Fellowship Program Structure

The fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) includes clinical and experiential learning as well as an active research component.

Clinical/Experimental Learning Activities

MIGS fellows divide their time between Parkland Hospital and the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Fellows participating in inpatient and outpatient services at these facilities are supervised by our Core MIGS Faculty.

Parkland Memorial Hospital (PMH). Fellows are essential members of the MIGS Service at Parkland. They participate in all surgical cases as well as in the MIGS Outpatient Clinic. Two full days a week are devoted to advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgical cases. Fellows have a dedicated clinic template to see patients with chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, large fibroid uteri, complex adnexal masses as well as preoperative and postoperative patients, within the Gynecology Clinic at Parkland. Complex vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted cases are all part of the repertoire at Parkland.

William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital (CUH). With access to four Da Vinci robots as well as traditional laparoscopy, MIGS fellows refine their advanced laparoscopic skills and develop proficiency performing robotic-assisted cases while at CUH. Fellows perform a wide range of advanced MIGS procedures and have significant exposure to operative hysteroscopy and robotics. As a regional referral center, our fellows will focus on reproductive surgery for fertility, as well as complex and multi-organ endometriosis.  

MIGS fellows also spend a month rotating with the UT Southwestern Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) Service. During this period, they function as the service FPMRS fellow and gain exposure to vaginal procedures as well as laparoscopic and robotic pelvic support procedures such as sacrocolpopexies.

Research/Didactic Learning Activities

One day per week throughout the year is spent attending departmental didactic sessions and pursuing scholarly activities. At UT Southwestern’s Simulation Center, fellows receive individual and team skills training in laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and robotics, and take part in research activities. MIGS fellows are expected to participate in clinical research projects with faculty who have active interests in educational research and clinical trials of fibroid management, modes of hysterectomy, and surgical complications. Each fellow is expected to develop his/her own research project for presentation at a national meeting and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Fellows are also encouraged to submit surgical videos for presentation at national conferences.

Surgical Videos

"Application of vNOTES in a training setting" 
"Laparoscopic Approach to the Difficult Trachelectomy: Surgical Tips and Tricks" 
"Surgical Approach to Distorted Anatomy: What to do when nothing looks normal!" 
"The RUMI Uterine Manipulator: A beginner’s guide to assembly and manipulation" 
"Laparoscopic Management of Tubo-ovarian Abscess"  
"Laparoscopic Ureterolysis in the Setting of Endometriosis" 
"Laparoscopic Approach to the Obliterated Anterior Cul-de-sac" 
"Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Surgical Techniques for the Benign Gynecologist"