Colorectal Surgery Fellowship

The Salvati Colorectal Surgery Fellowship

Background

In 1970, Dr. Eugene Salvati and Dr. Robert Rubin founded the first Colorectal surgery fellowship training program in the state of New Jersey and the program remains the only fellowship in the state. Since its inception, the program has trained more than 140 colorectal residents, many of whom have gone on to serve in leadership roles within the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, as well as General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program Directors, Divisional Chiefs, and Department Chairs.

The fellowship is known to be a well-balanced, comprehensive program that trains colorectal residents in all aspects of colorectal surgery. A defined strength of this program is its dedicated faculty, whose commitment to education and mentorship prepares colorectal residents to enter independent practice with the knowledge, technical expertise, and confidence to excel in the field.

Program Overview

Each year, we accept applications for three positions. Requirements for application include:

Completed at least five years of clinical training beyond medical school
Successfully completed an approved residency in general surgery
Must be board-certified or board-eligible by the American Board of Surgery by the start of fellowship
Applications are made through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS)

The colorectal surgery residency (CRS) training is based out of Overlook Medical Center (OMC) in Summit, New Jersey and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ) in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The academic curriculum provides comprehensive training in the evaluation and management of the full spectrum of colorectal diseases while emphasizing the latest evidence-based and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Fellows gain extensive experience caring for patients with colon polyps and colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, rectal prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, intestinal stomas, and a broad range of anorectal disorders, including perirectal abscesses, fistulas, anal fissures, radiation proctitis, pilonidal disease, and hemorrhoids.
CRS residents are exposed to a wide breath of surgical techniques which include:
- Open colorectal operations - Mainly complex redo cases not amenable to MIS approaches
- Laparoscopic and robotic colorectal operations - Intracorporal anastomoses, trans-rectal extraction, Hartmann reversal, rectal cancer resections (coloanal anastomosis, TATA), combined endoscopic-laparoscopic (CELS) procedures
- IBD surgery - J-pouch procedures, complex Crohn's operations including segmental resection, Kono-S anastomosis, and strictureplasty
- Advanced transanal procedures - TAMIS using laparoscopy, multi-port robotics or single port robotic surgery
- Evaluation of pelvic floor disorders - Anorectal Physiology (ARP) lab
- Anorectal operations to treat hemorrhoids (banding, conventional hemorrhoidectomy, sclerosis), fistula (fistulotomy, LIFT, advancement flap, myocutaneous flap), incontinence procedures (sphincteroplasty, sacral nerve stimulator), HPV related procedures (high-resolution anoscopy, warts therapy)
- Rectal prolapse procedures such as abdominal (laparoscopic and robotic suture rectopexy, ventral mesh rectopexy) and perineal procedures (Altemeier and Delorme procedures)
- Colonoscopy with advanced polypectomy
During your time at New Brunswick, you will be immersed in the management of complex colorectal disease through a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary practice. The service routinely perform surgical operations in combination with Gynecology-Oncology, Urology, Surgical Oncology, Plastic Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. These include redo operations, multi-visceral resections, exenterations, complex fistula repairs, abdominal wall reconstructions, colonic inter-positions, etc.
If successfully performing complex operations defines a colorectal surgeon, office-based practice exposure puts on the finishing touch. In our fully equipped office-based practices, you will learn the art of diagnosing and treating the spectrum of anorectal disorders such as hemorrhoids (banding, thrombectomy), perirectal abscess (drainage), radiation proctitis (formalin treatment), and rectal cancer (office-based surveillance on our watch and wait protocol). The offices are equipped with video flexible sigmoidoscopy. Our graduated fellows speak very highly of their exposure to office-based practice.
