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Why choose UAB for your colorectal fellowship?

  • Our fellowship program is focused on training the next generation of academic colorectal surgeons and leaders.
  • Our faculty bring unique clinical expertise, experiences, and academic enrichment to the program.
    • Strong clinical expertise in all areas of colorectal surgery and techniques including advanced MIS (robotic, laparoscopic, hand-assist, transanal).
    • Strong research expertise and mentorship - our CRS faculty serve or have served as PI on 4 R01s, 1 U01, 2 K-awards, and national society grants including from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS), and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).
    • Strong training backgrounds and history at all major CRS programs.
    • High-level leadership roles at all major surgical societies where we love to sponsor trainees (current leadership in ACS, ASCRS, AAS, SUS, SSAT, SAAS).
    • Invested in mentorship and education with a long track-record of successful graduates
    • Passionate about providing the highest-level care for our community - our faculty travel to rural sites to bring colorectal expertise to patients rather than expect patients to come to Birmingham.
  • The UAB colorectal surgery fellowship will expose fellows to a busy clinical practice:
    • Fellows see a high-volume of cases from bread-and-butter to complex referrals.
    • Faculty perform over 500 anorectal cases, 900 abdominal cases (including >15 pouches and >100 LARs), and 500 endoscopies per year.
    • Faculty provide colorectal surgery expertise at UAB Hospital, UAB Highlands, VA Birmingham, and affiliated community sites.
    • UAB Hospital alone is the 8th largest public hospital in the country (>1200 beds), the #1 hospital in Alabama, and the main tertiary-referral center for the entire state of Alabama and surrounding regions.
    • GI/GI Surgery (Digestive Health Program) ranked in top 50 of U.S. News and Reports.
    • Over 40 operating rooms at UAB Hospital, 10+ robots, and colorectal surgery operations daily.
  • UAB CRS fellows will become experienced with the entire spectrum of colorectal diseases:
    • Weekly multidisciplinary conference that reviews all colorectal cancer cases.
    • Weekly clinics and endoscopy sessions with colorectal faculty.
    • Co-management of complex inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with GI.
    • On-call experiences at UAB Hospital – the Emergency Department cares for over 140,000 patients per year with a wide variety of emergency colorectal cases.
  • Broad exposure to advanced surgical techniques:
    • Advanced sphincter sparing techniques including intersphincteric proctectomies and coloanal anastomoses.
    • Advanced robotic surgical techniques including single-port transanal excisions.
    • Reoperative techniques in redo abdomens and abdominal catastrophes.
    • Advanced laparoscopy and hand-assist laparoscopy.
    • Complex joint cases with urology, gynecology oncology, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic, spine, and many others specialists (these include sacrectomies, colon conduits for esophageal reconstructions, and exenterations).

Current and Former Residents

  • Stevie Jay Stapler, M.D.
    Stevie Jay Stapler, M.D.

    Class of 2024
    Medical School:
    University of Michigan Medical School
    Residency:
    St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
    Next Steps: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital

  • S. Thomas Kang, M.D.
    S. Thomas Kang, M.D.

    Class of 2023
    Medical School:
    Creighton University School of Medicine
    Residency:
    TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital
    Next Steps: University of Arkansas, Department of Surgery


  • Fady Elabbasy, M.D.
    Fady Elabbasy, M.D.

    Class of 2022
    Medical School:
    Cairo University, Egypt
    Residency:
    Staten Island University Hospital
    Next Steps: Advent Health, Orlando, FL

  • Danielle Kay, M.D.
    Danielle Kay, M.D.

    Class of 2021
    Medical School:
    Tulane University School of Medicine
    Residency:
    University of Kentucky
    Next Steps: Ochsner Medical Center, Department of Surgery

  • Edward Andrew Fazendin, M.D.
    Edward Andrew Fazendin, M.D.

    Class of 2020
    Medical School:
    Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
    Residency: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, General Surgery
    Next Steps: Advanced Surgeons, P.C. at Grandview Medical Center

  • Michael J. Hernon, M.D.
    Michael J. Hernon, M.D.

    Class of 2019
    Medical School:
    University of Massachusetts, Worcester
    Residency: Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, General Surgery
    Next Steps: Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

Attendings

  • Chu, Daniel I., M.D., MSPH, FASCRS

    Dr. Daniel Chu

    Professor
    Division Director of GI Surgery

    Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., F.A.C.S. Endowed Chair

    Areas of Interest
    colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease and anorectal pathology, health care disparities research, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), microbiome research

  • Hardiman, Karin M., M.D., Ph.D.

    Dr. Karin Hardiman

    Professor
    Program Co-Director, Future Surgeons and Scientists Investigating Oncology (FUSSION)
    Associate Director, Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO)
    Assistant Program Director for Resident Research, General Surgery Residency Program
    Strange Family Endowed Professorship in Surgical Sciences Research

    Areas of Interest
    colon and rectal surgery, intestinal surgery

  • Hollis, Robert H., M.D., M.S.P.H.

    Robert Hollis, MD, MSPH

    Assistant Professor
    Member, Institute for Cancer Outcomes & Survivorship
    Leader, Colorectal Cancer Management Team for the O’Neal Cancer Service Line 
    Associate Scientist, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC)
    Co-Director, Short-Term Research Experiences Advancing Medical Students (STREAMS)

    Areas of Interest
    clinical interests include colon, rectal, and anal cancer; hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (i.e. Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis); surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease); pelvic pouch surgery; diverticulitis; rectal prolapse; benign anorectal disorders; enterocutaneous fistula; minimally invasive surgery; re-operative surgery

    research interests include hereditary colorectal cancer; ostomy care; health inequities; quality of care

  • Kennedy, Gregory, M.D., Ph.D.

    Dr. Gregory Kennedy

    Professor
    Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery
    John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery
    Cancer Network Director, O’Neal Cancer Service Line
    Interim Program Director, UAB Colorectal Surgery Fellowship

    Areas of Interest
    colon cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, benign conditions of colon, rectum and anus, endoscopic treatment of colonic disease, chemoprevention

  • Morris, Melanie S., M.D., FASCRS

    Dr. Melanie Morris

    Professor
    Vice Chair, Perioperative Services
    Chief of General Surgery, Birmingham VA Hospital
    Associate Chief Quality Officer, UAB Medicine

    Areas of Interest
    minimally invasive colorectal surgery, colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, and rectal prolapse

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Gregory Kennedy, MD, PhD
Program Director
gkennedy@uabmc.edu