6616; Fax: 716-323-6683

Email: kavehval@buffalo.edu

Associate Program Director

Ham, P. Ben

P. Ben Ham, III MD, MS

Assistant Professor

1001 Main St Division of Pediatric Surgery K-3543 Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: 716-323-6110; Fax: 716-323-6683

Email: pbhamiii@buffalo.edu

Training Program Administrator

Sydney Rojek, M.Ed

Surgical Fellowship Administrator

Department of Surgery

Buffalo General Medical Center, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: (716) 859-4207

Email: slrojek@buffalo.edu