Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Hernia Fellowship

Program Overview

The Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Hernia Fellowship at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston is a one-year fellowship that runs from August 1 through July 31 each year. Fellows receive advanced training in the management of complex abdominal wall disorders through a high-volume clinical practice, extensive operative experience, and ongoing research.

Training takes place primarily at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center.

Jonah Stulberg, MD, PhD, MPH, FACS
Program Director

Clinical Experience

Fellows receive comprehensive training in the management of complex abdominal wall pathologies, including:

Multiple recurrent hernias
Loss of domain hernias
Flank hernias
Parastomal hernias
Diaphragmatic hernias
Enterocutaneous fistulas
Chronic mesh infections

Surgical Training

The fellowship provides advanced training in minimally invasive and open abdominal wall reconstruction techniques, including:

Robotic transabdominal preperitoneal (r-TAPP) repair
Enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) repair
Robotic transversus abdominis release (r-TAR)
Complex open hernia repair

Fellows participate in more than 150 robotic surgical cases, creating the opportunity to pursue Da Vinci robotic surgery certification.

Additional Training Opportunities

Fellows also gain experience with specialized adjuncts used in complex abdominal wall reconstruction, including progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum (PPP) and truncal botulinum toxin (Botox) injection.

As part of the MIST Fellowship Consortium, fellows may participate in elective experiences in minimally invasive foregut surgery (including bariatric and reflux surgery), surgical endoscopy, and minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Research

In addition to clinical training, fellows participate in ongoing abdominal wall reconstruction research, fostering lifelong learning and evidence-based surgical practice.

Fellowship Match

This fellowship does not participate in the Fellowship Council Match.

Learn more about the Hernia / Abdominal Wall Reconstruction faculty.