BodyByBariatrics is seeking one highly motivated and technically skilled PGY-6 surgeon to fill its inaugural Non-FC Accredited Advanced Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship. This one-year position is based primarily at The Surgical Institute of Central Florida, a privately-owned and operated ambulatory surgery center at 12363 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 100, Winter Garden, Florida, with local hospital call coverage.

The Fellow will function as a primary operating surgeon under the direct supervision and mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Dovec and Dr. Diana Lane, gaining intensive hands-on operative experience across bariatric, foregut, and general surgery in one of the highest-volume ASC-based bariatric programs in the United States.

This fellowship is deliberately structured to go beyond traditional clinical training. In addition to exceptional operative experience, the Fellow will be embedded in the operational, financial, and entrepreneurial fabric of BodyByBariatrics developing the skills necessary to build, manage, and grow a private surgical practice from day one of independent practice.

Educational & Academic Responsibilities

• Active participation in monthly multidisciplinary bariatric conferences and M&M discussions, as needed
• Fellow-led case presentations and educational seminars
• Participation in clinical quality improvement initiatives
• Engagement in clinical research: data collection, IRB processes, manuscript preparation
• Mentored preparation of abstracts for ASMBS, SAGES, or ACS meetings
• Completion of required obesity medicine and bariatric surgery didactic curriculum

Business of Medicine Curriculum

This unique, structured curriculum embedded within the fellowship year provides the Fellow with practical, real-world education in the business and entrepreneurship of surgical practice. Topics covered include:

Private Practice Operations

• Organizational structure of a private practice vs. employed/hospital-based models
• Patient flow design: from inquiry to surgery to long-term follow-up
• Staffing models, delegation of clinical and administrative tasks
• Scheduling systems and OR block time management
• EMR systems, documentation best practices, and billing workflows

Insurance Credentialing & Contracting

• Step-by-step process for physician credentialing with hospitals and payers
• Payer contracting fundamentals: negotiating fee schedules, in-network vs. out-of-network
• Medicare and Medicaid enrollment processes
• Understanding CAQH, PECOS, and credentialing timelines
• Navigating prior authorization for bariatric surgery
• Appeals processes and denial management

Financial Literacy & Practice Economics

• Revenue cycle management: billing, coding (CPT/ICD-10), and collections
• Understanding your compensation model: production, RVUs, and collections-based pay
• Practice overhead: fixed vs. variable costs, break-even analysis
• Building a pro forma for a new practice or ASC
• ASC ownership models, facility fees, and the economics of the physician-owned ASC
• Contract review fundamentals for employment and partnership agreements

Marketing & Patient Acquisition

• Digital marketing fundamentals: SEO, Google Ads, and social media strategy
• Reputation management: responding to reviews, Google Business optimization
• Building a personal brand as a surgeon in the modern media landscape
• Direct-to-consumer outreach and the self-pay patient journey
• Referral network development with primary care, endocrinology, and other specialists
• Content creation strategy: video, podcasting, and blogging as patient education and marketing tools

Leadership & Entrepreneurship

• Physician leadership in a team-based private practice
• Hiring, retention, and culture building
• Building and scaling a surgical practice from startup to high-volume operation
• Navigating regulatory environment: HIPAA, OSHA, state medical board compliance
• Healthcare real estate and facility considerations for ASC development

Position Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Completion of an ACGME-accredited General Surgery Residency (PGY-5) prior to fellowship start date
• Eligible for Florida medical licensure (active application required prior to start date)
• DEA registration (or eligibility) for Florida
• Strong laparoscopic technical skills with documented minimally invasive case experience
• Demonstrated commitment to bariatric and minimally invasive surgery as a career focus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High professional standards: reliability, punctuality, respect, and accountability
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and private practice environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior bariatric surgery research or quality improvement experience
• Exposure to laparoscopic and/or robotic-assisted surgical techniques during residency
• Experience with or interest in endoscopy (upper GI)
• Demonstrated interest in private practice, ASC operations, or surgical entrepreneurship
• Leadership experience in residency (chief resident, administrative fellow, research year, etc.)
• Publication or presentation history at regional or national level

Personal Attributes We Seek

• Intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn beyond the operating room
• Entrepreneurial mindset: interest in business, innovation, and growth of surgical practice
• Coachability: willingness to receive direct, honest feedback and apply it with humility
• Patient-centered values: compassionate care, commitment to outcomes, respect for patients
• Self-starter: proactive, organized, and able to take ownership of responsibilities
• Team player who thrives in a high-energy, high-volume, collaborative environment
• Long-term vision: desire to build something meaningful in the field of bariatric surgery

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive PGY-6 salary commensurate with experience
• Health insurance benefits
• Professional liability (malpractice) insurance coverage
• CME allowance and support for national meeting attendance
• Florida medical license application reimbursement
• Access to DEA registration support
• Administrative and credentialing support provided by BodyByBariatrics staff