Thank you for your interest in the Bariatrics, Foregut, Hernia, and Abdominal Wall Fellowship at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. We are proud to offer a Fellowship Council–accredited experience within a truly one‑of‑a‑kind program the only fellowship distinguished in all three domains of bariatrics, foregut, and abdominal wall/hernia surgery. Our program accepts two fellows annually and provides comprehensive, high‑volume training in metabolic and complex gastrointestinal surgery.
What to Expect
We highlight our large clinical volume and the mix of laparoscopic and open procedures including re-operative bariatric and foregut surgery. Fellows will be supported by a junior resident and two mid-level providers (ARNP and PA) in addition to a full inter-disciplinary team including a bariatrician, dietitian, psychologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, and endocrinologist.
Cutting Edge Innovation
The Tampa General Hospital Digestive Diseases Institute's Bariatrics, Foregut, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Fellowship provides advanced training within one of Florida's leading academic digestive health programs. Fellows gain experience in high-volume bariatric, foregut and complex abdominal wall surgery while working alongside nationally recognized surgeons who are advancing minimally invasive and robotic techniques. The program benefits from TGH's leadership in robotic GI surgery, participation in clinical research evaluating next-generation surgical technologies, multidisciplinary care models, and nationally recognized specialty programs including the region's dedicated gastroparesis and swallowing disorder centers. Through a combination of clinical excellence, innovation and research, fellows are trained to help shape the future of digestive disease surgery.
This Fellowship Provides:
Our list of specialized programs includes:
- Comprehensive training in the surgical management of obesity and complex GI disorders.
- The bariatric portion of the fellowship will focus on laparoscopic and robotic gastric bypass and sleeve, along with duodenal switch.
- Our program is versed in complex endoscopy and bariatric endoscopy.
- The other portion of the fellowship will be dedicated to Advanced GI surgery, specifically foregut, esophageal, hernia, and surgical endoscopy such as POEM.
- There were be a section of the Fellowship dedicated to esophageal motility disorders, where you will work with one of the leaders in the field to master manometry, pH studies, and swallow studies deepening your knowledge of foregut pathology.
- Strong emphasis is placed on evidence-based outcomes and clinical research.
Special Features
We have a systemic approach to case assignment where in the fellow does near all gastric bypass procedures over the course of a year.
- The fellow will work in close relation with the residents in regard to complex laparoscopic operations and sleeve gastrectomies.
- The fellow will advance and move into a teaching assistant role over the course of the year.
- The fellow will supervise care of all patients on the service in addition to 'staffing' residents on 'select' general surgery procedures.-974-8364
- The fellows are on home call for our service only and do not cross-cover any other services. Night call is covered by residents on the 'night float team'.
- The fellows are expected to participate in educating medical students and training residents as part of their scholarly activities.
- There fellow will also host a bariatric/foregut meeting with a predetermined curriculum.
- Another feature of our fellowship is our ability to tailor research opportunities based on the Fellows' interest and previous experience
Meet the Faculty
The Digestive Diseases Institute Team is a world-class, collaborative, and high-performing team.During your two-year training program, you will develop strong professional relationships with these highly regarded surgeons and gain the opportunity to work closely with our colleagues.
For more details about the team, please download the Physician Directory PDF here.
Need More Information?
Email our fellowship program administrator to learn more about the program:
Sarah Sutherland
sarahsutherland@usf.edu
Demetria Rao
demetria5@usf.edu
Social Media:
USF Bariatrics, Foregut, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Fellowship Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our fellowship is designed around a philosophy of progressive autonomy, allowing fellows to develop the technical skills, judgment, and confidence needed for independent practice.
As fellows advance through the program, they assume increasing responsibility in the operating room, progressing from assisting with complex procedures to performing key portions of cases and ultimately managing straightforward cases independently under faculty guidance. By graduation, fellows are expected to demonstrate independent proficiency in the evaluation and surgical management of patients requiring bariatric, foregut, hernia, and abdominal wall procedures, as well as a strong foundation in perioperative decision-making and patient care.
Our goal is not simply to teach operations, but to train thoughtful, technically skilled surgeons who are prepared to enter practice with confidence and lead multidisciplinary teams in the care of complex gastrointestinal surgical patients.
Upon successful completion of the fellowship, graduates receive training and recognition that distinguishes them as highly qualified surgeons in bariatric, foregut, hernia, and abdominal wall surgery. Fellows graduate with:
- Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS) pathway eligibility through comprehensive bariatric and metabolic surgery training.
