Welcome to the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship
Maimonides Medical Center is the largest healthcare system in Brooklyn, New York that serves a diverse population of patients. Maimonides is a major teaching affiliate of S.U.N.Y. Downstate Medical Center. The MIGS division at Maimonides Medical Center performs over one thousand cases per year. As the largest robotic center in Brooklyn, the MIGS division performs approximately four hundred robotic surgeries per year. As a high-volume institution and safety net hospital, Maimonides is dedicated to being in the forefront of surgical innovation and providing the highest quality care to the Brooklyn community. This two-year fellowship program incorporates high volume surgical experience, clinical research, along with numerous educational activities to develop fellows who are proficient in all aspects of complex gynecology. Our fellows actively participate in a full spectrum of vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic, operative hysteroscopic, and other minimally invasive procedures, including oncologic, urogynecologic, and REI procedures.
Program Specifications:
- Established 2012
- Length of Training: 2 years
- Number of Fellows: 3 (accepts two fellows every other year)
- Benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Education/Conference Allowance
- Call Requirements:
- Labor and Delivery ( Three 12 hr shifts/month)
- GYN Service Backup (Two nights/months)
Meet Our Leadership
Scott Chudnoff, MD
Chair, Department of OB/GYN
Co-Program Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship
Justin To, MD
Program Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship
Lindsey Michel, MD
Associate Program Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship
Pedram Bral, MD
Associate Program Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship
Gabriela Castro
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Meet our Faculty
Juan Sandoval, MD
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Albert Palileo, MD
Gynecologic Oncology
Ioannis Alagkiozidis, MD
Gynecologic Oncology
Elishia Mckay, MD
Urogynecology
Allison Polland, MD
Urology
Tendai Chiware, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology
Rotations
Fellows are trained in office and inpatient on medical and surgical management of complex GYN conditions. Fellows work with our MIGS faculty in the outpatient setting to see preoperative consults as well as learn management of common GYN conditions such as endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, and pelvic pain. Fellows are also trained in numerous office procedures including endometrial ablations and office hysteroscopies. Additionally, fellows have an independent clinical panel in which they precept residents.
Surgically, fellows are involved in all surgical cases performed by our MIGS faculty. Our three rotation sites include Maimonides Medical Center, Brookdale University Hospital, and Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital. Fellows are also credentialed as junior attendings and may be asked assist non-MIGS faculty in difficult cases or lead residents through surgical emergencies from the Emergency Department.
Fellows rotate through three clinical rotations throughout the year. Each rotation is four weeks long. The roles and responsibilities for the fellows on each rotation are as follows:
- OR fellow: The OR fellow acts as primary surgeon for minimally invasive gynecologic cases. Includes: MIGS, Urogyn/Urology, GYN ONC, REI, General Surgery.
- GYN service fellow: The GYN service fellow supervises the in-house resident GYN service during the day. This includes coverage of: In-house consults, ED consults, service inpatients and any surgical emergencies. The GYN service fellow acts as the secondary surgeon for MIGS cases.
- Research: The research fellow is provided with dedicated time to work on research projects. During this block fellows are expected to allocate 75% of their time to research and 25% of their time to clinical responsibilities.
Example Weekly Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
| OR | Didactics/Simulation | OR AM | OR AM | OR AM | OR AM |
| Office PM | OR PM | OR PM | OR PM | OR PM | |
| Gyn Service | Didactics/Simulation | OR AM | OR AM | Resident Clinic AM | OR AM |
| Office PM | OR PM | OR PM | Resident Clinic PM | OR PM | |
| Research | Didactics/Simulation | Research | OR AM | Brookdale OR AM | Research |
| Research PM | Research | OR PM | Brookdale OR PM | Research |
Didactics Curriculum
Our FMIGs curriculum is in concordance with AAGL’s 2-Year Standardized National Didactic Education Curriculum. Please refer to the “national curriculum” for more details.
Simulation Curriculum
Our MIGS faculty conduct monthly simulations that cover various aspects of MIGS surgery. In addition, we host MIGS related industry sponsored simulation sessions. Our fellows have access to a dry lab as well as a robotic simulator.
