Curriculum

Fellowship Objectives

• To provide fellows with a broad background of clinical and laboratory experiences in gastroenterology
• To develop the fellows expert knowledge of diagnostic techniques, clinical judgment and experience to become consultants in the subspecialty of gastroenterology
• To meet the qualifications and prepare fellows for subspecialty examination in Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine
• To provide fellows with a background for a career in Academic Medicine
• To provide flexibility within the program in order to meet special needs and interests of individual fellows  

Specific Fellowship Rotations

Inpatient Service - The inpatient gastrointestinal service of the Scott & White Memorial Hospital has an average daily census of 8-12 patients. Faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology of the Scott & White Clinic serve as full time consultants to the hospital service on a rotating basis. The gastroenterology fellow assigned to the service participates actively in the supervision and teaching of medical students, interns and residents assigned to the service. In addition, the fellow, under supervision of the Staff Consultant, provides consultations in gastroenterology for all medical and surgical services of Scott & White Memorial Hospital.

Outpatient Service - An important part of the fellows' clinical training consists of a rotation through the Scott & White Gastroenterology Clinic. Here the fellows conduct initial and follow-up evaluations of new patients with primary gastrointestinal and liver problems and provide consultations in gastroenterology for the other medical and surgical services in Scott & White Clinic. A proper balance is sought between careful supervision of junior trainees and more independent clinical activities of senior fellows. Faculty are assigned to review the fellows' evaluation and his or her diagnostic and therapeutic plans. Each fellow also has a continuity clinic each week where he or she follows patients with chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic diseases for the duration of their fellowship.

Endoscopy - Fellows receive ample training and experience under direct faculty supervision in all contemporary GI endoscopic techniques in a large, modern and very active GI Endoscopy Unit. They also receive extensive exposure to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP and diagnostic and invasive endoscopic ultrasound.

Gastrointestinal Radiology - A lively collaboration exists between the Division of Gastroenterology and the Division of Diagnostic Radiology. In addition to a regular rotation through the Department of Radiology by gastroenterology fellows, a weekly combined GI/Radiology/General Surgery Conference is conducted. Additionally, gastroenterology fellows are invited to attend a monthly gastroenterology radiology conference with radiology residents.

Pathology - Each fellow completes a formal  rotation through the Department of Clinical and Surgical Pathology. In addition, there is a monthly GI Endoscopy/Pathology Conference.

Clinical Gastrointestinal Laboratory - Fellows participate in a wide variety of diagnostic techniques including esophageal manometry, gastric and pancreatic function testing, small bowel absorption studies and intestinal biopsies.

Research - Fellows are expected to participate in one or more basic or clinical research projects during the fellowship. Provision may be made for the fellow to continue investigative activities through a major portion of the training program, depending on individual interest and talent.

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