Advanced training in endocrine surgery is offered by Cleveland Clinic's Department of Endocrine Surgery under the preceptorship of Eren Berber, MD.

Purpose of the program is:

• To teach visiting surgeons the advances in the field of endocrine surgery.
• To demonstrate how standard endocrine surgical procedures, such as thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and adrenalectomy are done in a safe fashion.
• To illustrate the appropriate cost-effective work up of endocrine surgical pathologies.
• To demonstrate how ultrasound could be used in an endocrine surgical practice.

Objectives of the program:

• To learn the standard work up of patients with thyroid nodules, hyperparathyroidism and adrenal nodules.
• To learn how these patients should be prepared for surgery.
• To learn how to perform surgical ultrasound.
• To learn how standard endocrine surgical procedures (thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy and adrenalectomy) are done.

Sample weekly schedule for the Surgery Hands-on Training Pathway:

• Monday: OR
• Tuesday: OR
• Wednesday: Full day clinic
• Thursday: Half day clinic
• Friday: OR

In addition, Monday morning 7-8 AM, Wednesday 5-6 PM, Thursday 5-6 PM there may be conferences on thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal patients.

Please note: Case volume is estimated and may vary depending on scheduling and staff availability.

Applicants must: 

• Be board-certified or board-eligible general surgeons who routinely perform basic laparoscopic procedures
• Be licensed in the state of Ohio or eligible to apply for a Special Activities Permit from the Ohio State Medical Board (Applicants for the Surgery Hands-on Training pathways only)
• Have practicing privileges in their parent institution
• Provide a statement of goals and expectations, along with the application

International Applicants:

• To participate, non-citizen physicians can participate without Clinic visa sponsorship if they have unrestricted U.S. employment authorization, e.g. lawful permanent resident (green card); Temporary Protected Status; Temporary Resident Status, Refugee or Asylee status, or any other status which authorizes the non-citizen physician to work without employer sponsorship.
• If you do have current U.S. employment authorization, as an international physician, you must also be ECFMG certified, having taken USMLE 1-3, in order to participate.
• If you only have ECFMG, then you will need to have actively practiced medicine in the U.S. for the last 2 years, or have been in an ACGME training program within the last 2 years.
• If you have not done either of those items, then you must complete all parts of USMLE to be eligible for Special Activities License.
• If you meet these qualificiations, then we can proceed with your application for the CAST program.
• If not, you will be directed to the International Observership program and they will be able to explain the opportunities available to you there.

Trainees can schedule to attend from 1 to 8 weeks.

• Hands-on Training - $5000/week
• Preceptorship Training - $2500/week
• Hybrid Training - $5000/week

**In the event that you need to cancel after payment has been received, application has been approved, and onboarding has begun, you will incur a cancellation fee of 30% of your tuition. The remaining balance (70%) will be reimbursed back to you.

The first step is to complete and submit this pre-application form. 

Our office will contact you shortly thereafter.