Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition Fellowship
The MD Anderson Cancer Center / UTMB Gastroenterology Fellowship program will train the next generation of gastroenterologists to be leaders in academic and clinical medicine at the local, national and international level. The goal of our program is to focus on the career development of each individual fellow in the context of physician well-being within a collegial and collaborative environment while serving a global community of patients. Fellows will receive training in the full spectrum of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders seen in our clinical practice. This includes management of GI and liver disorders seen in cancer patients, as well as in survivors and cancer screening in average and high risk populations. We offer a broad educational experience fulfilling the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) GI fellowship requirements. The fellowship is a three-year program, with three fellow positions per year, it is approved for a total of nine fellows. The curriculum includes rotations on the inpatient consultation service, outpatient clinic rotation through general GI and a variety of sub-specialty clinics and a combined outpatient endoscopy & research (OER) rotation. Each rotation is a four-week block. The OER rotation is a two-month block to maximize acquisition of endoscopic skills and to maintain research momentum. The primary clinical site is MD Anderson Cancer Center. The program is sponsored by UTMB Health and directly reports to their Internal Medicine residency program. We work closely with the GME offices at both MD Anderson and UTMB.
The MD Anderson GI fellowship program is structured with a fellow-oriented focus making it distinct from many others. Our clinical GI practice functions in all settings independently of fellows. Therefore, our program is truly trainee oriented with a goal of avoiding disproportionate clinical load on the first year GI fellow. We believe this affects physician wellness and potentially contributes to burnout of young GI physicians. To mitigate this, a novel aspect of our trainee-focused program is our equitable distribution of labor among all three years of fellowship training (scheduled with the same number of inpatient/outpatient months each year of training). We believe this promotes fellows’ well-being and creates a collegial team-based approach among fellows.
All trainees receive a broad educational experience in general gastroenterology and hepatology. Additionally, each fellow is encouraged to choose a clinical focus early in their training to develop medical knowledge, research interests and endoscopic skills in their chosen sub-specialty. We accomplish this with six months of dedicated endoscopy training and six months of research/professional development within the three-year program. This rotation allows intensive time for the fellows to identify and develop interest and proficiency in a specific area within GI including quality improvement. Working with their research/subspecialty mentor, fellows develop and complete research projects and expand their knowledge and endoscopic skills within their area of interest. Our Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition faculty are a diverse group of highly accomplished and world-renowned gastroenterologists who are passionate about training the next generation of physicians.
Prerequisite Training
Eligible applicants must be a graduate of an accredited medical school with an M.D. degree or equivalent. The fellowship applicants must have successfully completed an Internal Medicine residency at an accredited U.S. program, or a residency program in Canada accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and are eligible to take the American Board of Internal Medicine written examination.
Fellowship applicants should demonstrate a track record of professionalism, scholarly activity and exceptional patient care. Applicants must be eligible for a Physician in Training permit or a full Texas medical license.
Recruitment & Selection
Our program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and all positions will be offered through NRMP.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center & The University of Texas Medical Branch Gastroenterology Fellowship Accreditation Number: 1444814002
We will only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
The deadline for submission of applications is August 1.
Required documents
In addition to the ERAS application, the completed application package must include:
- Three recent letters of recommendation (one from a program director)
- Personal statement that demonstrates a track record of professionalism, scholarly activity and exceptional patient care
- Official transcript from each medical school attended
- USMLE transcript including all attempts. Applicants must have passed each step of the USMLE by the third attempt
- Recent photograph
- ECFMG certificate if applicable
Additional documents for foreign medical school applicants
Note: Documents in a language other than English must be submitted with a certified translation.
- Transcript of all college education
- ECFMG certificate – Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada must provide a copy of an ECGMG certificate, valid at the program start date.
We accept applications from U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international medical graduates. The J-1 visa is the required visa for international physician trainees requiring visa sponsorship. The J-1 visa is sponsored by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
2023 Match Cycle:
All candidates selected for an interview have been contacted at this time. Thank you to all who applied to our program. We wish you all the best in Match!
Curriculum
Fellows receive comprehensive general GI and liver education over the course of the three-year program fulfilling all ACGME requirements for Gastroenterology training integrating core competencies and milestones. Fellows rotate through the inpatient consult service, ambulatory clinic service and the OER rotation. Each fellow is assigned four months of OER per academic year. Time on this rotation is split between the endoscopy lab learning procedural skills and time spent working with research mentors and teams on individual research projects. Fellows are required to attend their continuity clinic (half day per week) throughout the academic year unless they are on vacation. Continuity clinic is located at MD Anderson Cancer Center and staffed by the Gastroenterology and Hepatology faculty. Fellows have individual templates and care for a variety of patients with general GI and liver conditions. They work with a dedicated clinic nurse and scheduling team and manage their panel of patients with the guidance of their clinic faculty.
