Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship Program

Masoud Azodi, MD, director, MIGS Fellowship, is a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine and is a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. He is also the Director of the minimally-invasive Robotic Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine’s Gynecologic Oncology Section in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. He is also the Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Bridgeport Hospital. Over the past several years he has become the community’s leading expert in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery, performing over 2,500 robotic cases since 2006 and has vast experience with conventional laparoscopy. Most of his cases are referred from general gynecologists, for malignancy as well as complicated surgical challenges including large myomatous uteri, extensive adhesive disease and endometriosis. He performs seven to ten endoscopic procedures per week. His passion for minimally invasive surgery has inspired many residents and attending physicians in the community. He has won many awards for his excellence in resident education.

 

Richard Bercik, MD, is a member of the Uro-Gynecology Group at Yale University. He is also an attending at Bridgeport Hospital. He is very active in clinical research in minimally invasive surgery and has proven to be an exceptional resident teacher. He joined the fellowship faculty list in 2012 to increase the fellows’ exposure and teaching in uro-gynecological procedures such as pelvic floor reconstruction.

Mitchell Clark, MD, is a gynecologic oncologist with training in both surgical and medical oncology. He has expertise in chemotherapy, targeted therapies and minimally invasive surgeries. He sees women with gynecologic malignancies and complex surgical problems, as well as genetic conditions that put them at risk for developing a gynecologic cancer.

Shabnam Kashani, MD, is the Clinical Director of Ob/Gyn Ambulatory Services at Bridgeport Hospital and Associate Program Director of the MIGS Fellowship Program. She completed her MIGS Fellowship at Bridgeport Hospital and is well-versed in both hysteroscopic and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgeries. She is very active in both residency and fellowship programs and has a passion for teaching.
 
Farinaz Seifi, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Gynecology at Yale University. She joined the fellowship as a core faculty member in 2018 after completing her MIGS Fellowship in 2018. Dr. Seifi is passionate about teaching and she received the Surgical Faculty Award for teaching surgical techniques to residents and fellows. She is skilled in laparoscopic and robotic complex surgeries including advanced endometriosis. She is a member of committee for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) at Yale and actively involved in research to optimize pain control after minimally invasive surgeries.

Gaining proficiency in all advanced gynecologic procedures is expected. These would include LSH, TLH, laparoscopic myomectomy, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, suburethral slings, hysteroscopic myomectomy and colorectal surgery. Robotic experience in hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, myomectomy and retroperitoneal oncologic staging will be included in the programs.

Teaching activities will include resident instruction in endoscopic technique using an advanced skills laboratory and supervision of basic endoscopic procedures. Participating in departmental grand rounds, didactic educational programs, biweekly journal clubs, biweekly tumor boards and weekly conferences is expected. The required research project may take advantage of the many clinical or basic research opportunities ongoing in the division or may be uniquely designed by the fellow with faculty supervision. The Yale OB/GYN department will be supportive of fellow research projects and will result in national presentations and peer-reviewed manuscripts. Protected academic research time is incorporated into the post-graduate training program.

A unique feature of this program is the fellows’ exposure to gynecological malignancies and the opportunity to assist in laparoscopic staging and radical surgery for malignancies. There are no gynecologic oncology fellows based at Bridgeport Hospital, and the busy surgical volume of the Gynecologic Oncology Section means all potential cases are learning opportunities for the gynecologic endoscopy fellow.

Overall, this program will train the fellow for general gynecologic minimally invasive surgery using conventional laparoscopy, robotic-assisted laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. They will also have extensive experience with gynecologic oncology procedures, reproductive endocrine procedures, urogynecologic procedures, complex gynecologic surgeries and advanced endometriosis cases. The fellow will also work with an experienced colorectal surgeon performing laparoscopic bowel procedures.

Fellows will spend an average of two days in surgery per week. Individuals can expect to be in the office/clinic an average of two days per week. Approximately one day per week will be reserved for research time.

Fellows will have teaching responsibilities as they relate to the training of medical students and physicians both in the academic and community settings. Post-graduate trainees will have the advantage of being exposed to a wide variety of resources available at Yale University. These resources include the ability to pursue Masters-level degrees in the areas of public health and clinical investigation. Surgical laboratories with established gynecology protocols will also be readily available for both inanimate and animate training and research.

The fellow will have a two-month rotation in reproductive endocrinology, a two-month rotation in Urogynecology and a one-month elective rotation.

Upon completion of this program, the fellow will be competent in a full-spectrum of endoscopic surgical techniques and be qualified to serve as a consultant in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery in an academic or private setting.

1st Year
Katya Wentzel, MD

2nd Year
Michelle Ichikawa, MD