Welcome to the field of gastroenterology. We hope that you will have a rewarding career in our specialty, which we believe provides an optimal combination of cognitive and technical skills and activities. Gastroenterologists are an indispensable part of the health care team and provide emergency care and preventive care services as well as consultations for our inpatient and outpatient colleagues. At MSSL and MSW, we cover two inpatient and outpatient services on a 24/7 basis, building close working relationships between fellow and attending physicians.
We have had a stand-alone training program in Gastroenterology for more than 40 years and have provided a complete educational program, including research. Our training program is ACGME accredited, and we accept trainees via NRMP and ERAS. Our graduating fellows have sought careers both in private practice as well as in academic medicine, and we strive to provide an educational program that prepares trainees for all types of careers. Our training program is front-loaded so that the majority of the inpatient service rotations occur during the first year, which provides time for special rotations and electives during the second and third years, allowing the trainee to craft an educational program specific to the individual career path.
There have been major changes to our program over the past 15 years. In the past, there was a strong contribution from voluntary physicians. Changes in the health care environment have led to a loss of their contribution. In response, the complement of full time physicians has increased. In addition, we have changed our affiliation from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As opposed to our previous affiliation, the current arrangement provides a much closer integration including shared lectures, enhanced fellowship educational opportunities such as OSCE’s, access to clinical electives/rotations such as in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the main Mount Sinai site, and greater access to research mentorship. We have had a close relationship with the Mount Sinai Division of Liver Disease for almost 30 years sending our second year fellows for six months of hepatology training, including both pre- and post-transplant patient management. Our fellows have been involved in a variety of research projects, based on individual interest, and all fellows participate in some form of scholarly activity. It is likely that programmatic integration will increase over the next several years the practice of medicine and gastroenterology evolve.
Edward Lung, MD
Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology)
edward.lung@mountsinai.org