Gastroenterology Fellowship (Central)
Join the accomplished roster of physicians who’ve graduated from Geisinger’s Gastroenterology Fellowship — a proven program that gives you hands-on experience starting day one.
About us
Our 3-year, ACGME-accredited program has been in place for more than 20 years. When you join our program in Danville, Pa., your hands-on training starts on day one. Our curriculum provides robust learning experiences and a diverse patient population. You’ll graduate ready to excel with any practice you choose.
You’ll work with a team of exceptional general gastroenterologists who specialize in everything from IBD to motility. The team consists of advanced endoscopists, transplant hepatologists, bariatricians and nutrition support specialists. Our program uses a multidisciplinary approach, so you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with specialized pharmacists, nurse coordinators and dietitians.
By the time you complete the program, you’ll have:
- Performed about 1,500 procedures
- Gained outpatient and inpatient clinical training to thrive in a variety of clinical environments ranging from private practices to academic institutions
- Been exposed to advanced endoscopic procedures, liver transplantation, complex IBD, advanced motility management, post- bariatric surgery complications and nutrition support
Our gastroenterology fellows are also trained in all major diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, including:
- Exposure to advanced endoscopic procedures, including endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP, axios placement, endosuture, TIF, Stretta, Esoflip, pneumoatic dilation, direct myotomy for Zenker’s, POEM, G-POEM, single balloon enteroscopy and luminal stent placement
- Endoscopic mucosal resection
- BOTOX® injections
- PEG placement
- Fibroscan
- Barrett’s ablation and band endoscopic mucosal resection
- Anorectal and esophageal manometry
- Endoflip
- Hemorrhoid banding and hemorrhoid energy treatment (HET)
- Standard 24-hour pH impedance and Bravo pH testing
- Hydrogen breath testing
- Capsule endoscopy
Another reason to join Geisinger GI Fellowship program? Our people. You’ll have an entire team working to support you, from attending physicians, mid-levels, administrative staff, nurses, pharmacists and dietitians. We pride ourselves on choosing team members who share our commitment to our patients, team and community.
Follow us on social media
Program overview
Our program is varied and gives you the hands-on training you need to thrive.
- GI procedures – Performing endoscopic procedures on inpatient and outpatient populations at hospital-based endoscopy units, as well as outpatient surgical center.
- GI consults – Inpatient consultation service at tertiary hospital with over 600 inpatient beds.
- Hepatology consults – Inpatient consultation service managing patients with decompensated cirrhosis as well as pre- and post-liver transplant patients
- GI Lab/Motility – Outpatient-focused rotation with exposure reading BRAVO, capsule endscopy and breath tests, plus high resolution manometry, anorectal manometry, endoflip and POEM procedures
- Nutrition – Rotation with the multidisciplinary inpatient team managing nutrition support patients as well as bariatric surgery patients, and outpatient rotation with high-risk obesity patients and peg tube clinic
- Geisinger Shamokin Hospital – Community-based hospital rotation comprising inpatient consults, inpatient and outpatient procedures and clinic
- Geisinger Muncy/Monstoursville Clinic – Community-based hospital rotation comprising inpatient consults, inpatient procedures and clinic, plus exposure to the outpatient ambulatory center for outpatient procedures
- Elective options:
- GIRadiology – Work closely with radiology attendings to gain education on barium studies, CT and MRI readings
- Outpatient IBD – Rotate with Allegheny General Hospital for an outpatient immersion into IBD management with a robust multidisciplinary clinic
- Colorectal surgery – Rotate with our Colorectal surgeons to get some hands-on experience with hemorrhoid therapy, colonic inertia, pelvic floor dysfunction and surgical management of IBD
- Minimally invasive surgery – Rotate with our minimally invasive surgeons to learn more about bariatric surgery, surgical management of GERD and hiatal hernia. We are a center of excellence for bariatric surgery, performing over 50 bariatric surgeries a month.
- GI Pathology – Rotate with our pathologist to learn more about diagnosing digestive system diseases, covering biopsies and resections.
- Additional elective available upon request and availability
.jpg?h=306&iar=0&w=460&sc_lang=en)
.jpg?h=306&iar=0&w=460&sc_lang=en)
Protected time for didactics is every Wednesday from 7 to 8 a.m., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Fellows don’t have patients scheduled during this time.
Conference topics include:
- Core curriculum: Lectures by staff and guest speakers on GI-related topics
- Case management: Interactive walk through of a case presented by a fellow while discussing relevant GI differentials, clinical presentations and management
- State of the art: An expert presentation on a specific topic
- Advanced endoscopy: A case presentation highlighting a complex advanced GI case
- Journal Club
- Morbidity & mortality
- Board review
There are also multiple multidisciplinary conferences, including IBD Conference, GI Radiology Conference, Liver Histopathology, Luminal Histopathology, Pelvic Floor MDC, Liver Tumor Board, Liver Transplant Committee, GI MDC and Foregut Conference. There is also a monthly multi-institutional conference focused on discussion of challenging and interesting pancreaticobiliary cases called PB Live
Throughout the year, we have hand-on labs with animal and plastic models to improve old techniques and practice new techniques ranging from clips, snares and injections to savary dilation, stent placement, over the scope clips, x-tacks and more. This lets fellows practice in a relaxed environment where there’s an opportunity to learn.
About Geisinger
Geisinger serves more than 1 million people in central and northeast Pennsylvania. We’ve been nationally recognized for innovative practices in quality, delivery models such as ProvenCare® and the use of an award-winning electronic medical record, epic®. Our physician-led system has about 24,000 employees, including more than 1,600 physicians, 10 hospital campuses, two research centers and a health plan with more than half a million members, all of which boost our hometown economies by $7.1 billion annually.
Our main hospital campus, Geisinger Medical Center, is in Danville. This charming, historic riverside town has lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation including kayaking, cross country skiing and cycling. We’re also close to major urban centers. It’s easy to reach New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. We offer the best of both worlds — affordable, relaxing small-town life and access to the excitement and cultural experiences in big cities.
Learn about our local communites
Follow us on social media
Frequently asked questions
On the weekend, a long call fellow is on call for all GI emergencies, procedures and patient calls from Friday at 5 p.m. to Monday at 7 a.m.
There’s also a short-call fellow who helps with new consults and rounds on the hepatology service. The short call fellow helps the long call fellow on Saturday and Sunday until about midday.
During the week, one fellow is on night call starting at 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. They’re available for patient calls and emergencies for the inpatient and ER team. An attending is always on call with the fellows for transfer center calls and support. First years don’t take call until September.
The Gastroenterology Department has 3 1-year non-standard fellowships.
- Advanced Endoscopy: Accepts 2 fellow each academic year
- Hepatology: Accepts 1 fellow each academic year
- Nutrition and Weight Management: Accepts 1 to 33 fellows per academic year
Contact Lisa Itts at litts@geisinger.edu for more information.