Overview
The Section of Hepatology is an active unit with broad clinical and research interests in diseases of the liver. The Section sees outpatients and new referrals on a daily basis in an office setting that is equipped to meet the unique needs of patients with hepatic disorders. A newly refurbished endoscopy unit provides an excellent setting not only for routine gastrointestinal endoscopies but also highly specialized procedures such as endoscopic ultrasound, variceal banding, therapeutic biliary endoscopy, and laparoscopy. An active hepatic transplant program is also an integral component of the Section.
The fellowship in Gastroenterology is a 3-4 year program that includes both clinical and research fellows. Research training is supported by an NIH-sponsored training grant. In addition, a fellowship position is available for advanced endoscopic training. Fellows have their own longitudinal clinic which meets weekly over the three-year period of training. Clinical fellows spend most of the time working with members of the consultative service and performing endoscopic procedures. Six months are available for research endeavors during the three years of training, and research-oriented fellows are provided 16-20 months of research time. Specialized training in hepatology during the third year is also available.
Weekly conferences include a clinical conference, which is attended by surgeons, radiologists, and outside gastroenterologists, and research, endoscopy, and liver biopsy conferences. The research interests of the Section are broad and include basic physiology interests in human intestinal ion transport, intestinal cell pH regulation, mechanisms for intestinal cell differentiation, the role of volatile fatty acids in colonic function, host-pathogen interactions, treatment of hepatic viral infections, and the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of intestinal tumors.