Didactics
We offer our fellows protected time from clinical work to participate in a scheduled didactic program that covers the ACGME Core Curriculum. These dedicated fellow didactics occur on a weekly basis and are led by faculty who have expertise on that topic. In addition, we have a weekly multi-disciplinary GI Pathology conference, monthly Morbidity & Mortality conference, Onco-Gastroenterology lecture series, Journal club, Medical Center Motility conference, Immunotoxicity Case Conference and Research in Progress conference where fellows actively participate.
All training is done at MD Anderson Cancer Center and fellows are given the opportunity to train at our MD Anderson West Houston location to experience endoscopy practice in an ambulatory surgery center. Fellows will do subspecialty rotations during the PGY5 year in IBD and Liver Transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital within the Texas Medical Center. Fellows also have the opportunity to do away electives during their PGY6 year. Fellows are always supervised and work closely with our faculty. Fellows evaluate each rotation, faculty, program director and the program overall to help continuously refine and improve their experience.
Career Development
Fellows are afforded the opportunity and the support to participate and present in regional and national conferences as well as serve on institutional and national committees. The program will provide fellows with a membership in the following premier national GI societies: American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Society for GI Endoscopy (ASGE), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Fellows are also encouraged to actively participate in the local Texas Gulf Coast GI society, Texas Interventional Endoscopy Group and Texas Society for GI Endoscopy conferences. These conferences, especially local GI meetings, allow the fellows to network with other GI fellows in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Fellows are given an annual stipend to support their educational activities.
Board Certification
In preparation for the board exam, fellows will take the ITE (in-service training exam) annually. Upon satisfactory completion of the three-year fellowship program, each fellow is eligible and expected to take and pass the written examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine for Board Certification in Gastroenterology.
Benefits at MD Anderson
Compensation: GME Stipend Levels
Vacation: 4 weeks per year
Fitness Facilities: Free access to the 16,000 square foot institutional fitness center with strength-training cardiovascular equipment, yoga, spin and group exercise rooms. The center currently has limited in-person capacity in relation to COVID-19 safety protocols, but online classes and programs are offered.
Wellness Programs: A variety of wellness programs are offered in person or online through the institution which are available to the fellows. These focus on physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, Employee Assistance Program and Crisis and Conflict Assistance resources are available.
Benefits: Complete benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, a parking subsidy, institutional cell phone and laptop. Please see Graduate Medical Education Trainee Manual for full details.
Parental/Family Leave: In concordance with ACGME requirements, we provide up to six weeks of paid parental and family leave once during training.
Life in Houston
MD Anderson Cancer Center is in the world's largest medical city, the Texas Medical Center. In addition, Houston is the fourth-largest city and most diverse city in the United States, with something to offer everyone.
Prerequisite Training
Eligible applicants must be a graduate of an accredited medical school with an M.D. degree or equivalent. The fellowship applicants must have successfully completed an Internal Medicine residency at an accredited U.S. program, or a residency program in Canada accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and are eligible to take the American Board of Internal Medicine written examination.
Fellowship applicants should demonstrate a track record of professionalism, scholarly activity and exceptional patient care. Applicants must be eligible for a Physician in Training permit or a full Texas medical license.
Recruitment & Selection
Our program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and all positions will be offered through NRMP.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center & The University of Texas Medical Branch Gastroenterology Fellowship Accreditation Number: 1444814002
We will only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
The deadline for submission of applications is August 1.
Required documents
In addition to the ERAS application, the completed application package must include:
- Three recent letters of recommendation (one from a program director)
- Personal statement that demonstrates a track record of professionalism, scholarly activity and exceptional patient care
- Official transcript from each medical school attended
- USMLE transcript including all attempts. Applicants must have passed each step of the USMLE by the third attempt
- Recent photograph
- ECFMG certificate if applicable
Additional documents for foreign medical school applicants
Note: Documents in a language other than English must be submitted with a certified translation.
- Transcript of all college education
- ECFMG certificate – Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada must provide a copy of an ECGMG certificate, valid at the program start date.
