The Norman W. Thompson Fellowship in Endocrine Surgery is designed to allow the fellow to build a strong foundation in the clinical care of patients with basic and complex endocrine surgical disorders. The goal of the fellowship is to facilitate the graded transition of the trainee to an independent endocrine surgeon who is confident in the management of patients with the full spectrum of endocrine surgical disorders.
The Division of Endocrine Surgery performs about 1000 endocrine operative cases annually. This includes 400-500 thyroid, central neck and lateral neck operations, 350-400 parathyroidectomies, 10-15 endocrine pancreas operations, and 40- 70 adrenal operations each year, providing ample clinical training. Complex re-operative cases are routinely performed, and the Fellow has the opportunity to maintain some routine general surgery as well. However, no trauma or acute care surgery call is required.
The Thompson fellow begins the year learning management and technical principles paired 1-on-1 on a weekly basis with the other endocrine surgical faculty on a rotating basis in both the clinic and operating room. A graded progression of and transition to increased independent responsibility occurs during the year. When appropriate, based on progress made during the year, the Fellow will eventually maintain their own clinic and operative schedule, including operating with general surgery trainees. Fellows develop skills in numerous operative techniques, including modified radical neck dissection, minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid techniques, and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy among others. The year also includes exposure to outpatient clinical care, endocrine pathology, radiology and nuclear medicine, and intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring. Training to hone skills with cervical ultrasound and laryngoscopy will be incorporated as well. Finally, education in radiofrequency and ethanol ablation techniques for thyroid nodules is available through our Interventional Thyroid Clinic.
The University of Michigan Endocrine Oncology program is world renowned for its adrenal cancer program and sees one of the highest volumes of adrenal cancer patients in the world. Extensive contact with endocrinologists, endocrine pathologists, radiologists, oncologists, and nuclear medicine specialists is ensured.
Fellows are considered members of the faculty and are funded for 1 year as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery, enjoy numerous opportunities to advance their clinical skills participate in clinical and/or basic science research, and are afforded all of the rights and responsibilities as a faculty member. An administrative assistant, OR scheduler, inpatient physician assistants and outpatient clinical nurses are provided as support. There is also a CME fund for the fellow.
