Overview
The Advanced GI/MIS, Bariatric and Foregut Fellowship Program at VCU Medical Center is accredited by The Fellowship Council and provides specialized training on the evaluation and management of patients with esophageal, gastric and duodenal diseases; abdominal wall and inguinal hernias; severe obesity and metabolic diseases; and will receive training in diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy, minimally invasive foregut, bariatric and hernia surgery, minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery for hepatobiliary and solid organ pathology and minimally invasive general surgery.
From the Director
Clinical Experience
Fellows gain proficiency in surgical management of basic and complex foregut diseases, abdominal wall pathology, morbid obesity; and common upper gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, pancreatic and splenic diseases.
Procedures include but are not limited to:
- Laparoscopic and Robotic gastric bypass
- Laparoscopic and Robotic sleeve gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic and Robotic Revisions and Conversion for Failed Bariatric and Foregut Procedures
- Laparoscopic esophagocardiomyotomy
- Laparoscopic paraesophageal and hiatal hernia repair
- Laparoscopic partial and complete fundoplication
- Laparoscopic, Robotic and open abdominal and inguinal hernia repairs
- Complex abdominal wall reconstruction
In addition, fellows have an essential role in weekly surgery clinics, where they work with VCU faculty to evaluate and manage patients. Fellows are encouraged to augment their clinical education by leading the MIS Conference, attending educational hands-on training courses and participating in simulation-based training of surgical residents and medical students at the VCU Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety.
Facilities
Operative experience takes place primarily at the VCU Medical Center, the only Virginia institution certified by the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a Comprehensive Bariatric Center with Adolescent Qualifications.
In addition, fellows will help teach surgical residents and students in the VCU Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety.
Research
Fellows are expected to conduct at least one clinical research project that leads to at least one abstract; one presentation at a local, regional or national meeting; and submission of one manuscript for publication to a peer-reviewed journal. While the research topics may be dictated by the fellow and participating faculty, a large bariatric database is available and easily accessible. The faculty and full-time statistician will provide assistance and mentorship during this process.
Conferences
Fellows may choose to attend:
- American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fall Meeting
- American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic (ASMBS) Fall Meeting
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Spring Meeting
- Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT-DDW) Spring Meeting
Fellowship Program Alumni
Guilherme Mazzini, MD
Graduated 2023, Bariatric and General Surgeon,
VCU Health, Richmond, VA
Lindsey Ferro, MD
Graduated 2022 Bariatric and General Surgeon
Richmond VA Medical Center
Edward Gray, MD
Graduated 2021 General Surgeon
Surgical Group of Johnson City, Johnson City, TN
Ashley Gerrish, MD
Graduated 2020 General Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery;
Carilion Clinic General Surgery Roanoke, VA
Roshin Mary Thomas, DO
Graduated 2019 General Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery
Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Pedro Pablo Gomez, MD
Graduated 2018 General Surgeon, Specializing in General and Laparoscopic Surgery
St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, Maine
Sameer Alrefai, MD
Graduated 2017 General Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital, South Boston, Virginia
Paul Del Prado, MD
Graduated 2016 General Surgeon, Specializing in Laparoscopic General Surgery
Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Joel Rose, MD
Graduated 2015 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Lenoir Memorial Hospital, Kinston, NC
Gretchen Aquilina, DO
Graduated 2014 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Assistant Professor Division of Bariatric & Gastrointestinal Surgery
Department of Surgery, VCU School of Medicine
Surgical Weight Loss Center, VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA
Angel Reyes, MD
Graduated 2013 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
US Army, Fort Bragg, NC
Folahan Ayoola, MD
Graduated 2012 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice: Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Mark A. Salcone, DO
Graduated 2011 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Lourdes Medical Associates, Dept of Surgery, Haddon Heights, NJ
Ashish Agarwala, DO
Graduated 2010 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice, Long Island Laparoscopic Surgery, PLLC, Port Jefferson, NY
William Bakhos, MD
Graduated 2009 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal Surgery
Private Practice, Beirut, Lebanon
Nissin Nahmias, MD
Graduated 2009 Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgeon, Hartford, CT
Peter Ojo, MD
Graduated 2008 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice, Southern Tier Surgical Clinic, Binghamton, NY
Xiang (Sean) Yuan, MD
Graduated 2008 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, Pottstown, PA
Lisa Martin Hawver, MD
Graduated 2007 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Cincinnati
Center for Surgical Weight Loss, Cincinnati, Ohio
Anthony Pucci, DO
Graduated 2007 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgical Specialists, Ridgewood, NJ
Magued Khouzam, MD
Graduated 2006 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice, Florence, KY
Sophia Lee, MD
Graduated 2006 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice James River Surgical Associates, Mechanicsville, VA
Brennan Carmody, MD
Graduated 2005 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Private Practice, Commonwealth Surgeons
Mohammad K. Jamal, MD
Graduated 2005 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Director, Surgical Weight Loss Center
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Fredericksburg, VA
Jason M. Johnson, DO
Graduated 2005 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in General and Bariatric Surgery
Medical Group of the Carolinas, Spartanburg Regional, Spartanburg, SC
Bernadette C. Profeta, MD
Graduated 2004 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Medical Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Lourdes Health System, Camden, NJ
Richard Pucci, MD
Graduated 2004 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Advanced Laparoscopic Surgical Specialists, Ridgewood, NJ
Adolfo Fernandez, Jr., MD
Graduated 2003 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
David S. Tichansky, MD
Graduated 2003 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Gastrointestinal & Bariatric Surgery
Director Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Program
Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University,
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Mohamed R. Ali, MD
Graduated 2002, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Associate Professor
Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery
UC Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA
Corrigan McBride, MD
Graduated 2002 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Associate Professor
Director, Bariatric Surgery University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Shanu Kothari, MD
Graduated 2001 Laparoscopic Surgeon, Specializing in Bariatric Surgery
Director, Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery, Gundersen Clinic, La Crosse, WI
How to apply
For instructions on how to apply, visit fellowshipcouncil.org.
Contact Us
Jennifer Salluzzo, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Fellowship Program Director
jennifer.salluzzo@vcuhealth.org
Guilherme M. Campos, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Fellowship Program Co-Director
guilherme.campos@vcuhealth.org
La-Rae Shelton
Fellowship Coordinator
larae.shelton@vcuhealth.org
Office location:
West Hospital
1st Floor, East Wing
1200 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23298
Mailing address:
Box 980519
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0519
Phone: (804) 628-3626
Fax: (804) 828-5980
Current Fellow
Matthew Peacock, MD
Matthew.Peacock@vcuhealth.org