Our Mission
The Mission of the Ascension St. John Hospital Hand Surgery Fellowship Program is to cultivate clinically competent and compassionate hand surgeons that can treat a wide variety of hand disorders in a community setting. This is in keeping with the Ascension Health System's goal of providing holistic care with special attention to the poor and vulnerable.
Practice Philosophy
For over 50 years, Michigan Surgery Specialists has been a pillar in the community, ensuring that patient care is always our top priority. As mentors for the next generation of hand surgeons, it is our responsibility not only to guide our Fellows in the art of hand surgery, but also stress the importance of patient centered care.
About the Program
The Ascension St. John Hand Surgery Fellowship Program became accredited with The ACGME in April of 2021. Lead by Michigan Surgery Specialists P.C., this year long Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship accepts two board eligible General, Plastic or Orthopedic Surgeons each year. Throughout the rotation, Fellows will have the ability to learn from Michigan's top hand surgeons with all of the knowledge and resources provided by the state's largest hand surgery practice. Michigan Surgery Specialists will provide educational and clinical opportunities unlike any other fellowship through our multi-county clinic locations that allow Fellows to experience an array of patient populations, demographics and injury/illness encounters, and through our award winning physicians with decades of knowledge in hand and upper extremity surgery. In addition, Fellows will rotate through Children's Hospital of Michigan (to familiarize themselves with all aspects of pediatric hand cases) and the Microsurgery Department at William Beaumont Royal Oak (which will focus on Microsurgical and Super Microsurgical techniques).
The Benefits
Learning Styles
The physicians at Michigan Surgery Specialists come from all different backgrounds, fellowship programs and surgery styles. Because we employ General, Plastic and Orthopedic surgeons, Fellows will be able to experience different approaches to care from senior physicians and newer associates.
Diverse Communities
The Metro-Detroit area is filled with a wide range of population types across three counties. Fellows will rotate through all of our Metro-Detroit locations, which will allow them to experience the diverse cultures, socioeconomic statuses and ailment tendencies that each community has to offer.
Life Balance
The Fellowship rotation comes with several responsibilities, however Fellows are offered benefits to help maintain a solid balance of work and home life. These benefits include industry based compensation, healthcare benefits and paid time off.
Your Fellowship Experience
Our program allows Fellows to enhance their skills in a variety of patient settings, age groups, demographics and treatment styles to ensure they leave the program prepared for their career in hand surgery.
Clinic Rotations
Fellows will obtain clinic experience at multiple Michigan Surgery Specialists locations, which sees approximately 35,000 patients a year and performs over 5,000 procedures. The clinic patient population includes all ages, sexes, races and socioeconomic statuses and disease etiologies including, congenital, neoplastic, traumatic and inflammatory conditions of the hand.
Emergency Participation
Fellows will participate in the care of emergency patients though the Ascension Hospital System, William Beaumont Health System and the Detroit Medical Center System.
Surgical Training
Fellows will obtain additional surgical experience in a variety of settings that include in-office procedures, small community hospitals and large hospital systems, treating all age ranges from birth to geriatric patients, all levels of trauma and illness and an array procedure types from minimally invasive to open procedures.
Continuing Education
Fellows will also receive guidance through didactic educational activities including research projects, journal club meetings (lead by the practice's hand surgeons), case presentations, clinical vignettes and quality improvement initiatives. Meetings take place one to two times a week with a schedule of diverse discussion topics from various presenters.
How to Apply
The Ascension St. John Hand Surgery Fellowship became accredited with the ACGME in April of 2021.
To apply, visit https://www.assh.org/applications/s/fellowshiphome
Application requirements include:
- CV
- 3 exam score documents
- 3 recommendation letters
Match Program
The hand fellowship match is managed by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). This application platform is not connected in any way with the NRMP. Candidates need to separately register for the match and create a match list with the NRMP. Visit their website for more information: www.nrmp.org/fellowship-applicants/
Meet Our Fellows
Want to Know More?
Meet Our Fellowship Team
Dr. Mehul Mehta
Fellowship Director
