LINC@UNC

Fellowship in Laparoscopy and Advanced GI Surgery

Mission Statement

To provide a structured environment for self-directed research and advanced technical training related to surgical management of gastrointestinal disease.

Division of GI Surgery

The division is comprised of clinically active faculty members as followed. They perform approximately 1200 cases/year, with special interest in management of esophageal disease, morbid obesity, hernia, pancreaticobiliary diseases, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. All faculty members are skilled in laparoscopic techniques.

Mark J. Koruda, MD (Chief)

Hartwig Bunzendahl, MD

Timothy M. Farrell, MD

D. Wayne Overby, MD

Timothy Sadiq, MD .

The Laparoscopic Institute of North Carolina was founded in 1999 with the support of corporate partners. LINC@UNC includes a state-of-the-art laparoscopic skills laboratory, which is equipped with a variety of training devices, surgical simulators and multimedia teaching aids. In addition, activities of LINC@UNC fellows include a variety of on-site didactic and skills courses, as well as participation with remote conferences and courses. In addition, fellows participate in multidisciplinary CME seminars on a variety of GI topics. The center is also committed to supporting research endeavors by sponsored fellows.

Facilities

UNC Hospitals is comprised of North Carolina Memorial Hospital, North Carolina Neurosciences Hospital, North Carolina Children's Hospital, North Carolina Women's Hospital, North Carolina Cancer Hospital, Ambulatory Care Center, and Family Medicine. Located in the heart of Chapel Hill, on the south end of the UNC campus, UNC Hospitals comprise a public, academic medical center operated by and for the people of North Carolina. The Hospitals' mission is to provide high quality patient care, to educate health care professionals, to advance research, and to provide community service.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro

Chapel Hill and Carrboro are nestled in the rolling, wooded hills of North Carolina. The cities are situated ideally in the state, three hours from the coast and three hours from the mountains, allowing residents to enjoy a variety of recreational activities.

Faculty

Hartwig Bunzendahl , MD

Professor of Surgery

Director of UNC Hernia Center

Interests: Variety of adult hernias. See UNC Hernia Center.

Timothy M. Farrell, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Director of the Fellowship Program, LINC@UNC, and the Center for Bariatric Surgery
Interests: Foregut surgery, morbid obesity, laparoscopic surgery, surgical education.

Charles A. Herbst, Jr. 
Professor of Surgery (Retired)
Interests: General and gastrointestinal surgery, morbid obesity, resident education.

Mark J. Koruda, MD
Professor of Surgery
Division Chief GI Surgery
Interests: Nutrition, resident education, IBD surgery, sphincter preservation, laparoscopic surgery.

 D. Wayne Overby, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Co-Director, Center for Bariatric Surgery 
Interests: Minimally invasive foregut surgery, gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia, hiatal hernias, morbid obesity including laparoscopic obesity surgery with lap band, and Barrett's esophagus.

Timothy S. Sadiq , MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Interests: Colon and rectal cancer, laparoscopic colorectal surgery, Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, anorectal disease, hereditary colorectal cancer, rectal prolapse.

LINC@UNC Staff

Nurses:

Karen Colton, RN, Clinical Program Director

Ada Anderson, RN, Clinical Coordinator, Research Coordinator

Amanda Kircher, RN, Clinical Coordinator, Research Coordinator

Administrative Staff:

Kathleen Dulaney, Division Manager

Melissa Davis, Administrative Secretary

Beverly Holt, Administrative Assistant

Tina Armstrong, Inpatient Medical Coder

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Fellowship Information

Year 1 – Research Fellow

• Formal instruction in grant writing, experimental design and statistics

• Opportunities for a variety of research projects related to GI disease and minimally invasive surgery

• Endoscopy training

• Opportunity for presentation at scientific meeting(s)

• Salary PGY-6 level

Year 2 – Clinical Fellow

• Instructor of Surgery appointment

• Junior Staff Privileges

• Independent (supervised) outpatient clinic

• Extensive operative experience

• Continued research

• Opportunity for presentation at scientific meeting(s)

• Salary Clinical Instructor level

Previous LINC@UNC Fellows

Tananchai A. Lucktong, MD (2000-2002) –Carilon Health System, Roanoke, VA.

John M. Morton, MD (2001-2003) – Stanford University Hospital, Palo Alto, CA.

Marc M. Zare, MD (2002-2004) – West Roxbury VA Medical Center, Boston, MA.

Mitchell S. Cahan, MD (2003-2005) – University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA.

Michael France, MD (2004-2005) – Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.

Lisa Balduf, MD (2004-2006) – Presbyterian Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM.

D. Wayne Overby, MD (2005-2007) –University of North Carolina Hospitals, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC.

Juan Carlos Vasquez, MD (2006-2008) – Current Clinical Fellow, University of North Carolina Hospitals.

Geoffrey P. Kohn, MD (2007-2009) – Current Research Fellow, University of North Carolina Hospitals.

Application Process

Fellows must be graduates of accredited surgical residency training programs. Application materials are due on or about September 1 (the year prior to intended start) through the MIS Fellowship Council: http://www.misfellowshipcouncil.org

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted in October and November, and the position will be offered after the MIS Fellowship Council’s Match Program. Applications are only ACCEPTED THROUGH THE MIS FELLOWSHIP COUNCIL. See above link.

Contact Information

Kathleen Dulaney, Administrator

Laparoscopic Institute of North Carolina

UNC Department of GI Surgery

4035 Burnett-Womack Bldg.

Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7081

Tel (919) 966-8436

Fax (919) 966-8440

Email: Kathleen_Dulaney@med.unc.edu