We accept applications from U.S. citizens, permanent residents and international medical graduates. The J-1 visa is the required visa for international physician trainees requiring visa sponsorship. The J-1 visa is sponsored by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
2023 Match Cycle:
All candidates selected for an interview have been contacted at this time. Thank you to all who applied to our program. We wish you all the best in Match!
Curriculum
Fellows receive comprehensive general GI and liver education over the course of the three-year program fulfilling all ACGME requirements for Gastroenterology training integrating core competencies and milestones. Fellows rotate through the inpatient consult service, ambulatory clinic service and the OER rotation. Each fellow is assigned four months of OER per academic year. Time on this rotation is split between the endoscopy lab learning procedural skills and time spent working with research mentors and teams on individual research projects. Fellows are required to attend their continuity clinic (half day per week) throughout the academic year unless they are on vacation. Continuity clinic is located at MD Anderson Cancer Center and staffed by the Gastroenterology and Hepatology faculty. Fellows have individual templates and care for a variety of patients with general GI and liver conditions. They work with a dedicated clinic nurse and scheduling team and manage their panel of patients with the guidance of their clinic faculty.
Didactics
We offer our fellows protected time from clinical work to participate in a scheduled didactic program that covers the ACGME Core Curriculum. These dedicated fellow didactics occur on a weekly basis and are led by faculty who have expertise on that topic. In addition, we have a weekly multi-disciplinary GI Pathology conference, monthly Morbidity & Mortality conference, Onco-Gastroenterology lecture series, Journal club, Medical Center Motility conference, Immunotoxicity Case Conference and Research in Progress conference where fellows actively participate.
All training is done at MD Anderson Cancer Center and fellows are given the opportunity to train at our MD Anderson West Houston location to experience endoscopy practice in an ambulatory surgery center. Fellows will do subspecialty rotations during the PGY5 year in IBD and Liver Transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital within the Texas Medical Center. Fellows also have the opportunity to do away electives during their PGY6 year. Fellows are always supervised and work closely with our faculty. Fellows evaluate each rotation, faculty, program director and the program overall to help continuously refine and improve their experience.
Career Development
Fellows are afforded the opportunity and the support to participate and present in regional and national conferences as well as serve on institutional and national committees. The program will provide fellows with a membership in the following premier national GI societies: American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Society for GI Endoscopy (ASGE), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Fellows are also encouraged to actively participate in the local Texas Gulf Coast GI society, Texas Interventional Endoscopy Group and Texas Society for GI Endoscopy conferences. These conferences, especially local GI meetings, allow the fellows to network with other GI fellows in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Fellows are given an annual stipend to support their educational activities.
Board Certification
In preparation for the board exam, fellows will take the ITE (in-service training exam) annually. Upon satisfactory completion of the three-year fellowship program, each fellow is eligible and expected to take and pass the written examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine for Board Certification in Gastroenterology.
Benefits at MD Anderson
Compensation: GME Stipend Levels
Vacation: 4 weeks per year
Fitness Facilities: Free access to the 16,000 square foot institutional fitness center with strength-training cardiovascular equipment, yoga, spin and group exercise rooms. The center currently has limited in-person capacity in relation to COVID-19 safety protocols, but online classes and programs are offered.
Wellness Programs: A variety of wellness programs are offered in person or online through the institution which are available to the fellows. These focus on physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, Employee Assistance Program and Crisis and Conflict Assistance resources are available.
Benefits: Complete benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, a parking subsidy, institutional cell phone and laptop. Please see Graduate Medical Education Trainee Manual for full details.
Parental/Family Leave: In concordance with ACGME requirements, we provide up to six weeks of paid parental and family leave once during training.
Life in Houston
MD Anderson Cancer Center is in the world's largest medical city, the Texas Medical Center. In addition, Houston is the fourth-largest city and most diverse city in the United States, with something to offer everyone.
Meet Our Fellows
Anni Chowdhry, D.O.
First Year Fellow
Cyril Mazhuvanchery, D.O.
Third Year Fellow
Michael Antony, M.D.
Second Year Fellow
Filippos Koutroumpakis, M.D.
First Year Fellow
Abdullah Shaikh, M.D.
Third Year Fellow
Shantanu Solanki, M.D.
Second Year Fellow
Thank you for your interest in our program. For more information, please contact:
LaKisha Anderson
Program Coordinator
Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030
Main: 713-794-5073 Fax: 713-563-4408
Email: lyrodgers@mdanderson.org
Selvi Thirumurthi, M.D., M.S.
Program Director
Gastroenterology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Main: 713-794-5073 Fax: 713-563-4408
Email: GIfellowship@mdanderson.org