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Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship

University of Maryland/National Institutes of Health Gastroenterology-Hepatology Scholars Program

The goal of this program is to train clinical researchers in Gastroenterology utilizing the full resources of the NIH Clinical Research Center and faculty members of the Digestive Diseases Branch. Specific objectives include:

  1. Engage in active clinical or basic research in either GI or liver disease under the mentorship of the principal investigator
  2. Complete ACGME-mandated clinical requirements through participation in the GI consultation service, continuity clinics, and endoscopic procedures
  3. Attend clinical and research conferences, including journal club, pathology and radiology rounds, medical grand rounds, and visiting professor lectures.

A UMMC/NIH joint fellowship program provides a unique opportunity to train GI fellows to become outstanding clinical or translational researchers. The opportunities available at NIH – including numerous clinical protocols in liver and GI diseases and access to NIH personnel and patients – are not readily available at UMMS. Fellows will work with a faculty mentor at NIH and actively participate in ongoing NIH clinical protocols or engage in translational bench research. Fellows will receive the training and experience to become successful clinical researchers in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. NIH has an active inpatient GI/Liver consultation service, where fellows will complete their ACGME-mandated inpatient clinical rotations (6 months required) during their two-year tenure. Outpatient clinics will meet the continuity clinic requirement. Fellows will be exposed to a broad variety of gastrointestinal diseases during these rotations. Within the endoscopy unit at NIH, fellows will participate in faculty-supervised endoscopic procedures performed on patients seen in the inpatient and outpatient rotations.

Dr. Stephen Wank, a board-certified gastroenterologist (1985), is a tenured Senior Clinical Investigator in the Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH. He will supervise the overall NIH component of the fellowship program. Eight NIH faculty, including Dr. Wank, will participate in the NIH program. During the first year of GI training, fellows will complete 12 months of clinical training including a continuity clinic at UMMC and BVAMC. During the second and third years, the fellows will spend 100% of their time at the NIH, where they will complete all ACGME clinical and research requirements.

Outline of training program

Year 1

For More Information

The web site for this program is currently in development. Further information can be obtained by contacting

Ms. Renee Rabben
Digestive Diseases Branch
301-496-4201
reneer@intra.niddk.nih.gov

The schedule is identical to the year 1 schedule for fellows in the University of Maryland program. Rotations will include the University consultation service, Hepatology service, and Union Memorial Hospital rotation. Outpatient clinics are held at the University of Maryland and VA Medical Center. Endoscopic procedures are performed based on the assigned rotation. Night call is shared with the other fellows.

Years 2 and 3

Fellows will complete their gastroenterology training at the Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. This includes completion of ACGME-mandated clinical rotations, weekly continuity clinic in GI or liver diseases, endoscopic procedures, and night and weekend call. The remainder of years 2 and 3 are spent in research investigation.

Application process

Applications to this program are handled through the University of Maryland Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. For information on the application process, click here.


This page was last updated on: December 12, 2007.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or If you prefer, you may call the division directly at 410-328-5780.