- Foregut Surgery Fellowship completion, recognized through educational pathways supported by leading societies including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), and the American Foregut Society (AFS).
- Advanced Robotic Surgery Training, with extensive hands-on experience performing complex robotic bariatric, foregut, and abdominal wall procedures.
- Advanced Endoscopy Training, including diagnostic and therapeutic bariatric endoscopy, esophageal motility testing, pH monitoring, and other foregut-focused endoscopic procedures.
Beyond these credentials, graduates leave the program with the operative experience, clinical judgment, and progressive autonomy necessary to independently practice bariatric, foregut, hernia, and abdominal wall surgery.
Fellows train within a world-class academic healthcare environment that combines high-volume clinical experience with cutting-edge surgical education.
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) serves as the fellowship's primary clinical training site. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems and the primary teaching hospital of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, TGH provides fellows with extensive exposure to complex bariatric, foregut, hernia, and abdominal wall cases across a diverse patient population.
Fellows also train at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), one of the largest and most advanced simulation centers in the United States. CAMLS features a virtual operating room, animate labs, robotic surgery training platforms, and state-of-the-art procedural training facilities that allow fellows to refine technical skills in a highly realistic environment.
In addition, fellows spend significant time within the TGH & USF Weight Management & Metabolic Health Center, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary facility dedicated to metabolic surgery and weight management. This integrated center brings together surgeons, obesity medicine specialists, dietitians, psychologists, advanced practice providers, and researchers in a collaborative setting designed to deliver exceptional patient care while enhancing fellow education. Fellows gain valuable experience in outpatient management, program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical research.
Beyond operative training, our fellowship is designed to prepare graduates for leadership roles. Fellows learn how to develop and grow comprehensive bariatric and minimally invasive surgery programs while gaining experience in quality improvement, program administration, business development, multidisciplinary communication, and team leadership.
By graduation, fellows are equipped not only with advanced surgical skills, but also with the knowledge and experience required to build and lead successful bariatric, foregut, and abdominal wall surgery programs.
The fellowship is affiliated with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, one of the nation's premier academic medical institutions and the academic partner of Tampa General Hospital. USF Health is recognized for its commitment to innovation, research, surgical education, and patient-centered care, providing fellows with access to a robust academic environment and extensive multidisciplinary collaboration.
The fellowship is housed within the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, a nationally recognized program that serves as a referral center for complex bariatric, foregut, esophageal, abdominal wall, and hernia disease. The division is composed of nationally and internationally respected surgeons who are leaders in minimally invasive, robotic, and advanced endoscopic surgery and who actively contribute to research, education, and the advancement of gastrointestinal surgical care.
As part of this academic environment, fellows work closely with faculty, residents, medical students, advanced practice providers, and multidisciplinary specialists while participating in cutting-edge clinical care, research, quality improvement, and surgical innovation. This comprehensive experience prepares graduates not only to become exceptional surgeons but also future leaders in academic and community practice.
Christopher DuCoin, MD, MPH, FACS, FSAGES, FASMBS serves as the Fellowship Director for the Bariatric, Foregut, Hernia, and Abdominal Wall Fellowship at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital.
Dr. DuCoin is a board-certified general surgeon, Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida, Vice Chair of Surgery, and Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal & General Surgery. He also serves as Chief of the Tampa General Hospital Digestive Diseases Institute, Director of the TGH Robotics Program, and Director of the GERD & Esophageal Program.
Nationally and internationally recognized for his expertise in foregut surgery, bariatric surgery, advanced endoscopy, and robotic surgery, Dr. DuCoin has dedicated his career to advancing the treatment of complex gastrointestinal diseases, particularly GERD, esophageal disorders, obesity, and their relationship to esophageal cancer. He is widely regarded as one of the country's leading educators in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, having trained more than 60 surgical residents and numerous fellows throughout his career.
Dr. DuCoin holds leadership positions in many of the field's most influential organizations. He serves on the Board of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), chairs its Research Committee, is a leader within the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and serves as President of the Florida Chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). His academic contributions include more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and research initiatives that continue to shape the future of gastrointestinal surgery.
Before joining USF and Tampa General Hospital, Dr. DuCoin served as Division Chief at Tulane University Medical Center, where he developed innovative bariatric surgery programs that expanded access to underserved patient populations and gained national recognition. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to clinical excellence, surgical education, innovation, and compassionate patient care.
