APP Surgical Fellowship

What is the APP Surgical Fellowship Program?

The surgical field presents a highly specialized and demanding environment, requiring precision, critical thinking, and a robust skill set that encompasses both technical and patient management capabilities. Surgical APPs are tasked with assisting surgeons performing complex procedures, managing pre-operative and post-operative care, and navigating the intricacies of the care of the surgical patient. This discipline demands a deep understanding of anatomy, surgical techniques, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

The Lee Physician Group (LPG) Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship in Surgery is a comprehensive 12-month program designed to equip nurse practitioners and physician assistants with the advanced skills and knowledge required for a successful career in surgery. This program focuses on developing surgical competencies, enhancing decision-making abilities, and fostering a high level of clinical judgment. Fellows will be immersed in a rigorous environment that prepares them to handle a diverse range of surgical conditions and advocate for patient-centered care. Through dedicated mentorship and hands-on experience, participants will emerge as leaders in the surgical field, committed to advancing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes.

Online Application for Lee Health's APP Surgery Fellowship

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For further details, please contact: APPfellowship@leehealth.org

What are the time requirements for the APP Surgical Fellowship?

The time requirement for the APP Surgical Fellowship is rigorous. Each fellow is responsible for a minimum of 50 hours per week devoted to training. Work hours may be split between rotation, on-site training, reading, modules, research, and other activities. Each fellow is expected to work the schedule set by their mentors. Schedules will vary and consist of days, evening, nights, weekends and holidays.

What is the curriculum for the APP Surgical Fellowship Program?

The APP Surgical Fellowship at Lee Health provides a robust infrastructure to expand the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to move the APP from entry-level competence toward proficiency and expertise.

The program curriculum encompasses Organizational Enculturation, Practice-Based Learning, peer support, and personalized mentoring.

Organizational Enculturation topics facilitate the assimilation of the APP Fellow into the culture, practices, and values of Lee Health and the APP’s profession.

Practice-Based Learning. This includes concepts intended to facilitate competence in the standards of practice and professional performance of the APP Fellow. These are introduced as lecture topics and are reinforced by clinical mentors in practice settings.

During Academic Conference Days, the APP Fellow presents cases with explicit examples of how these concepts have been applied in the practice setting. These topics include: Well-being & Burnout, Professionalism, Practice Efficiency, Effective Communication, Critical thinking, Principles of Medical Ethics, Interprofessional teaming, Social determinants of health, and Billing Compliance.

Fellows will participate in supervised direct patient care activities as assigned by the clinical faculty mentor(s). This includes having experiences with surgical patients in all phases of care including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. Fellows will gain competence in surgical first assisting.

What elective rotations are offered to APP Surgical fellows?

Elective rotations are meant to enhance the education of the fellow, mainly to address learning gaps and weaknesses. These experiences may also be used to explore a possible opportunity post-fellowship, or to facilitate a transition to the same. They may be hands-on or shadowing experiences. Elective rotations must contribute to the primary goals of the fellowship and may vary in frequency and length, on a case-by-case basis, depending on multiple factors.

Fellow Responsibilities Will Include:

Work shifts as assigned
Complete online educational modules as assigned: SCORE (Surgical Council on Resident Education)
Prepare and deliver regular didactic presentations on topics in general surgery
Participate in research activities as directed, such as quality improvement projects
Adhere to the standard of care in clinical practice
Attend weekly academic conferences (typically on Thursday afternoons)
Participate in professional development through curriculum, development, research and continuing education opportunities