The UAB Division of Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery has received reaccreditation for an additional three years as a fellowship program specializing in advanced GI surgery, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and abdominal wall surgery.

The GI MIS/Hernia Fellowship is a one-year fellowship in complex gastrointestinal and hernia operations. Led by new Program Director Abhishek Parmar, M.D., and Assistant Program Director Richard Stahl, M.D., the MIS Fellowship is recognized by the Fellowship Council, SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons), and AHS (American Hernia Society).

Through the program, the fellow has the unique opportunity to perform complex bariatric, foregut, advanced endoscopic, and hernia operations under the guidance of eight dedicated faculty members within the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Stahl, a professor and director of bariatric surgery at UAB, was among Alabama's early pioneers of laparoscopic gastric bypass and notes that the renewed fellowship accreditation means more opportunities for divisional mentorship and training.

“Receiving reaccreditation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to training fellows who excel both inside and outside the operating room. Our goal is to develop highly skilled surgeons who can confidently and independently perform minimally invasive operations," says Stahl.

Parmar is an associate professor of surgery who helped build UAB’s reputation as a national leader in complex hernia, making it one of the first programs in the country to receive the Fellowship Council’s Hernia Designation.

“As the director of the minimally invasive surgery fellowship at UAB, I invite general surgery residents interested in a breadth of abdominal wall and minimally invasive surgery to apply to our program. I am confident they will receive high-quality training and benefit from the fellowship's proven track record of excellence and innovation," says Parmar.