ASSOCIATION OF PROGRAM DIRECTORS IN SURGERY

Thoracic Surgery Fellow

This is a comprehensive 1-year training program in advanced non-cardiac thoracic surgery, intended for those who have graduated from or intend to complete an ACGME cardiothoracic residency. It is not intended as an alternative path to thoracic credentialing, but rather as an enhancement for specialized training in minimally invasive and robotic techniques, multidisciplinary thoracic and foregut oncology, and benign and malignant foregut surgery. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents in order to be eligible. We cannot consider those who plan to be in the U.S. on visas.

The Division of Thoracic Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center is offering an Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgical Fellowship. As the regional leader in thoracic surgical oncology, we offer prospective fellows an opportunity to assist with and perform a full range of minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedures including:

• Robotic and VATS lobectomy/segmentectomy (>100 cases per year)
• Minimally invasive esophagectomy (>25 cases per year)
• Thymectomy (Robotic and Open)
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
• Opportunities to train with the interventional pulmonary service and the gastroenterology service (stents, dilation, laser debulking, rigid endoscopy)

The Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgical Fellowship meets the needs of general surgery residents who would like to spend an additional year before starting a thoracic surgery fellowship, either in the middle of general surgery residency as a planned elective or as a gap year before reapplication to the ACGME cardiothoracic residency. Fellows can also assist with and perform complex cases such as:

• Resection of Superior Sulcus (Pancoast) tumors
• Pleurectomy and decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Pneumonectomy
• Extensive experience performing lung resections after neoadjuvant treatment
• Complex esophageal reconstruction involving alternative conduits

In addition to participating in the full range of thoracic surgical oncology and general thoracic surgery cases, candidates will learn the multidisciplinary management of thoracic cancer and participate in clinical research, presentations and publications. Our fellowship can be individualized within this framework to meet the needs of a particular fellow.

The fellowship experience occurs primarily at Fox Chase Cancer Center with the opportunity for an elective rotation at Temple University Hospital as a secondary site. At Temple University Hospital, the fellow will be able to participate in the management of a broad spectrum of benign thoracic surgical disease and be under the mentorship of the Temple University faculty thoracic surgeons.

If interested, we encourage you to apply for the position through the accredited Fellowship Council website. The application cycle for the Thoracic Surgery Fellowship is open until October 26, 2026. Eligible candidates must plan to graduate from an ACGME general surgery residency program and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.