Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute at Sarasota Memorial Health System

Fellowship Director & Co-Director	Peter Vosler, MD PhD, Fellowship Director Ralph Tufano, MD MBA, Fellowship Co-Director
Administrators	Nikita Bagley
Address	1880 Arlington Street Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute, 4th Floor Sarasota, FL 34239-2932

Program Description

Program Website

Number of AHNS accredited Fellowship positions	1
Fellowship Duration / Type	1 year / clinical
Fellowship Faculty:	Surgeons: Peter S. Vosler, MD, PhD – Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction Ralph P. Tufano, MD, MBA – Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Wesley R. McIlwain, MD – Head and Neck Oncology, Microvascular Reconstruction, and Facial Plastic Surgery Radiation Oncology: Kunal Saigal, MD – Director Radiation Oncology Matt Biagioli, MD Reema Ishteiwy, MD John Bollinger, MD Medical Oncology: Ke Ning, MD Amir Harandi, MD Andres Soriano, MD Neuroradiology: Richard Lichtenstein, MD Pathology: Adrienne Hery, MD Speech Pathology Ashley Long Megan Hunter Head and Neck Oncology Nurse Navigator Pascale Cheron

Overview: The Advanced Head and Neck Oncology, Thyroid and Parathyroid, and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute at Sarasota Memorial Health System is a one-year AHNSaccredited clinical fellowship sponsored through the Florida State University College of Medicine Graduate Medical Education office. The fellowship is based within a high-volume, multidisciplinary, free-standing cancer institute that functions as a regional referral center for complex head and neck disease across southwestern and midwestern Florida, including a large catchment area extending south of Tampa.

The program evaluates approximately 1,750 new patients with head and neck disease annually and performs more than 750 operative cases per year, representing a broad and complex spectrum of oncologic, endocrine, salivary, and cutaneous head and neck pathology. The service is staffed by three fellowship-trained head and neck surgeons and supported by a fully integrated multidisciplinary oncology team, allowing for comprehensive, coordinated care across the entire disease continuum.

Objectives: The fellowship is defined by its operative intensity and graduated autonomy. Fellows participate in more than 750 surgical cases annually, including 100–150 microvascular free tissue transfer and complex regional reconstructive procedures. This experience provides substantial exposure to advanced ablative and reconstructive techniques, including management of locally advanced and recurrent disease. The program also offers high-volume endocrine surgery experience, with more than 350 thyroid and parathyroid cases performed annually, as well as advanced transoral robotic surgery, salivary gland surgery, and treatment of complex cutaneous malignancies.

Multidisciplinary cancer care is a core pillar of the program. A high-volume weekly head and neck tumor board reviews 15–20 patients per session, emphasizing real-time collaborative decision-making and evidence-based treatment planning. Fellows are expected to actively participate in and contribute to these discussions, developing the leadership skills necessary to direct multidisciplinary oncologic care.

This fellowship delivers an immersive, high-acuity training experience within a rapidly growing cancer institute, preparing graduates to function as independent, high-level head and neck oncologic and endocrine surgeons capable of managing the full spectrum of disease, leading multidisciplinary programs, and building or advancing complex head and neck cancer and endocrine services in academic or tertiary care environments.

The goals of the fellowship are to train a head and neck surgeon who can independently and confidently:

Perform complex extirpative procedures for mucosal, salivary, thyroid, parathyroid, skin, and other head and
neck malignancies
Plan and execute microvascular free flap reconstruction and other advanced reconstructive procedures
Incorporate transoral robotic surgery and other minimally invasive approaches where appropriate
Manage perioperative and postoperative care for medically and surgically complex patients
Lead multidisciplinary decision-making for patients with advanced head and neck disease
Develop proficiency in evaluation and management of thyroid, parathyroid, and salivary disorders
Understand indications for adjuvant therapy, reirradiation, systemic therapy, and clinical trial enrollment
Participate in clinical research, outcomes research, quality improvement, and academic scholarship
Teach medical students, and members of the multidisciplinary care team

Strengths:

