Washington Hospital Center

Program Director: Thomas J. Stahl, MD
Washington Hospital Center
106 Irving Street NW, Suite # 2100 North
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: (202) 877-8484 Fax: (202) 877-8483

E-mail: thomas.j.stahl@medstar.net

Number of residents (per year): 1

Number of Faculty: 4

Salary/year: $58,000 (with benefits)

Case mix/number of cases: The surgical case encompass all components of colorectal disease, including strong representation in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. The resident will perform approximately 120 to 140 major abdominal and 150 to 180 anorectal cases over the course of the year. Colonoscopies number approximately 120 to 150 during the year, in addition to numerous rigid and fiberoptic sigmoidoscopic examinations. Somewhat unique to the program is the performance of Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) for the excision of benign and malignant rectal lesions, and 15 to 20 such cases are performed annually.

Strengths of the Program: Diversity of cases, including all common anorectal problems, strong representation in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. We emphasize competence in the office evaluation and treatment of ambulatory anorectal problems, and the resident spends at least 1 half-day per week in the office setting. The Washington Hospital Center is itself a strength, serving as the major tertiary medical center in the metropolitan Washington area. The support and consulting physician staff is superb and very capable. An additional asset is the presence of a well established General Surgery training program.

Clinic and Office Experience: Office experience is strong and mandatory. At least a half day per week is spent in the office. The office practice encompasses all aspects of colorectal surgery, as well as minor outpatient anorectal procedures, flexible and rigid sigmoidoscopy, anorectal physiologic testing, and anorectal ultrasound.

Interaction with General Surgery Residents: There is a full 5-year general surgery residency at the Washington Hospital Center. The Colorectal resident is on a team with 2 or 3 general surgery residents, including a PGY-3, and one or 2 interns. The service also has 3rd year Georgetown University medical students rotating periodically throughout the year.

Conferences: There are more conferences available within the institution than can be attended. The conferences that are a minimum requirement within the program include team rounds (includes general surgical residents), Surgical grand rounds, Colorectal chapter/topic review, colorectal clinical review (varies weekly – alternating with case review, pelvic floor conference, guest speakers, morbidity and mortality for colorectal service), surgical oncology conference.

Anorectal Physiology: Manometry, pudendal nerve testing, and ultrasound are available in the office location. The Washington Continence Center is part of the program, encompassing a multitude of complex pelvic floor problems. Close collaboration with our Urologic and Urogynecology associates allows for the evaluation and treatment of all pelvic floor disorders.

Research year: Not available within the program. Can be arranged at other institution after 1 clinical year.

Opportunity to attend meetings: At a minimum, the resident will be expected to attend the annual ASCRS meeting in the spring, at no expense. Any meeting in which the resident will be presenting a poster or paper is also included, again at no expense to the resident.

Requirement for publication: Although no mandatory paper requirement is in effect, we strongly encourage the resident to prepare a talk and/or paper for the annual ASCRS meeting, SAGES, or any of the other academic venues common to our specialty.