Educational Conferences
| Grand Rounds | The department-wide Grand Rounds is an excellent source of continuing medical education, covering a wide variety of topics relevant to obstetricians and gynecologists presented by experts in their respective topic domains. |
| Mortality & Morbidity Rounds | On a monthly basis, the senior resident on each service presents this department-wide morbidity and mortality conference. |
| MIGS
Didactics |
The MIGS division meets once per week for a didactic session to discuss monthly FMIGs topics. This session is dedicated to review clinical topics as outlined in the fellowship educational reading and video curriculum. |
| Simulation | Fellows participate in monthly simulation sessions to practice surgical skills and techniques. They are also expected to assist residents preparing for their Essential in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (EMIGS) examinations. |
| GYN Preop
Conference |
This weekly conference reviews upcoming surgical cases, including indications, choice of surgery, and planned postoperative care with the Gynecology resident team. |
| OBGYN Resident Didactics | Fellows are expected to provide a resident lecture at least one per year. |
| GYN Chair Rounds | This faculty-led session occurs twice a month and involves boards-style Q&A of rotating chief GYN residents. |
| Peer Review | The fellow actively participates in the activities that pertain to peer review of gynecologic cases. Peer review occurs once weekly. |
| MIGS Division Research Meeting | The MIGS division meets once a week to review fellow research projects and active clinical trials. |
| National/International Conferences | The MIGS faculty and fellows present at AAGL annually. The MIGS division supports our fellows to present at national and international conference |
Research Curriculum
Fellows are provided 2.5 protected research days per week during their research rotation. As per AAGL program requirements, each fellow is expected to submit an IRB-approved research study for publication by the end of their fellowship. Fellows are also required to complete an online research course in compliance with AAGL requirements. The MIGS Division meets monthly to review active research projects and provide ongoing mentorship for fellow projects.
Recent Fellow Publications
Narayanamoorthy S, Cepeda C, McLaren R, Elfeky A. Differences in Exposure to Minimally Invasive Surgery in a Sample of United States Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents. Cureus. 2023 Aug 31;15(8):e44480. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44480. PMID: 37791220; PMCID: PMC10544376.
Son MA, Jiggetts S, Elfeky A, De Amorim Paiva C, Silver M, Herzog D, Saraf S, Bral P. Liposomal Bupivacaine Injection for Analgesia During Minimally Invasive Supracervical Hysterectomy. JSLS. 2022 Apr-Jun;26(2):e2022.00008. doi: 10.4293/JSLS.2022.00008. PMID: 35815323; PMCID: PMC9255262.
Elfeky A, Son MA, Paiva C, Alagkiozidis I. Elective robotic hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum in the second trimester: Case report. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020;72:361-364. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.024. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID: 32563821; PMCID: PMC7306544.
Gathura JE, Elfeky A, McLaren R Jr, Herzog D, Grazi R. Spontaneous Bilateral Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy in a Low-Risk Patient: A Case Report with Implications for Preoperative Patient Counseling. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jun 19;2021:5588869. doi: 10.1155/2021/5588869. PMID: 34249378; PMCID: PMC8238587.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you perform more laparoscopy or robotic surgery?
Our diverse faculty group are high volume surgeons and perform both laparoscopic and robotic surgery. The fellows are also trained on open and vaginal procedures.
Do the fellows work with residents?
Maimonides Medical Center has a robust Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program with seven residents per year. Residents and fellows are consistently working together in all settings including office, inpatient, operating room, and on research projects.
Do the fellows work with other surgical specialties?
In addition to working with MIGS faculty, the fellows train with urogynecology and gyn oncology. Furthermore, the fellows are exposed to multidisciplinary specialties for complex cases including colorectal surgery and urology.
What is the expected salary?
The salary is determined by Maimonides Medical Center standard set salary for PGY5/6.
Contact Information:
Gabriela Castro, Fellowship Program Coordinator
Email: gcastro@maimo.org
Phone: 718-283-8391
Applications for Maimonides’ Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery fellowship should be submitted through AAGL’s website.
Apply to the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship Program today!