UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery has received a new designation as a hernia and abdominal wall surgery fellowship program at UAB.
Divsion of Gastroinestinal Surgery Professor Richard Stahl, M.D., and Associate Professor Abhishek Parmar, M.D., led the effort to make this designation possible.
The UAB Department of Surgery has previously offered fellowships in advanced gastrointestinal surgery and minimally invasive surgery. This will be the Department's first accredited fellowship cohort in hernia surgery. The Fellowship Council, along with SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) and AHS (American Hernia Society), have designated UAB as an Advanced GI MIS/Hernia and Abdominal Wall fellowship, starting in the 2024-2025 fellowship year. As one of only 6 hernia pilot programs in the country last year, UAB is considered a leader in the advanced training of complex hernia disease.
Stahl serves as the medical director of bariatric surgery and the program director of the minimally invasive surgery fellowship at UAB. His main research interests focus on various weight loss surgery techniques. Stahl investigates the metabolic effects caused by bariatric surgery and the overall reduction in comorbidities after the operation.
"As the fellowship director of minimally invasive surgery at UAB, our team is thrilled to launch a new hernia and abdominal wall surgery program accredited by SAGES and the AHS. This program will enable us to provide advanced, high-quality care to our patients while training the next generation of surgeons in the latest techniques and best practices in hernia care," says Stahl.
Parmar serves as the associate program director of the Advanced GI/MIS fellowship, director of minimally invasive skills development, and as an assistant program director for the UAB General Surgery Residency. He is an expert in minimally invasive abdominal wall reconstruction and complex hernia repair.
"I am proud of our fellowship in attaining this important milestone. This positions UAB Surgery as a national leader in the advanced training of complex abdominal wall surgery, and will encourage surgeons with an interest in abdominal wall surgery to consider joining our fellowship. With the joint SAGES and AHS accreditation, prospective trainees can be sure they are obtaining the most current and rigorous training available to prepare them for their furthered clinical practice," says Parmar.