About this Program


The Abdominal Transplant Surgery Fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a two-year American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) accredited program, focused on clinical aspects of abdominal transplantation. We accept one fellow every year. 

One of the busiest abdominal transplant programs in the country, Ohio State’s Comprehensive Transplant Center annually performs approximately 100 adult liver transplants, 250 kidney transplants (100 from living donors), 20 pancreas transplants and 100 multi-organ procrurements. Vascular access for hemodialysis is also covered by our transplant team. We are in the process of starting a pediatric liver transplant program and are ready to launch our living liver transplant program.


Program Highlights


Each transplant fellow is involved in all phases of transplantation, including donor offers, patient preparation, working with the HLA (human leukocyte antigen) lab and pre- and postoperative clinics. We have a strong research and educational program with excellent faculty support and mentorship.

In summary, our fellows gain exceptional surgical training in all aspects of abdominal organ transplantation and will be able to practice transplant surgery independently by the end of their fellowship.

Note from Fellowship Director

Thank you for your interest in our program! Ohio State’s abdominal transplant fellowship was initiated in 1984 and graduates an average of one surgeon per year. As one of the largest transplant programs in the country, our faculty members are dedicated to graduating outstanding transplant surgeons who can serve as productive team members from day one. Our fellows are located nationally and internationally, and many of them are in leadership roles.

If you have any questions about our program, please do not hesitate to contact me:

Ashraf EL-Hinnawi, MD, FACS
Director, Transplant Surgery Fellowship
Assistant Professor, Clinical Surgery
614-293-6322
Ashraf.EL-Hinnawi@osumc.edu

 

Application Process

Application process

If you are interested in applying for the Transplant Surgery Fellowship, please provide:
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation on business letterhead, to include one from current program director
  • ECFMG certification
  • USMLE
  • Photograph
For consideration, please send the above application materials via email to: Ashraf.EL-Hinnawi@osumc.edu

Dr. Ashraf EL-Hinnawi
Director, Transplant Surgery Fellowship
Assistant Professor, Clinical Surgery
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

We will review your application and if we decide you are a potential candidate, you will be invited for an interview. 

Note: Our program utilizes the NRMP match process.

Rotations

Rotations

Each fellow will rotate among these services – liver, pancreas, renal and vascular access. During the rotation, the fellow is supported by physician assistants, an advanced practice provider resident and an intern. Experiences for the fellow include all aspects of surgical care and patient management.

Surgical Experience

Surgical Experience

The fellow evaluates recipients of both living and deceased donor organs and prepares patients for transplantation. Operating room responsibilities include performing both deceased donor and living donor renal transplantation, open and laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy, kidney-pancreas transplantation, liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. 

Additionally, the fellow participates in all surgical complications and emergencies in post-transplant recipients. During the second year of training, the fellow assumes the role of teacher, training general surgery residents in the operative techniques of vascular access and transplantation.

Rounds

Rounds

All transplant patients (both preoperative and postoperative, up to a year following transplant date) are admitted to the Transplant Renal Service or Extra-Renal Service. The fellow is responsible for day-to-day management of these patients as well as for the other medical parts of the patients’ plan of care. The fellow rounds with the attending on a daily basis to streamline immunosuppression.

Research

Research

There are plenty of opportunities to participate in clinical and basic science research, including:

Basic, translational and clinical research for transplantation and immunology
Normothermic organ preservation and ischemia reperfusion injury research

Significant opportunities exist for Health Services Research in the Department of Surgery and Transplant Outcomes within the Division of Transplant Surgery.

Additional Learning Opportunities

Additional learning opportunities

The fellow is required to complete the Academic Universe modules. He or she attends all general surgery conferences (weekly grand rounds and the weekly Morbidity and Mortality update). 

Training-specific conferences include: 
  • Renal and pancreas care
  • Renal and pancreas quality
  • Liver care
  • Liver quality
  • Weekly education conference organized by one of the attendings
  • Weekly transplant/pathology biopsy conference - Albert Lloyd
  • Transplant Center grand rounds every Tuesday
Once a month, the fellow will present at the Transplant Center Morbidity and Mortality update, preparing a case presentation and review of similar cases. In addition, the fellow presents at a journal club alternatively every month.

Our Fellows

Musab Alebrahim, MD
Transplant Surgery senior fellow, clinical instructor

  • Second year fellow
  • MD: University of Jordan, JORDAN
  • Surgery Residency: Royal Medical Service, JORDAN
  • Appointment: 2017

Navdeep Singh, MD
Transplant Surgery junior fellow, clinical instructor

  • First year fellow
  • MD: General Surgery, Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar, INDIA
  • Surgery Residency: Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar, INDIA
  • Appointment: 2018
Abdominal Fellowship Team

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