The UAB Department of Surgery’s Arnold G. Diethelm Fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery has received reaccreditation through the Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council (TACC).

Through this verification process, the fellowship has been authorized to continue to train three fellows every two years in kidney and liver transplantation, as well as hepatobiliary surgery. The program was accredited for three years, extending through June 2027.

As part of a TACC-accredited program, Diethelm Fellows will fulfill all of the organ system requirements and meet all minimum volume and non-volume benchmarks set forth by the TACC.

“This process helps us to ensure that we are meeting all of the essential training criteria that will enable our fellows to tackle all that they may encounter in their careers as transplant surgeons,” says Program Director Douglas Anderson, M.D., MS. “It is a recognition of the dedication of our faculty and institution to the education of the next generation of surgical leaders. We are thankful for everyone who has made this possible. It’s truly a team effort.”

About the UAB Arnold G. Diethelm Fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery

The UAB Arnold G. Diethelm Fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery is designed to provide comprehensive training in multi-organ transplantation at one of the nation's busiest transplant centers.

Through the program, transplant surgery fellows receive exposure to laparoscopic donor nephrectomies, hepatobiliary procedures, and dialysis access procedures to supplement their experience.

Trainees also receive broad training in immunosuppressive management, preoperative evaluation, post-transplant care, and long-term follow-up. To supplement their clinical training, fellows are offered the opportunity to participate in clinical research, and attendance at national meetings is encouraged and supported.

Graduates of the Diethelm Fellowship have been recruited to faculty positions in top transplant centers around the U.S.