OMC Conference Schedule
Mondays
- Morning sign-out rounds to review the patient census with all attendings and colorectal surgery (CRS) fellows.
- Fellow presentation based on a selected chapter from the ASCRS Textbook.
Tuesdays
- RWJ Graduate Medical Education Committee Meeting (Program Director and designated CRS fellows).
- Second Tuesday of each month (Evening): Multidisciplinary IBD Conference.
Wednesdays (Academic Morning)
- Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Conference
- 1st and 3rd Wednesdays: General Surgery M&M
- 3rd Wednesday: Colorectal Surgery M&M
- Tumor Board
- 2nd and 4th Wednesdays: Overlook Tumor Board (fellows present cases)
Following M&M
- 1st Wednesday: Research Meeting
- 2nd Wednesday: Practice-Based Learning Conference
- 3rd Wednesday: Journal Club
- 4th Wednesday: CARSITE Review (first 6 months) or ASCRS Surgical Video Review (second 6 months)
Weekly Wednesday Didactics
- 9:30–10:30 AM: Attending Didactic Lecture
- 10:30 AM–12:00 PM: Protected time for research-related activities.
Additional Lectures
- Radiology (MRI, rectal cancer, pelvic floor, Fistulas)
- Stoma lecture (with our stoma therapist)
- Advanced GI (by our advanced GI staff)
- Billing and coding
RWJ Conference Schedule
Mondays
- 7:00–8:00 AM (Virtual): Morning Report – Review the patient list, Journal Club, and attending presentations of interesting upcoming cases. If Monday falls on a holiday, Morning Report will be held on Tuesday that week.
Tuesdays
- 7:00–8:00 AM (Virtual): GI Tumor Board
Wednesdays
- 7:00–8:00 AM (In Person): General Surgery Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Conference
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Grand Rounds
First Wednesday of Each Month
- 4:00–5:00 PM (In Person): Difficult Case Conference – An internal multidisciplinary review of complex patient cases.
Second Wednesday of Each Month
- 5:00–6:00 PM (Virtual): Colorectal Surgery Monthly Research Meeting
Fridays
First Friday of Each Month
- 7:00–8:00 AM (Virtual): IBD Conference
- 8:00–9:00 AM: Monthly Division Meeting
Additional Meetings
- Robotics Lab - dates to be determined (sponsored by Intuitive Surgical)
- Case Western/ASCRS Career Course (Cleveland, OH) - November
- ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting - May
- Advanced Endoscopy Workshop (University of Southern California, Los Angeles) - April
150. Sophia Zigouras, DO 2025 - 2026
149. Lindsey Weil, MD 2025 - 2026
148. Grace Chang, DO 2025 - 2026
147. Thomas Tritt, MD 2024 - 2025
146. Saloni Mehrotra, MD 2024-2025
145. Analena Alcabes, MD 2024-2025
144. Samantha Norden, MD 2023-2024
143. David Ma, MD 2023-2024
142. Alexander Fortgang, DO 2023-2024
141. Shanna Sprinkle, MD 2022-2023
140. Michael Scott, MD 2022-2023
139. Richard Willy Cass, MD 2022-2023
138. Brendan Scully, MD 2021-2022
137. Justus Philip, MD 2021-2022
136. Waed Alswealmeen, MD 2021-2022
135. Kulvir Nandra, MD 2020-2021
134. Cecilia Birisan, MD 2020-2021
133. Elia Abboud, MD 2020-2021
132. Roy Won, MD 2019-2020
131. Hernan Sanchez Trejo, MD 2019-2020
130. David Mckeown, MD 2019-2020 (Fellowship Program Director, Jefferson)
129. Jonathan Lucking, MD 2018-2019
128. Aleh Eftaiha, MD 2018-2019
127. Marie Audett, MD 2018-2019
126. Samuel Luka, MD 2017-2018
125. Beatrice Dionigi, MD 2017-2018
124. Michael Deutsch, MD 2017-2018
123. Cindy Wu, MD 2016-2017
122. Matthew Wilson, MD 2016-2017
121. Julie Dricken, MD 2016-2017
120. Abdulaziz Saleem, MD 2015-2016
119. Benjamin Quartey, MD 2015-2016
118. Steven Chao, MD 2015-2016
117. Gokulakkrishna Subhas, MD 2014-2015
116. Holly Sheldon, MD 2014-2015
115. Diego Marines Copado, MD 2014-2015
114. Rami Makhoul, MD 2013-2014
113. Jennifer Lee, MD 2013-2014
112. Jorunn Atladottir, MD 2013-2014
111. Amit Sharma, MD 2012-2013
110. Frances Puleo, MD 2012-2013
109. Jacob Eisdorfer, DO 2012-2013
108. Chitra Sambasivan, MD 2011-2012
107. Lisa Moudgill, MD 2011-2012 (Fellowship Program Director, South Florida)
106. Sandy Fang, MD 2011-2012
105. Caroline Sanchez, MD 2010-2011
104. Louis Reines, MD 2010-2011
103. Benjamin Karsten, MD 2010-2011
102. Andy Yeung. MD 2009-2010
101. Doug Matthews, MD 2009-2010
100. Yujin Guo, MD 2009-2010
