Training & Education

The integrated fellowship program offers expert training in capsule endoscopy, deep enteroscopy, EMR, radiofrequency ablation, Bravo pH, impedance/pH, manometry/pH, EUS and advanced biliary endoscopy. The training program emphasizes the pursuit of new scientific advancements in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology that supports outstanding opportunities for learning and educational endeavor.

Division Chief Welcome

The mission of the Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Fellowship Program is to provide you with an excellent education in the comprehensive assessment and management of patients with acute and chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases. The training program at Los Angeles General Medical Center and Keck Medical Center provides GI fellows with an outstanding post-graduate experience and training in gastroenterology and hepatology. To learn more about our fellowship programs, please visit www.uscgastroenterologyfellowship.com

Application

The Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Los Angeles General Medical Center uses the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please go to the ERAS for Fellowships website to apply. All applicants are expected to be board eligible in internal medicine at the beginning of the fellowship must be eligible for a California Medical License.

Our ACGME ID is: 1440521053

Application Requirements

Three (3) Recommendation Letters (one from Internal Medicine Program Director)
USMLE/COMLEX Scores
Medical School Transcript
A copy of your Curriculum Vitae
Personal Statement

Our program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) for Gastroenterology. No applications will be accepted outside of the Match. Please visit the NRMP web site for more details.

For further information and questions, contact:

Department of Medicine, GI/Liver Division
Keck School of Medicine of USC

1983 Marengo Ave
D&T Building, Rm. B4H-101
Los Angeles, California 90033

cindy.lim@med.usc.edu
Phone: (323) 409-7995
Fax: (323) 441-8352

Los Angeles General Medical Center

Founded in 1878, Los Angeles General Medical Center is the nation’s largest academic institution. It is one of the largest acute care hospitals in America and has been the primary facility of the University of Southern California School of Medicine since 1885. Originally established as a 100-bed hospital with 47 patients, it now is licensed for 1,395 beds and budgeted to staff 745 beds. Fellows rotate here on inpatient GI and Liver consultation services, endoscopy, and outpatient GI, Liver, and Hepatitis clinics.

Keck Medicine of USC

Keck Hospital of USC is a private 401-bed acute care hospital staffed by the faculty of the Keck of School of Medicine of USC. Gastroenterology fellows rotate here to the inpatient GI consultation service and an inpatient hepatology and liver transplant service. Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospitals are major tertiary referral centers and are consistently recognized as among the top hospitals in the nation.

Clinical Training

All Gastroenterology Fellows are co-sponsored by the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine and the Los Angeles General Medical Center. Fellows are selected to a three-year general gastroenterology program; Fellows participate in inpatient GI and liver consultation services at three major USC affiliated hospitals that affords exposure to a broad range of clinical experiences.

In general, clinical rotations are in month-long blocks. First year fellows typically spend 4 months on inpatient GI consult services, 4 months on endoscopy, 1 month on the Liver consult service, 1 month on the Hepatology/Transplant service at Keck Hospital at USC, along with 1 month of research time. Second and third year fellows participate in similar rotations with increasing degrees of clinical responsibility.

Outpatient care experiences are provided by weekly GI and Liver clinics at the Edward Roybal Community Healthcare Center and the Hepatitis Clinic at Los Angeles General Medical Center. Through these experiences, fellows are exposed to a continuity of care for patients with a wide variety of gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Endoscopic Training

The USC GI Fellowship Program offers superb opportunities for endoscopic training. Fellows perform endoscopic procedures at Los Angeles General Medical Center, Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC University Hospital. All endoscopy units are well equipped with state-of-the-art video/computerized endoscopes. Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscope procedures are performed throughout the three years of fellowship training. Endoscopic training in biliary therapeutic technique and other special procedures are offered in the 3rd year of training.

Research Training

Fellows have the opportunity during their fellowship to participate in clinical or basic science research activities. Fellows may participate in ongoing faculty research projects or their own research interests. They will be able to work closely with a faculty preceptor who will provide support, guidance and instruction regarding clinical and basic science research techniques, as well as academic career development. Scientific background, study design, laboratory methods, and biostatistics will be emphasized. Fellows will have the opportunity to present their work during GI/Liver division research seminars and at national meetings (AGA and AASLD).

Liver Transplant Program

The USC Liver Transplant Program was started in December 1995 and is based at the Keck Hospital of USC. Fellows rotating at the Keck Hospital have the opportunity to participate in the care of patients with advanced liver disease.

Please visit our website for more information. Click here for our website.

Regular Conferences

Grand Rounds–Both GI and Liver have weekly grand rounds
Core Lecture Series–3 year span, weekly
Journal Club–Recent literature presented in depth by 2-3 fellows weekly
Liver Conference (Friday Liver Rounds)–Problematic liver cases are presented
Transplant Conference
IBD Conference–Problematic UC/CD cases discussed in conjunction with Cedars-Sinai faculty
Motility Conference
Pathology–Both GI and liver path are reviewed

Saroja Bangaru, MD – GI Fellowship – UCLA – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship – USC
Omar Bakr, MD – Medical School – UCSF Residency – UCLA
Ravi Kankotia, MD – Medical School – USC Residency – USC
Chanthel Kokoy-Mondragon, MD – Medical School – Drexel University Residency – Columbia
Prachi Nene, MD – Medical School – Boston University Residency – USC
Jasleen Singh, MD – GI Fellowship – Loyola University Medical Center – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship – USC
Sentia Iriana, MD – GI Fellowship – University of Utah – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship – USC
David Herman, MD – Medical School – USC Residency – USC
Jessica Hong, MD – Medical School – Creighton University Residency – USC
Christopher Ko, MD – Medical School – Boston University Residency – USC
Okeefe Simmons, MD – Medical School – University of Miami Residency – UT Southwestern
Janet Kwok, MD – Medical School – Stony Brook Residency – USC Future – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, USC, Los Angeles, CA
Paul Leonor, MD – Medical School – SUNY Downstate Residency – USC Future – Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
Michael Quezada, MD – Medical School – Texas A&M Residency – USC Future – General GI
Varun Takyar, MD – Medical School – Ross University Residency – University of Arizona Future – General GI
Dupinder Singh, MD – GI Fellowship – University of Minnesota – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship – USC – Current – City of Hope
Brian Lee, MD – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Ahilan Arulanandan, MD- General GI, PIH Health, Whittier, CA
Adam Greenberg, MD – General GI, Fresno Gastroenterology, Fresno, CA
Kraig Young, MD – General GI, Kaiser Permanente, Downey, CA
Jiaming Zhu, MD – Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship, UCLA-Harbor, Torrance, CA
Sterling Dubin, MD – General GI, Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Terrance Lee, MD – General GI, PeaceHealth, Springfield, OR
Nima Motamedi, MD – General GI, The Oregon Clinic, Newberg, OR
Sadeea Abassi, MD, PhD- IBD Fellowship, Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Laura McEnerney, MD – General GI, UCLA Health, Valencia, CA
Nitzan Roth, MD – Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Anna Skay, MD – General GI, UCLA Health, Valencia, CA
Hannah Do, MD – General GI, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Philadelphia, PA
Anand Dutta, MD – Advanced Endoscopy, UC Davis, Davis, CA
David Hormozdi, MD – General GI, Baycare, Riverview, FL
Sharon Kim, MD – General GI, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Shue, MD – Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship, UCLA-Harbor, Torrance, CA
Nirupama Bonthala, MD – IBD Fellowship, Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Beverly Chen, MD – General GI, Private Practice, Redondo Beach, CA
Jenny Chiu, MD, PhD – General GI, Kaiser Permanente, Irvine, CA