User login
The global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising, and it is estimated that by 2025, approximately 2.2 million Americans will be living with this disease. At the same time, there have been several paradigm-changing scientific and medical advances in the understanding and management of IBD. As the diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring armamentarium in the management of IBD increases, so is the complexity of the decision making. Advanced concepts and training are often not covered adequately during a general gastroenterology fellowship. In a survey of 160 trainees, more than one-third of fellows did not feel “confident” or “mostly comfortable” with their level of IBD training. Yet, efficient dissemination, effective translation and integration of these advances into clinical practice is paramount to improving quality of care. To facilitate multiple goals as listed in Table 1, advanced training in the field of IBD is increasingly important. In this article, I review different training options available for young gastroenterologists.
Readers are also directed to an excellent article by David Rubin, MD, published in Gastroenterology in 2015.
Advanced fellowship training in IBD
The most rigorous training in IBD is offered through dedicated advanced fellowships. Currently, there are more than 20 such fellowships in North America, most of them offered at large academic centers with nationally and internationally renowned faculty. These training positions are generally 1 year long, offered after completion of gastroenterology fellowship. The Accreditation Council of the Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) does not accredit these advanced training programs, and there is not a separate American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification for IBD. Funding of such programs comes from different sources including endowments, private foundations, institutional funds, pharmaceutical company grants, and even limited faculty appointments of the trainees. Though there is currently no official regulatory oversight and requirements, most programs have well-defined curricula covering diverse aspects of IBD care. This core curriculum has been nicely summarized in a recent article by Uma Mahadevan, MD, in Gastroenterology.
Clinical training in these programs is offered through a mix of outpatient IBD clinics (generally three to five clinics/week, with one or more senior IBD-focused faculty member), supervising general gastroenterology fellows for inpatient IBD care, dedicated IBD-focused endoscopy sessions (generally one or two sessions/week) including chromoendoscopy and stricture dilation, as well as formal and informal mentorship by one or more senior faculty members, time and mentorship for scholarly activities, and appropriate evaluation and feedback systems. In addition, most programs offer multidisciplinary training through dedicated clinics with colorectal surgeons (such as pouch clinics, etc.), opportunities for observing and interacting with radiologists, pathologists, psychologists, and dietitians.
There is no centralized application process and prospective applicants should reach out to their program directors and mentors regarding guidance, as well as program directors of specific training programs to learn more about these programs, generally in the second half of their gastroenterology training. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation maintains a list of fellowship training programs and appropriate contacts. In choosing a specific program, prospective fellows should consider the rigor and diversity of training, balance between service and scholarship, mentorship opportunities as well as the experience and outcomes of previous fellows in the program. Besides formal interviews at prospective program, fellows should utilize the networking opportunities afforded through the American Gastroenterological Association (both with senior faculty as well as through the Trainee and Early-Career Committee), the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation as well as other organizations in learning more about programs.
Visiting IBD Fellow Program: Clinical observership, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Visiting IBD Fellow Program – with the support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation – which launched in 2006, arose from the need for immersive training in IBD, especially for fellows for whom IBD exposure may be limited. In this 1-month “observership,” interested 2nd and 3rd year fellows get the opportunity to observe faculty at a high-volume, multidisciplinary IBD Center of Excellence. Besides providing additional knowledge and expertise in the field, this also allows fellows the chance to understand how IBD Centers are set up, so they may seek to replicate similar models as local or regional IBD experts. Currently, 12 centers participate in this program. There is no cost to the fellows who are selected to participate, and all travel expenses and lodging are covered. The program significantly improved the fellows’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward IBD and has steadily gained in popularity, with more than 60-80 applicants for 10-20 positions per year (depending on funding). In addition to the clinical exposure, this experience also facilitates networking with faculty and other fellows at participating institutions. Full details of this program can be accessed from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
A similar, expenses-paid, abbreviated 3-day program of IBD preceptorship has been launched for advanced practice providers (qualified advanced-practice nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants). This program provides preceptee exposure to medical, surgical, outpatient, and inpatient experiences with patients at a leading academic IBD center.
Visiting IBD Research Fellowship Program, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recently launched a new, short-term, mentored research initiative designed to promote career advancement for talented junior investigators dedicated to IBD research, and to enable knowledge-sharing among leaders in the IBD field. The Foundation encourages outstanding young scientists (postdoctoral studies in the first 3 years of their fellowship), who would like to expand their expertise in IBD research to participate in this short-term research training, carried out in a cutting-edge, NIH-funded laboratory under the mentorship of a leader in IBD research. This all-expense covered 3-12 week rotation provides mentorship and technical training in a state-of-the-art research lab relevant to IBD, with an emphasis on preclinical research most closely relevant to human disease. Details of the program can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
IBD Xcel
In 2013, Cornerstones Health, a nonprofit medical education organization, launched a 2-day program dedicated to advances in the field of IBD for junior gastroenterologists within 5 years of completion of their fellowship training. The program includes a didactic component as well as close interaction with a number of IBD experts, small-group discussions about difficult cases, and recent journal articles, as well as career-development advice. The education component is free of cost to selected participants, though travel and housing expenses are not covered.
