Leading the Way in Advanced HPB Surgery

By David Iannitti, MD; John Martinie, MD

Atrium Health's HPB surgery program is known for using the most advanced surgical techniques and technologies to treat benign and malignant diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary system

As a high-volume program, caring for more than 3,000 patients each year, we're one of the few programs in the nation to offer innovative ablative technologies and minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic procedures, as well as traditional open surgery.

We also:

• Perform more HPB surgeries than most other programs in the U.S. – at over 1,000 surgeries per year
• Are 1 of the 3 highest-volume programs in the nation for robotic HPB surgery
• Are leaders in performing robotic and minimally invasive liver and pancreas surgeries in the region
• Are a designated ERAS Center of Excellence – the first in the U.S. – by the International Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society, which allows us to train other hospital sites and healthcare systems in ERAS® protocols
• Are 1 of only 15 HPB fellowship training programs in the U.S. and Canada
• Are one of the few U.S. programs to perform IRE (irreversible electroporation) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer; a technique offered to patients whose malignancies are deemed inoperable

Selected to Host the Annual AHPBA HPB Fellows Course - Eight Years in a Row

Recognized as one of the most technologically advanced programs in the country – particularly for our expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques – we were once again selected to host and lead a specialized minimally invasive HPB surgery fellowship course – for the eighth year in a row.

Established by the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA), the AHPBA HPB Fellows Course is the only minimally invasive HPB surgery fellowship training program of its kind.

The primary goal of the three-day course – held at Carolinas Medical Center and led by David Iannitti, MD, chief of the Division of HPB Surgery at Atrium Health – is to provide fellows with a structured educational experience to gain innovative expertise in minimally invasive HPB surgery and advanced surgical techniques.

Set at the very beginning of a fellow’s training, this intensive, focused course ensures that all participants, regardless of their varying fellowship experiences down the road, receive a consistent, solid base to build upon as they progress through their specialty training.

The AHPBA HPB Fellows Course Includes:

• The latest advancements in minimally invasive HPB surgery
• Robotic HPB surgery techniques
• Intraoperative ultrasound training
• Live surgical cases performed by faculty and observed by fellows
• Professional leadership and career development

This course is open to all incoming HPB surgery fellows in programs accredited by the Fellowship Council across the United States and Canada as well as selected international fellows.

This course is taught by renowned HPB surgery thought leaders from around the world. At the most recent course, instructors from France, Japan and Brazil taught alongside Dr. Iannitti and the rest of the instructors.

For more information on Atrium Health’s HPB Surgery Program or the AHPBA HPB Fellows Course, please contact Dr. David Iannitti at David.Iannitti@AtriumHealth.org.

Interested in an HPB Surgery Training Course for Physicians?

Our HPB surgeons also lead an annual HPB surgery training course for practicing HPB, surgical oncology and transplant physicians to receive practical training and hands-on lab experience on the latest advancements of minimally invasive HPB surgery. Participants will strengthen and broaden their offerings by learning the newest treatment options to provide to their patients.

With limited HPB training options and rapidly evolving minimally invasive surgery techniques, this course offers a unique and extremely valuable opportunity for practicing physicians.

The Atrium Health Training Course in HPB Surgery Covers:

• Basic principles and approaches of minimally invasive HPB surgery
• The latest minimally invasive surgery approaches and techniques
• Ultrasound in HPB surgery
• Laparoscopic liver resection
• Laparoscopic pancreatic procedures
• Laparoscopic biliary surgery
• New technologies in ablative therapy

The next course will be held in Las Vegas on November 16, 2019. Register here. The first 20 registrants will receive free hotel accommodations for the night of November 15.