Curriculum

Education is the central mission of St. Luke’s University Health Network where advanced technical expertise and innovation in gastroenterology is strongly supported. Over the course of training, gastroenterology fellows will have continuity clinic each week under faculty supervision. Fellows will have increasing levels of responsibility and autonomy, with reliable support from faculty. Time is spent between two locations – Bethlehem and Allentown - broadening fellows’ inpatient and outpatient exposure to varying patient populations and high volumes of colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP, EUS, sigmoidoscopy, capsule endoscopy, pH/impedance, and esophageal manometry, among other procedures.

First Year (PGY-4)

In the first year, gastroenterology fellows primarily train at our flagship St. Luke’s Bethlehem campus with dedicated blocks in both the inpatient service and outpatient clinic. Procedural training includes EGD and colonoscopy. One month will be preserved for research and scholarly activity.

Second Year (PGY-5)

In the second year, gastroenterology fellows experience graduated levels of responsibility and autonomy on the inpatient services and outpatient clinics at St. Luke's Bethlehem and Allentown campuses. They gain exposure to bariatric surgery and bravo pH studies as well as have ample opportunity to perform procedures at the West End Endoscopy Center - an outpatient ambulatory endoscopy unit.

Since gastroenterology fellows often have to decide if they want to apply for an interventional endoscopy fellowship early in their training, we have added an interventional endoscopy rotation in the second year for each fellow. This will be an opportunity to gain exposure to ERCP, EUS, and other interventional procedures.

Third Year (PGY-6)

Gastroenterology fellows are expected to demonstrate advanced levels of competency over the course of training and increased autonomy in the third year. Rotations during the third year include four months at the Allentown hospital and clinic, five months of interventional endoscopy at St. Luke’s hospital in Bethlehem, dedicated research blocks, and one month at the Temple liver transplant center in Philadelphia, PA.

During the interventional endoscopy rotation, third year fellows will assist and perform advanced endoscopic procedures including endoscopic mucosal resection, radiofrequency ablation, device assisted enteroscopy and endoscopic suturing, ERCP’s and EUS’s.

At Temple University, fellows will attend daily inpatient rounds with the transplant surgery team, provide patient care in the outpatient transplant hepatology clinic, and participate in both the weekly Medical-Surgical Conference and Transplant Conference.

Our third year fellows will receive dedicated training in esophageal manometry and pH/impedance testing by our motility specialists Dr. Ronak Modi, Dr. Zheng Lin, and Dr. Sarina Kapoor. By the end of training, fellows will demonstrate clinical and procedural competence for the independent practice of gastroenterology and hepatology.

Elective

To accommodate fellow’s interests and advance professional goals, an elective experience can be arranged in radiology, interventional endoscopy, pathology, or pediatric gastroenterology, with permission from the course director.

Call Rotation

Fellows take home call one weekend per month. Fellows are expected to round on inpatients and come to the hospital for any emergent procedures.

Moonlighting

Fellows are permitted to moonlight with program director approval. Hours will count toward the maximum allowance of 80 hours per week, averaged over 4 weeks. Moonlighting must not interfere with the goals and objectives of St. Luke’s Gastroenterology Fellowship program.

Research

Gastroenterology fellows at St. Luke’s University Health Network are expected to complete and publish an original research project of their choice. In the third year of training, two to three months will be dedicated toward independent research. To advance fellow’s professional development and research experience, dedicated research faculty members provide additional support and expertise. Current faculty research interests include interventional endoscopy, endoscopic quality, hepatology, motility, fecal microbiota transplant, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Sample Rotation Schedule