High-volume, high-acuity surgical training — Train within a regional referral center managing one of the highest
volumes of complex head and neck, endocrine, and microvascular reconstructive cases in southwestern and
midwestern Florida, with extensive exposure to advanced-stage and recurrent disease.
Operative intensity with meaningful autonomy — Fellows participate in more than 600 cases annually, including
100–125 microvascular free tissue transfer and complex regional reconstructive procedures, with graduated
responsibility in both ablative and reconstructive surgery.
Comprehensive procedural breadth — Extensive hands-on experience across the full spectrum of head and neck
surgery, including Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), advanced ablative oncologic surgery, microvascular
reconstruction, salivary gland surgery, parathyroid surgery, sialoendoscopy, transoral thyroidectomy, minimally
invasive thyroid nodule ablation, and complex cutaneous/Mohs reconstruction.
Multidisciplinary cancer institute model — Integrated, team-based care within a dedicated cancer institute, with
close collaboration across medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, speech-language pathology,
nutrition, and dental/prosthodontic services, reinforced through a high-volume weekly tumor board. Fellows also
gain exposure to and participation in national, multi-institutional clinical trials, incorporating research-driven,
evidence-based decision-making into multidisciplinary care.
Experienced, fellowship-trained faculty — Direct mentorship from three fellowship-trained head and neck
surgeons committed to fellow development, operative autonomy, and preparation for independent high-level
practice.
Program-building and leadership exposure — Training within a rapidly expanding cancer institute provides fellows
with insight into program development, clinical operations, and multidisciplinary leadership in addition to technical
training.
State-of-the-art clinical environment — Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a nationally recognized, high-performing
medical center with advanced operative infrastructure and outcomes comparable to leading tertiary care
institutions.
Exceptional quality of life — Located in Sarasota, Florida, the program offers a balance of high-intensity surgical
training with an outstanding coastal lifestyle, including access to nationally ranked beaches, outdoor recreation,
and a vibrant cultural community.

Eligibility: Applicants must have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery or its equivalent and must be eligible for medical licensure and credentialing in the State of Florida. Applicants should be committed to a career in head and neck surgical oncology, endocrine surgery, microvascular reconstruction, or academic head and neck practice. Eligibility should otherwise conform to AHNS fellowship requirements and the policies of the Florida State University College of Medicine Graduate Medical Education office and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.

Duties and Responsibilities of Fellows: The fellow is expected to function as the senior trainee on the head and neck oncology and endocrine surgery service and to assume progressive responsibility in all aspects of patient care. Responsibilities include:

Participation in outpatient evaluation, operative planning, inpatient care, and postoperative follow-up
First-assist and graduated primary surgeon responsibilities for major extirpative and reconstructive procedures
Participation in microvascular free flap harvest, inset, and anastomosis
Participation in thyroid, parathyroid, salivary, cutaneous, and transoral oncologic procedures
Presentation of patients at multidisciplinary tumor board
Coordination of care with radiation oncology, medical oncology, speech pathology, nutrition, dentistry, and ancillary services
Supervision and teaching of residents, advanced practice providers, and medical students where applicable
Participation in quality improvement, outcomes tracking, and scholarly activity

Research Opportunities: The fellowship offers robust opportunities in clinical outcomes research, retrospective and prospective clinical
investigation, translational collaboration, quality improvement, and programmatic innovation in head and neck oncology and reconstruction.

Faculty research interests span a broad range of disciplines within head and neck surgery. Dr. Tufano is a national leader in endocrine surgery and is pioneering the use of state-of-the-art technologies for thyroid nodule ablation. With more than 280 peer-reviewed publications, his work focuses on minimally invasive approaches to thyroid and parathyroid disease, as well as improving functional and patient-centered outcomes.

Additional areas of investigation within the program include:

Head and neck oncologic outcomes
Microvascular reconstruction and functional outcomes
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and treatment de-intensification strategies
Thyroid and parathyroid disease, including novel ablative technologies
Salivary gland neoplasms
Cutaneous head and neck malignancy
Time to adjuvant therapy, care pathways, and perioperative optimization
Decreasing opioid utilization following advanced head and neck surgery
Improving dental rehabilitation and functional restoration following oral cavity resection

Fellows have opportunities to participate in national, multi-institutional clinical trials and are encouraged to engage in collaborative research efforts across disciplines. All fellows are expected to complete scholarly work during the fellowship year and are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts, manuscripts, and presentations at regional and national meetings.

Supervision, Teaching and Call: The fellowship is structured to provide graduated autonomy under direct faculty supervision. Fellows work closely with fellowship-trained attending surgeons in clinic, the operating room, inpatient care, and multidisciplinary conference. As the year progresses, fellows assume increasing responsibility in operative execution, perioperative planning, and service leadership while maintaining attending oversight appropriate to case complexity and institutional policy.

The fellow is expected to teach medical students, and members of the multidisciplinary team. Call responsibilities are integrated with the head and neck service and are designed to provide meaningful operative and perioperative experience without compromising educational quality or patient safety. Microvascular and major oncologic call exposure is a key part of the training experience.