As Fellowship Director, Dr. DuCoin is passionate about developing technically excellent, thoughtful surgeons who are prepared to become leaders in bariatric, foregut, abdominal wall, and minimally invasive surgery. His philosophy is simple: "Treat every patient as if they were your family." This patient-centered approach, combined with a commitment to progressive autonomy and mentorship, helps ensure fellows graduate prepared for successful and impactful careers.
Salvatore Docimo, Jr., DO, MBA, FACS, FASMBS serves as the Associate Fellowship Director for the Bariatric, Foregut, Hernia, and Abdominal Wall Fellowship at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital.
Dr. Docimo is a fellowship-trained, board-certified general surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. His clinical expertise includes bariatric surgery, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, hernia repair, advanced therapeutic endoscopy, and minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He is dedicated to helping patients achieve lasting health outcomes while minimizing recovery time through innovative surgical techniques and state-of-the-art technology.
After earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Docimo completed his general surgery residency at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn and a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Prior to joining USF Health, he served on the faculty at Stony Brook Medicine, where he directed the Gastroparesis Center and co-directed the Center for Abdominal Core Health and Complex Hernia Repair.
At USF Health and Tampa General Hospital, Dr. Docimo has played a key role in building and expanding the program's advanced bariatric and therapeutic endoscopy services. He is recognized for his expertise in abdominal wall reconstruction and was instrumental in developing the endoscopic bariatric program within the TGH-USF Health Bariatric Center.
An accomplished academic surgeon, Dr. Docimo has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and serves as co-editor of Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery: A Practical Guide. He is an active leader in several national surgical organizations, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the Americas Hernia Society (AHS), where he currently serves as Co-Chair of the Education Committee.
As Associate Fellowship Director, Dr. Docimo is passionate about surgical education and mentorship. Fellows benefit from his expertise in bariatric surgery, complex hernia repair, abdominal wall reconstruction, therapeutic endoscopy, and robotic surgery while gaining hands-on experience in managing some of the most challenging gastrointestinal surgical conditions.
The USF Health/Tampa General Hospital Bariatric, Foregut, Hernia, and Abdominal Wall Fellowship has a long history of leadership in advanced gastrointestinal surgical education and has consistently been at the forefront of fellowship training nationally.
Our program was among the earliest accredited bariatric surgery fellowships in the country, with more than two decades of experience training future leaders in metabolic and bariatric surgery. Recognizing the evolving needs of modern gastrointestinal surgeons, the fellowship expanded approximately eight years ago to include comprehensive foregut surgery training, becoming one of the first programs to offer a truly integrated bariatric and foregut experience.
Today, the program continues to evolve with the addition of abdominal wall reconstruction and complex hernia surgery, creating a unique training model that reflects the realities of contemporary practice. As a result, fellows receive comprehensive exposure across all three disciplines—bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, and abdominal wall/hernia surgery within a single fellowship experience.
As a Fellowship Council-accredited program, the fellowship is distinguished by its high operative volume, multidisciplinary approach, nationally recognized faculty, and commitment to innovation, research, and surgical education. This comprehensive training prepares graduates to independently build and lead advanced bariatric, foregut, and abdominal wall surgery programs in both academic and community settings.
As one of the nation's leading digestive health programs, the Tampa General Hospital Digestive Diseases Institute (DDI) cares for patients with the full spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders from common digestive conditions to some of the most complex surgical referrals in the Southeast.
The most common conditions and clinical programs fellows encounter include:
- Obesity and metabolic disease, including primary and revisional bariatric surgery. DDI performs more than 500 bariatric procedures annually and is one of Florida's highest-volume academic bariatric programs.
- GERD and foregut disorders, including hiatal hernias, paraesophageal hernias, reflux disease, dysphagia, esophageal motility disorders, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
- Complex abdominal wall and hernia disease, including primary, recurrent, and complex ventral hernias, abdominal wall reconstruction, and hernias in patients with obesity.
- Advanced endoscopic conditions, including bariatric endoscopy, gastroparesis, POEM/G-POEM procedures, and management of surgical complications.
- Neurogastroenterology and motility disorders, including swallowing disorders and gastroparesis. DDI is home to one of the few dedicated swallowing and motility programs in the region.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Colorectal disease and GI cancers, with nationally recognized expertise in colorectal surgery and gastrointestinal oncology.