Mitchell Clark, MD, MPH, interim director, MIGS Fellowship holds the rank of assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Yale University School of Medicine. After finishing residency at Yale New Haven Health, he completed his fellowship training at the internationally renowned Princess Margaret Cancer Center at the University of Toronto where he gained clinical and surgical expertise in all aspects of gynecologic cancer care. He also engaged in a rigorous research program focusing on furthering our understanding of the role of surgery in high-risk ovarian cancer. During his fellowship, he completed a Master's of Public Health and continues to actively research cervical cancer prevention at a population level using healthcare administrative databases. He has received numerous National and International awards for his research, teaching and surgical skills including the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC) Research Award, Award of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (AAGL) and Yale School of Medicine Teaching Award.
Richard Bercik, MD, is a member of the Uro-Gynecology Group at Yale University. He is also an attending at Bridgeport Hospital. He is very active in clinical research in minimally invasive surgery and has proven to be an exceptional resident teacher. He joined the fellowship faculty list in 2012 to increase the fellows’ exposure and teaching in uro-gynecological procedures such as pelvic floor reconstruction.
Shabnam Kashani, MD, is the Clinical Director of Ob/Gyn Ambulatory Services at Bridgeport Hospital and Associate Program Director of the MIGS Fellowship Program. She completed her MIGS Fellowship at Bridgeport Hospital and is well-versed in both hysteroscopic and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgeries. She is very active in both residency and fellowship programs and has a passion for teaching.
Valentin Kolev, MD is an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology & reproductive sciences and cares for patients as part of the Gynecologic Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital in Bridgeport and New Haven. He is also director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program. Dr. Kolev specializes in treating gynecologic cancers including cancer of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, and vulva. He has expertise in complex minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Kolev received his medical degree from Sofia Medical University, Bulgaria. He then went on to complete an internship in obstetrics and gynecology at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Kolev completed a T-1 Research Gynecologic Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as well as a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Kolev’s research is focused on ovarian and cervical cancer, specifically brain metastasis and the role of minimally invasive surgery for cervical cancer. He has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and articles and also served as co-author for a book chapter on the diagnosis and management of ovarian disorders. He is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopist, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Medical Association.
Blair McNamara, MD is an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Yale University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree in Human Biology from Brown University in 2012. She graduated from Yale School of Medicine in 2018 and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco in 2022. She returned to Yale School of Medicine for her fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology, during which she completed rigorous academic, surgical, and clinical training in gynecologic cancers.
Dr. McNamara's academic interests are in quality improvement in surgical outcomes, novel targeted therapeutics for gynecologic cancers, and resident and fellow surgical education.
Katyayani (Katya) Papatla, MD, MPH is a gynecologic oncologist specializing in cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers.
Dr. Papatla is dedicated to supporting her patients and finds inspiration in their strength and resilience. "It is such a privilege to share this journey with my patients, and I am constantly inspired by their stories," she says.
She advises women to be vigilant about their health, encouraging annual gynecological visits and prompt attention to symptoms such as postmenopausal bleeding, persistent abdominal pain, or unexpected weight loss. "Don't be afraid to listen to your body and see your physician if something feels off,” she says.
Dr. Papatla received her medical degree and a master's in public health from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Temple University Hospital and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Gaining proficiency in all advanced gynecologic procedures is expected. These would include LSH, TLH, laparoscopic myomectomy, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, suburethral slings, hysteroscopic myomectomy and colorectal surgery. Robotic experience in hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, myomectomy and retroperitoneal oncologic staging will be included in the programs.
Teaching activities will include resident instruction in endoscopic technique using an advanced skills laboratory and supervision of basic endoscopic procedures. Participating in departmental grand rounds, didactic educational programs, biweekly journal clubs, biweekly tumor boards and weekly conferences is expected. The required research project may take advantage of the many clinical or basic research opportunities ongoing in the division or may be uniquely designed by the fellow with faculty supervision. The Yale OB/GYN department will be supportive of fellow research projects and will result in national presentations and peer-reviewed manuscripts. Protected academic research time is incorporated into the post-graduate training program.
A unique feature of this program is the fellows’ exposure to gynecological malignancies and the opportunity to assist in laparoscopic staging and radical surgery for malignancies. There are no gynecologic oncology fellows based at Bridgeport Hospital, and the busy surgical volume of the Gynecologic Oncology Section means all potential cases are learning opportunities for the gynecologic endoscopy fellow.
Overall, this program will train the fellow for general gynecologic minimally invasive surgery using conventional laparoscopy, robotic-assisted laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. They will also have extensive experience with gynecologic oncology procedures, reproductive endocrine procedures, urogynecologic procedures, complex gynecologic surgeries and advanced endometriosis cases. The fellow will also work with an experienced colorectal surgeon performing laparoscopic bowel procedures.
Fellows will spend an average of two days in surgery per week. Individuals can expect to be in the office/clinic an average of two days per week. Approximately one day per week will be reserved for research time.
Fellows will have teaching responsibilities as they relate to the training of medical students and physicians both in the academic and community settings. Post-graduate trainees will have the advantage of being exposed to a wide variety of resources available at Yale University. These resources include the ability to pursue Masters-level degrees in the areas of public health and clinical investigation. Surgical laboratories with established gynecology protocols will also be readily available for both inanimate and animate training and research.
The fellow will have a two-month rotation in reproductive endocrinology, a two-month rotation in Urogynecology and a one-month elective rotation.
Upon completion of this program, the fellow will be competent in a full-spectrum of endoscopic surgical techniques and be qualified to serve as a consultant in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery in an academic or private setting.
Operative Laparoscopy – 250
Diagnostic Laparoscopy – 30
Operative Hysteroscopy – 30
Diagnostic Hysteroscopy – 30
Abdominal Hysterectomy –25
Abdominal Myomectomy – 20
Vaginal Hysterectomy – 15
Vaginal Repair Procedures – 20
Incontinence Procedures – 20
Da Vinci cases – 100
Laparotomy – 20
1st Year
Katya Wentzel, MD
2nd Year
Michelle Ichikawa, MD
MIGS/CPP didactics (second and fourth week of each month)
OB/GYN Department M & M (fourth week of each month)
OB/GYN Faculty Meeting
Grand Rounds (second and fourth Thursday of each month)
Tumor Board (first and third Thursday of each month)
GYN Pre-op Conference: The gynecology service will meet on a weekly basis to discuss the planned surgical procedures for the week. The preoperative evaluation and the indications for all resident and fellow patients and all hysterectomies are reviewed. This conference allows the residents and fellows to review the appropriate preoperative evaluation of most gynecologic surgical procedures, to discuss alternative treatment options and the appropriate informed consent process.
OB/GYN Department M & M Conference: This department-wide morbidity and mortality conference is presented by the senior resident on each service.
MIS Didactics: The MIS division will meet two times per month for a didactic session to review topics of particular interest to our division. One session each month will be dedicated to review of a clinical topic outlined in the fellowship educational objectives.
OB/GYN Department Grand Rounds: This department-wide grand rounds is an excellent source of continuing medical education, covering a wide variety of topics relevant to obstetricians and gynecologists presented by experts in their respective topic domains. Bridgeport Hospital is an accredited CME provider.
Tumor Board: All Gynecologic Oncology cases are presented in a multi-disciplinary board.
Journal Club: Selected articles will be presented once a month with detailed analysis.
National/International Conferences: The Graduate Medical Education office is fully supportive of MIGS Fellows presenting at national and international conferences.
