In addition, there are outstanding clinical research programs in epidemiology, inflammatory bowel disease, GI oncology, viral hepatitis, liver transplantation, upper GI motility and physiology, among others. Graduates of the fellowship program have done extremely well in acquiring academic faculty positions and NIH grants. The first year of clinical training is the same for all tracks. At each of the hospitals, the fellow is the primary consultant under supervision, and has responsibility for participating in and directing the care of all clinical gastroenterology problems at that institution. Patients are seen daily with a designated service attending.
Fellows are responsible for performance of all endoscopic procedures on their patients.
Students and residents may be assigned to work with the fellow during this period. Considerable responsibility is given to the fellow to function as a consultant and asume leadership of the inpatient services. Emphasis is placed upon acquiring a broad fund of clinical knowledge, critical appraisal of the literature, and acquisition of skills in diagnosis and management of GI diseases. The Program Director, Dr. Anil K. Rustgi, oversees this NIH Training Program. He is assisted by an Executive Committee and individual trainee research committees.