Lahey Clinic
Program Director: Thomas Read, M.D.
41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805
Phone: (781) 744-8971 Fax: (781) 744-2945
Email: thomas.read@lahey.org
Number of Residents (per year): 2
Number of Faculty (ABCRS Certified): 7
Salary/Year: $ 67,946
Case mix/ number of cases: Each resident performs an average of 325 operative cases per year of which 65% are abdominal procedures and 35% are anorectal procedures. Residents also perform an average of 250 colonoscopic and flexible sigmoidoscopic procedures.
Strengths of program: The program is well-balanced providing in-depth exposure to the spectrum of colorectal disorders. The Clinic is a referral center for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and provides residents with extensive experience in the medical and surgical treatment of these disorders. Residents will also encounter a high volume of patient suffering from colorectal cancer and complex diverticular disease. Residents also receive in-depth training in the management of routine and complex anorectal disorders. We are actively involved in the application of laparoscopic technology to colorectal surgery, and have several state-of-the-art operating rooms devoted to advanced laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, complete with fiberoptic carbon dioxide colonoscopy.
Clinic or office experience: Each resident rotates twice for two months on each of the three clinical services, which each have 2-3 faculty. During each rotation, residents actively participate in the care of patients in the outpatient and inpatient settings, in the operating room, and in the endoscopy suite. The outpatient clinic, endoscopy suites, inpatient care area and operating rooms are all in the same building, which facilitates resident participation in all aspects of patient care.
Interaction with general surgery residents: Lahey has a free-standing general surgical residency program, and two PGY-1 general surgery residents rotate on the colorectal surgery service. In addition, a PGY-4 or PGY-5 general surgery resident functions as the chief of one of the three clinical services. There are also mid-level providers (physician assistants, nurse practitioners) who assist in patient care. Beginning in July 2011, a full complement of general surgery residents (PGY-1, PGY-2/3, PGY 4/5) will take in house call and be responsible for inpatient care and emergencies after normal business hours, with the colorectal surgery residents on “back up call”.
Conferences:
1. Colorectal Lecture Series: core didactic/interactive lecture series. Includes lectures from core faculty, outside lecturers for Pediatric Anomalies, Medical Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Teleconference: case management conference with University of Massachusetts colorectal surgery division and Rhode Island colorectal surgery division with cases presented by residents, includes radiology and pathology. This conference was established to create a multi-institutional and collaborative approach to learning. The conference is hosted using web-based GoToMeeting software, which allows multiple other sites to participate. We have utilized this forum to give didactic lectures and also case presentations with discussion.
2. Colorectal M & M's: morbidity and mortality conference, cases presented by residents, includes radiology
3. Journal Club: critical review of manuscripts
4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Conference: lecture and case presentations by residents, in conjunction with Gastroenterology Department
5. Combined M & M's: Division of Surgery (general surgery, colon and rectal surgery, vascular surgery, hepatobiliary/transplant surgery) morbidity and mortality conference, cases presented by residents, includes radiology
6. Core Competency Lecture (Residents): coordinated through GME office
7. Surgical Grand Rounds: coordinated by general surgery faculty; includes visiting professors for Colon and Rectal Surgery (2x/year)
8. Endoscopy M&M: in conjunction with Gastroenterology Department
9. Colorectal Cancer Case Management Conference: case presentations in conjunction with Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, includes radiology and pathology
10. Research conference: review ongoing research efforts
11. GI Radiology Conference: Case presentations by residents and faculty, with critical review of radiographic images, by the departments of colon and rectal surgery, general surgery, gastroenterology and radiology.
Outside rotations: None are offered. Residents have the opportunity to participate in anorectal physiology testing at an off-site facility.
Requirement for paper: All residents are required to submit an abstract for presentation at the annual meeting of the ASCRS. Residents are encouraged to pursue additional clinical projects that would be anticipated to result in submission of a manuscript for publication.
Opportunity to attend meetings: Residents are supported to attend the annual meeting of the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons as well as the meeting of the New England Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery, both in the spring. Attendance at other national or regional meetings is provided if they are presenting Lahey Clinic data. In addition, the colon and rectal residents are supported to attend one of the endorectal ultrasound courses offered by the University of Minnesota or Cleveland Clinic Florida.