Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at The Children's Hospital at Downstate and the SUNY Downstate School of Medicine offers a three year ACGME accredited fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition leading to eligibility to take the American Board of Pediatrics examination in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and certification in the specialty. We accept one fellow each year.

The Division is composed of two full-time and two part-time faculty each with over 25 years of experience in the field. Academic interests within the Division include metabolic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, eosinophilic bowel disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Current ongoing research includes laboratory-based projects in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and TPN-associated liver disease; inflammatory cytokines in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis; and the effects of chemical mediators in peptic and eosinophilic esophagitis on esophageal epitherlial cell cycling and the development of Barretts esophagus. Current clinical research projects include studies of the effects of proton-pump inhibitor therapy on the natural history of asthma; efficacy and safety of sucrase enzyme replacement therapy in congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency; rational use of PPI's in gastroesophageal reflux in infants; prevalence of anti-folate receptor antibodies in patients with allergic and inflammatory bowel disease; and the natural history of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in patients receiving monoclonal anti-TNF antibody therapy.

The fellowship program is composed of one year of intensive clinical training, and two years during which 75% of the time is devoted to researching, planning, carrying out, analyzing, presenting, and publishing a clinical or laboratory-based research project. Course training and mentorship in medical statistics, research planning, and grant writing is also included. At the end of the fellowship the trainee will have completed approximately 100 colonoscopies, 200 upper endoscopies, 15 liver biopsies, 20 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placements, 10 polypectomies, and other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including training in breath hydrogen testing and pH-based studies for gastroesophageal reflux. In the third year, advanced endoscopy training with adult gastroenterologists, and a concentrated elective in advanced hepatology and liver transplantation is also a part of the curriculum. The Division conducts approximately 180 conferences per year including a didactic series of core curriculum lectures, clinical and basic science journal clubs, research seminars, and guest speaker lectures with invited experts from other institutions. We also participate in joint pediatric and adult GI grand rounds and case presentations with our adult astroenterology colleagues.