The Section of Gastroenterology trains a total of six fellows at any given time. Training occurs over a three year period through training rotations at LSU University Hospital, Ochsner-Kenner Medical Center, L.J. Chabert Medical Center, and Tulane University Hospital. Upon entering training as a first year fellow, this individual is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of patients with a variety of digestive diseases that have been referred to the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Services at LSU Health Science Center. He/she is also responsible for the evaluation and treatment, both short and long term, of outpatients with digestive diseases referred to the LSU Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinic at all rotating hospitals. Additional responsibilities include GI procedures; upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and liver biopsies. Second year fellows increase their responsibilities by doing a variety of more advanced procedures such as colonoscopy with polypectomy and edoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP). Upon entering as a third year fellow, in continuum with responsibilities of second year fellows, he/she will be more independent during patient visits and for procedures. At this level of training, fellows take on administrative and academic duties, in that, they manage the on-call scheduling and mentoring of the first and second year fellows with the use of testing tools and presentations. All aspects of patient care and education listed above are performed in close collaboration with supervising faculty members.

Major Conferences:

LSU Multidisciplinary Conference is held on a bi-weekly basis (every other Friday) with the participation of all members of the LSU Gastroenterology Section as well as the fellows and faculty of the Tulane Gastroenterology Section. This important conference incorporates core lectures, radiology conference, pathology conference, journal clubs, research conference, and guest presentations into one extended educational session.

Tulane Liver Conference is sponsored by the Tulane Gastroenterology Section and also occurs bi-weekly (every other Friday) with the participation of the Tulane Abdominal Transplant Department and the LSU Gastroenterology Section. This conference includes presentation of cases of liver disease as well as liver transplant selection sessions.
Procedures:

Program Monitoring & Improvement:

The quality of training activities are monitored closely by a number of measures. These include, but are not limited to, scheduled written and oral evaluations by faculty, fellows, nurses, and patients. Several initiatives have been undertaken to analyze the quality of training in order to continuously improve the training program as part of the ACMGE phase III project.

Application Information:

Our program is currently accepting applications through ERAS and the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Applications will be reviewed during the month of January and invitations sent out. Interviews for applicants starting fellowship in July 2009 will be held in February 2008. Please contact our program coordinator, Kim Cannon-Ramirez, with any questions regarding application (kcanno@lsuhsc.edu).

Program Address:

2020 Gravier Street, Room 734
Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology
New Orleans, La 70112