Surgical Innovation Fellowship

We have developed a fellowship for residents in the Department of Surgery that can be completed during the course of their Academic Development Time (ADT) or independently.

Program Overview

Our mission is to develop surgeon innovators who can develop impactful solutions for problems in surgery that will advance education, research, or clinical care.

Fellows will work with a primary surgery faculty member, and their mentoring teams composed of faculty from surgery, engineering, business, and other departments across the University of Michigan. Fellows will work on both their own projects, as well as projects being developed within the Center for Surgical Innovation, to gain a broad experience in surgical innovation, design thinking, and project development.

Curriculum

Fellows utilize our Michigan Surgical Innovation Accelerator curriculum to develop foundational skills in surgical innovation. This is supplemented by seminars, meetings with industry experts, and other curricular opportunities that will be individualized to the fellow. These include courses through the College of Engineering, Ross School of Business, and other programs on campus.

Research & Academic Opportunities

Innovation fellows can participate in a broad range of research opportunities, including:

  • Tissue engineering
  • Mixed reality applications in surgical simulation and clinical care delivery
  • Device development and prototyping
  • 3D printing
  • Translational diagnostics and therapeutics
  • Software and app development, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning applications

Innovation Fellows will engage in grant writing, pitch presentations, manuscript development and submission, as well as presentations at national and regional surgical meetings.

How to Apply

For more information or additional questions about the Innovation Fellowship program, contact Candice Stegink, Associate Director of Innovation, at [email protected].

To apply, please send the following to [email protected]:

  • A letter of support from Section Chair or Program Director
  • Cover letter, discussing: Research interests in surgical innovation, career goals, and describe how an innovation fellowship will help you achieve these goals.
  • Curriculum Vitae

Residents can apply any time prior to March of their PGY3 year. Early application is encouraged to allow for project development, discussion, and grant applications prior to ADT time.

Program Director

Current Fellows

Taylor Kantor, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident

Primary focus area: Utilization of extended reality technology for surgical applications and training.

Gardner Yost, MD, MS
Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident

Primary focus area: Engineering and biomedical device development and commercialization

Jaes Jones, MD, MS
Neurosurgery Resident

Primary focus area: Engineering and biomedical device development and commercialization