Surgical Education Research Fellowship
Surgical Education Research Fellowship
What is the Surgical Education Research Fellowship (SERF)?
At the University of Utah, we are passionate about surgical education research. In this fellowship, trainees will gain the ability to become independent surgical education investigators through intensive mentorship by faculty and project-based learning on high-impact research projects. We strive to seek educational and scientific answers to advance surgical education and create the next generation of surgical education leaders.
What are the SERF Program Objectives?
The Surgical Education Research Fellowship (SERF) program is designed to equip physicians with the skills and knowledge needed to plan, implement, and publish educational research studies.
Upon completion of the program, fellows are able to:
- Apply methodology to access and review education literature
- Formulate original and significant research questions.
- Design an educational research project using appropriate methodologies.
- Create and submit IRB protocols/ proposals
- Submit grant applications for funding
- Manage a surgical educational research project.
- Organize presentation of completed educational research projects for peer-reviewed academic publications and conferences.
- Develop a national network of surgical education research colleagues.
What are the SERF Benefits?
The primary benefit is that this unique fellowship affords motivated individuals the opportunity to become proficient in a skill set highly valued by their home institutions and the field as a whole. As new knowledge relevant to surgical education is key to the growth and development of the discipline, educators with the requisite specialized skills and credentials become important members of departments and institutions committed to securing leadership and prominence in the field.
In addition, by working with your SERF Advisor and meeting with the other Surgical Education Research Fellow, you will establish an invaluable, life-long network of colleagues who share your career aspirations and interests.
Our program pays for tuition for your Masters of Health Professions Education at the University of Utah. Additionally, our office will pay for 50% of your annual salary and benefits; the remaining 50% needs to come from your home Department/ Division. Our program also funds travel to conferences where you have been invited to give oral presentations.
Application Process
Residents who are interested in pursuing educational research and becoming future surgical education leaders should apply.
The University of Utah Department of Surgery is pleased to offer a 2-year Surgical Education Research Fellowship (UU-SERF) program for surgical residents interested in a career focused on education. We are now accepting applications for a fellow to begin the program in July 2027, with anticipated completion in June 2029!
Surgical residents who have completed at least 2 years of an ACGME-accredited training program (by the time of matriculation in the UU-SERF program) are eligible to apply. This includes sub-specialty residency programs such as (but not limited to) cardiothoracic surgery, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery. The fellow is notified of acceptance 6 months before the start of the program to ensure adequate time to apply for an MHPE program – due date April 1, 2027, and establish a personalized research and career development plan. On-site and remote options are available.
- A current curriculum vitae (CV).
- List two references with contact information who are familiar with your performance as a surgical trainee and/or research experience.
- A statement of interest answering the following three questions:
- What motivates you to pursue a fellowship in surgical education, and how does it align with your long-term career goals in the field of surgery? Guidelines: Please provide a detailed response (500-700 words) that outlines your passion for surgical education, any relevant experiences that have shaped your interest, and how this fellowship will contribute to your professional aspirations.
- Describe a specific instance where you played a significant role in surgical education, such as developing a curriculum, mentoring trainees, or conducting educational research. What was the outcome, and what did you learn from this experience? Guidelines: In your response (300-500 words), focus on your role, the challenges you faced, the strategies you employed, and the impact of your efforts on learners or the educational environment.
- How do you plan to contribute to the growth and development of the surgical education fellowship program? Identify specific areas where you believe you can make a meaningful impact. Guidelines: Please elaborate (300-500 words) on your unique skills, perspectives, or ideas that you would bring to the fellowship. Consider areas such as curriculum development, research, mentorship, or community engagement.
SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS BY NOVEMBER 1, 2026, to:
Programs Manager, Nancy Nelson | nancy.nelson@hsc.utah.edu
Notification of acceptance will be provided no later than February 1, 2027
Upon acceptance into the University of Utah's Surgical Education Research Fellowship, candidates will enjoy exposure to the full range of education domains, including curriculum development, learner assessment, program evaluation, and leadership, focusing on research and innovation. The local curriculum, which includes one-on-one faculty mentorship and peer support, is augmented by a Master of Health Professions Education program. Prior fellows have been accepted to the University of Illinois – Chicago MHPE; however, candidates will now be accepted into the Masters of Education in Health Professions program at the University of Utah upon application. Fellows are also encouraged and supported to establish and grow their network of surgical education colleagues through participation in local, regional, and national societies, such as the Association for Surgical Education.
The MEHP program is fully funded by the University of Utah's Department of Surgery's Office of Surgical Education and will be completed in tandem with the fellowship.
MEET THE FELLOWS
Dr. Gabrielle Moore grew up in South Florida and attended Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She completed her medical degree at Florida State University College of Medicine and is now training in General Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia. As a Surgical Education research fellow at the University of Utah, she is interested in studying simulation and curriculum development, learner assessment, and factors that impact clinician bias. In her free time, Gabi enjoys running, kayaking, musical theatre, and spending time with loved ones.
Dr. Dalton Hegeholz graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in 2022. He is doing his Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and started the Surgical Education Research Fellowship in 2025. His interests include surgical oncology and palliative care. He enjoys hiking, skiing, golfing, and playing pick-up basketball.
Dr. Tawni Johnston graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah in 2020. She completed her Surgery Residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire, and her Surgical Education Research Fellowship at the University of Utah in 2024. She received her MHPE from the University of Illinois- Chicago in 2025 and is currently an Instructor in Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She loves the outdoors, hiking, and biking with her husband and daughter.
Dr. Taylor Carter graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine in 2020. She completed her Surgical Education Research Fellowship in 2024 and received her MHPE from the University of Illinois- Chicago in 2024. She is currently finishing her Residency at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. She received the 2023 AAS/AASF Trainee Research Award for Education. Her research focus: Investigating the structure of clinical competency committees in vascular surgery and understanding the role gender bias plays in the assessment of vascular surgery trainees.
Dr. Andrea H. Williamson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2018. She completed her Residency at the University of Utah in 2025, and a Surgical Education Research Fellowship in 2023. She completed her MHPE from the University of Illinois- Chicago in 2024. She currently specializes in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Washington. She enjoys volleyball, skiing, climbing, and traveling with her husband and two sons.
CONTACT US
FELLOWSHIP DIRECTOR
Kshama Jaiswal, MD
Associate Professor
Associate Vice Chair, Education
FELLOWSHIP FACULTY
FELLOWSHIP MANAGER
