Founded in 1999, our fellowship program in Minimally Invasive Surgery is one of the first fellowships of its kind in the country, and is the longest-running of the four programs in the UT Health/MIST Fellowship Consortium.

The Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest immerses fellows in anti-reflux procedures, bariatrics, and complex endoscopy, in addition to a broad general surgery experience with an emphasis on utilizing minimally invasive techniques to provide optimal patient outcomes in both elective and acute care surgery.

Rotations outside of our home base are available to also integrate robotics training and other perspectives at the other facilities in the UT Health/MIST Fellowship Consortium. Now helmed by our third fellow, Dr. Erik Wilson, the MIST Fellowship Consortium based at UT Health provides a platform for a variety of different experiences. Additional consortium fellows are hosted at Memorial Hermann at the Texas Medical Center, BMI of Texas in San Antonio, Houston Colon and other locations throughout Houston. Together with the faculty, consortium fellows meet monthly to discuss complex cases, M&M, and discuss recent literature over dinner.

Until 2022, the Advanced GI/MIS fellowship based at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest was affiliated with the Fellowship Council. However, due to increasing restrictions on academic activities, higher fees, and fewer opportunities for grant funding, we have elected to separate from the council. Our fellowship program remains fully funded annually for the salary and benefits of two one-year fellowship positions, beginning August 1st each year. Fellows hold a Clinical Faculty position at UTHealth, and have full admitting physician privileges at HCA Healthcare Northwest.

Requirements for application:(1) US Citizenship, (2) Three letters of recommendation from surgery faculty, (3) Passing scores of USMLE 1, 2, & 3, (4) ABS/ABOS Certification or Eligibility, (5) Personal statement, (6) Current CV, (7) Residency or professional case logs. To be considered for this position, please submit this material to our Coordinator at evelyn@drleggett.com.

Our fellow for 2024-2025 is Dr. Amy DeKerlegand.

  • 2023-2024 Dr. Priya Prakash
  • 2022-2023 Dr. Kingsley Okai
  • 2021-2022 Dr. Jessica Mormando & Dr. Gregory Vereb
  • 2020-2021 Dr. Jacqueline Stephenson
  • 2019-2020 Dr. Ashleigh Hagaman and Dr. Ngan Nguyen
  • 2018-2019 Dr. Kalyan Gorantla & Dr. Nancy Panko
  • 2017-2018 Dr. Melanie Boyle and Dr. William Buitrago
  • 2016-2017 Dr. Ping Jeanne Pan & Dr. Seeyuen Jane Lee
  • 2015-2016 Dr. Thomas Wang
  • 2014-2015 Dr. Nicholai Stephens & Dr. Luis Rodriguez-Escola
  • 2013-2014 Dr. Sarah Lippert & Dr. Romeo Lainez
  • 2011-2012 Dr. Benjamin DuBois & Dr. Rachel Reeder
  • 2010-2011 Dr. Khoi Du & Dr. Heather Vasser
  • 2009-2010 Dr. Sherrie Parker & Dr. Clayton Hackerman
  • 2008-2009 Dr. Luis Bonilla & Dr. Obos Ekhaese
  • 2007-2008 Dr. Leigh Montes & Dr. Alex Nguyen
  • 2006-2007 Dr. Aleksandr Reznichenko
  • 2005-2006 Dr. Guillermo Garcia & Dr. Grace Kim
  • 2004-2005 Dr. Michael Bozuk & Dr. Nicole Fearing
  • 2003-2004 Dr. Robert J. Chastanet & Dr. Michael V. Seger
  • 2002-2003 Dr. Darren B. Miter
  • 2001-2002 Dr. Erik B. Wilson
  • 2000-2001 Dr. Hesham M. Atwa
  • 1999-2000 Dr. Charles Bissell