Program Overview

The educational mission of the Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Fellowship Training Program at Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's McGaw Medical Center is to provide trainees with the experiences necessary to become academic pediatric gastroenterologists or hepatologists. To do this, we focus on a com­prehensive clinical, procedural, research, and educational experience that will allow the trainee to develop the necessary skills to become a leader in the field of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. This fellowship is fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and meets the training requirements of the American Board of Pediatrics for subspecialty certification in Pediatric Gastroenterology. 

The three year fellowship program consists of 12 months of clinical education and 24 months of research experience. An additional fourth year advanced program in Transplant Hepatology is also available upon completion of the three-year program.  The first year of the program predominantly involves the acquisition of clinical and procedural skills and participation in teaching responsibilities, but also introduces the trainee to various aspects of clinical and basic research methodology. 0ver the next two years, there is increased time committed to research, while new teaching and administrative tasks are assumed. Some activities are common to all years of fellowship training. Throughout the three years, fellows are required to attend the key departmental, division, and joint fellowship conferences as part of their core educational experience. Administrative responsibilities include scheduling some of these educational activities and maintaining the teaching file for the ambulatory practice.

First Year

During the first year of fellowship, fellows spend the majority of their time involved in the inpatient and outpatient ser­vices. First year fellows have primary clinical responsibility for inpatients (either on the GI or liver service). In addition, fellows perform consultations, attend outpatient clinics, and participate in any and all procedures deemed necessary for patients they evaluate on the inpatient service or in clinic. Fellows participate in weekly divisional conferences and are expected to present in these conferences on average twice per month. During the second half of the year, fellows are given a one-month elective period to begin formulating a research project to pursue during the following two years of fellow­ship. In addition, fellows would use that period to select a mentor and scholarly oversight committee, and, if necessary, formulate an IRB proposal.

• Inpatient Service: 11 months
• Call: 8-10 weeks of call per academic year
• Clinics: 2-3 sessions per week

Second Year

The majority of time in the second year is devoted to research. Fellows begin work on the project chosen in the latter part of their first year and are encouraged to write a review article and/or case report during the second year of fellow­ship. Some additional administrative duties are assigned to second year fellows such as scheduling and organizing the monthly Pathology and Radiology Conferences. Fellows see new and established patients in clinic and typically rotate on the inpatient service for 4-6 weeks during the year. Fellows participate in any and all procedures deemed necessary for patients they see in clinic or during their inpatient coverage. Second year fellows have increased responsibility for teach­ing residents rotating on the GI service, including providing occasional didactic sessions on common GI problems.

• Inpatient Service: 4-6 weeks per academic year
• Call: 8-10 weeks of call per academic year
• Clinics: 2 sessions per week

Third Year

The emphasis for the third year remains research. Fellows are expected to have at least one research project ready to be submitted as an abstract and presented at a national meeting. Fellows are also encouraged to write and submit a research grant. Fellows see new patients as well as follow established patients in clinic and typically rotate on the inpatient service for 2-4 weeks during the year. Fellows participate in any and all procedures deemed necessary for patients they see in clinic or during their inpatient coverage. Third year fellows have even greater responsibility for teaching residents and medical students rotating through the division. Senior fellows are often called upon to give lectures to the pediatric resi­dents and students and many continue as faculty facilitators at the medical school as well.

• Inpatient Service: 2-4 weeks per academic year
• Call: 8-10 weeks of call per academic year
• Clinics: 2 sessions per week