99. Vikram Reddy, MD 2008-2009
98. Peter Lee, MD 2008-2009
97. Karen Kish, Md 2008-2009
96. Marilee Freitas, MD 2007-2008
95. Hueylan Chern, MD 2007-2008
94. Suraj Alva, MD 2007-2008 (Fellowship Program Director, Salvati fellowship)
93. Kelly Tyler, MD 2006-2007
92. William Peche, MD 2006-2007
91. Ralph Butler, MD 2006-2007
90. Leslie Jarrott Moore, MD 2005-2006
89. Sylvia Kim, MD 2005-2006
88. John Flannery, MD 2005-2006
87. Justin Somerville, MD 2004-2005
86. Jennifer Mcquade, MD 2004-2005
85. Eugene Kim, MD 2004-2005
84. Cesar Sanz, MD 2003-2004
83. James Fitzgerald, MD 2003-2004
82. Daniel Feingold, MD 2003-2004
81. Kirsten Wilkins, MD 2002-2003 (2026 President of the ASCRS)
80. Brian Harlin, MD 2002-2003
79. Charles Eisengart, MD 2002-2003
78. Craig Rezac, MD 2001-2002
77. Jason Penzer, MD 2001-2002
76. Emily Chan, MD 2001-2002
75. Steve Wiley, MD 2000-2001
74. John Park, MD 2000-2001 (Fellowship Program Director, Lehigh Valley)
73. Steve Fassler, MD 2000-2001
72. Samir Parikh, MD 1999-2000
71. Harvey Moore, MD 1999-2000
70. Frank Caliendo, MD 1999-2000
69. Patrick Park, MD 1998-1999
68. Vincent Cifello, MD 1998-1999
67. Lynn Chao, MD 1998-1999
66. John Zelis, MD 1997-1998
65. Sandeep Sirsi, MD 1997-1998
64. Christian Hirsch, MD 1997-1998
63. Scot Paris, MD 1996-1997
62. Maurizio Nichele, MD 1996-1997
61. Suzanne Green, MD 1996-1997
60. Mark Pidala, MD 1995-1996
59. Ann Kalhorn, MD 1995-1996
58. Charles Hughes, MD 1995-1996
57. Stephanie Wishnev, MD 1994-1995
56. Steven Proshan, MD 1994-1995
55. Evan Krakovitz, MD 1994-1995
54. Daniel Sadler, MD 1993-1994
53. Thomas Magrino, MD 1993-1994
52. Michael Francis, MD 1993-1994
51. John Peralo, MD 1992-1993
50. Mark Dobriner, MD 1992-1993
49. Bertram Chinn, MD 1992-1993 (past Fellowship Program Director, Salvati fellowship)
48. Scott Thornton, MD 1991-1992
47. Steven Schecther, MD 1991-1992 (past Fellowship Program Director, Rhode Island)
46. Howard Black, MD 1991-1992
45. Barry Pernikoff, MD 1990-1991
44. Eric Duberman, MD 1990-1991
43. James Baran, MD 1990-1991
42. Debra Vachon, MD 1989-1990
41. Michael Trevisani, MD 1989-1990
40. Bruce Kerner, MD 1989-1990 (past Fellowship Program Director, Ohio Health Grant Medical Center)
39. Keith Munson, MD 1988-1989
38. Jose Cintron, MD 1988-1989 (past Fellowship Program Director, Cook County)
37. Stephen Brown, MD 1988-1989
36. William Smithy, MD 1987-1988
35. Mark Hachigian, MD 1987-1988
34. Robert Gardine, MD 1987-1988
33. Ronald White, MD 1986-1987
32. Joel Porter, MD 1986-1987
31. John Mangione, MD 1986-1987
30. Larry Sollenberger, MD 1985-1986
29. Gary Siemons, MD 1985-1986
28. Andrew Ross, MD 1985-1986
27. Robin Ulanow, MD 1984-1985
26. Gregory Oliver, MD 1984-1985
25. Wai Lee, MD 1984-1985
24. Charles Littlejohn, MD 1983-1984 (past President of the ASCRS)
23. Scott Goldstein, MD 1983-1984
22. Donald Colvin, MD 1983-1984
21. Harvey Garber, MD 1982-1983
20. Harold Bohman, MD 1982-1983
19. David Walters, MD 1981-1982 (past Fellowship Program Director, UConn)
18. Louis Perrotta, MD 1981-1982
17. Michael Moseson, MD 1980-1981
16. Steven Brandeis, MD 1980-1981
15. Edmund Leff, MD 1979-1980
14. Walter Groff, MD 1979-1980
13. Thomas Logio, MD 1978-1979
12. Edsel Aucoin, MD 1978-1979
11. Robert Rothberg, MD 1977-1978
10. Theodore Eisenstat, MD 1977-1978 (past Vice-President of the ASCRS, past President of the ABCRS)
9. Harvey Shub, MD 1976-1977
8. Ralph Bailey, MD 1976-1977
7. Michael Weinstein, MD 1975-1976
6. James Lott, MD 1975-1976
5. Lawrence Ramalho, MD 1974-1975
4. Stuart Grant, MD 1973-1974
3. Joseph Scoma, MD 1972-1973
2. Samuel Labow, MD 1971-1972 (past President of the ABCRS)
1. David Swerdlow, MD 1970-1971

RWJ Program Faculty

Daniel Feingold, MD, FACS, FASCRS Professor and Chief, Division of Colorectal Surgery	Nell Maloney Patel, MD, FACS, FASCRS Vice Chair Department of Surgery, Rutgers RWJ
Theodore Eisenstat, MD, FACS, FASCRS	Kirsten Donohue, MD, FACS, FASCRS 3rd Yr Medical Student Clerkship Director, Rutgers
Brendan Scully, MD Assistant Professor	Aliza Galitsky, MSN, APN, CWOCN Advanced Practice Nurse
Cathie Egan, LPN

From left to right:

Benjamin Kuritzkes, MD FACS FASCRS
Chief of Colorectal Surgery, Overlook Hospital
Kirsten B. Wilkins, MD FACS FASCRS
2026 President ASCRS
Bertram T. Chinn, MD FACS FASCRS
Suraj Alva, MD FACS FASCRS
Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program Director
Joseph R. Notaro, MD FACS FASCRS