Besides these dedicated advanced training opportunities, there are major conferences that cover IBD extensively and exclusively. These include the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress® conducted jointly by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association, the annual Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases through Imedex, the annual European Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, the American College of Gastroenterology’s IBD School, as well as several regional courses conducted throughout the country. In terms of networking opportunities for gastroenterology fellows interested in IBD and junior faculty, REACH-IBD (Rising Educators, Academicians and Clinicians Helping Inflammatory Bowel Disease), founded under the auspices of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in 2013, provides a unique resource. This group is open to all clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty (pediatric and adult; medical and surgical specialties, as well as PhDs) less than 7 years out of training with a rank not higher than assistant professor. The mission is to facilitate networking and career development for clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty with an interest in IBD; increase active participation of our members in the clinical, educational, scientific, and research programs within the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation; and foster collaborative research among our members within the Foundation. The group organizes specific breakout events at the Digestive Disease Week® and the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, covering diverse topics such as setting up an IBD practice, funding opportunities, paper and grant writing, career advancement guidance. More information on this can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
To summarize, there are numerous opportunities of varying lengths to receive training in inflammatory bowel diseases. This exciting field is expanding at a rapid pace, and instead of limiting management to dedicated IBD Centers of Excellence, there is clear need for effective dissemination of new management approaches and incorporation of quality measures will likely raise the bar for all patients and physicians who care for them.
AGA offers IBD education
Check out AGA’s on-demand IBD education available in AGA University.
Dr. Singh is assistant professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego. He is supported by the American College of Gastroenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, has received research grants from Pfizer and AbbVie, and consulting fees from AbbVie, Takeda, and AMAG Pharmaceuticals.
The global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising, and it is estimated that by 2025, approximately 2.2 million Americans will be living with this disease. At the same time, there have been several paradigm-changing scientific and medical advances in the understanding and management of IBD. As the diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring armamentarium in the management of IBD increases, so is the complexity of the decision making. Advanced concepts and training are often not covered adequately during a general gastroenterology fellowship. In a survey of 160 trainees, more than one-third of fellows did not feel “confident” or “mostly comfortable” with their level of IBD training. Yet, efficient dissemination, effective translation and integration of these advances into clinical practice is paramount to improving quality of care. To facilitate multiple goals as listed in Table 1, advanced training in the field of IBD is increasingly important. In this article, I review different training options available for young gastroenterologists.
Readers are also directed to an excellent article by David Rubin, MD, published in Gastroenterology in 2015.
Advanced fellowship training in IBD
The most rigorous training in IBD is offered through dedicated advanced fellowships. Currently, there are more than 20 such fellowships in North America, most of them offered at large academic centers with nationally and internationally renowned faculty. These training positions are generally 1 year long, offered after completion of gastroenterology fellowship. The Accreditation Council of the Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) does not accredit these advanced training programs, and there is not a separate American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification for IBD. Funding of such programs comes from different sources including endowments, private foundations, institutional funds, pharmaceutical company grants, and even limited faculty appointments of the trainees. Though there is currently no official regulatory oversight and requirements, most programs have well-defined curricula covering diverse aspects of IBD care. This core curriculum has been nicely summarized in a recent article by Uma Mahadevan, MD, in Gastroenterology.
Clinical training in these programs is offered through a mix of outpatient IBD clinics (generally three to five clinics/week, with one or more senior IBD-focused faculty member), supervising general gastroenterology fellows for inpatient IBD care, dedicated IBD-focused endoscopy sessions (generally one or two sessions/week) including chromoendoscopy and stricture dilation, as well as formal and informal mentorship by one or more senior faculty members, time and mentorship for scholarly activities, and appropriate evaluation and feedback systems. In addition, most programs offer multidisciplinary training through dedicated clinics with colorectal surgeons (such as pouch clinics, etc.), opportunities for observing and interacting with radiologists, pathologists, psychologists, and dietitians.
There is no centralized application process and prospective applicants should reach out to their program directors and mentors regarding guidance, as well as program directors of specific training programs to learn more about these programs, generally in the second half of their gastroenterology training. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation maintains a list of fellowship training programs and appropriate contacts. In choosing a specific program, prospective fellows should consider the rigor and diversity of training, balance between service and scholarship, mentorship opportunities as well as the experience and outcomes of previous fellows in the program. Besides formal interviews at prospective program, fellows should utilize the networking opportunities afforded through the American Gastroenterological Association (both with senior faculty as well as through the Trainee and Early-Career Committee), the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation as well as other organizations in learning more about programs.
Visiting IBD Fellow Program: Clinical observership, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Visiting IBD Fellow Program – with the support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation – which launched in 2006, arose from the need for immersive training in IBD, especially for fellows for whom IBD exposure may be limited. In this 1-month “observership,” interested 2nd and 3rd year fellows get the opportunity to observe faculty at a high-volume, multidisciplinary IBD Center of Excellence. Besides providing additional knowledge and expertise in the field, this also allows fellows the chance to understand how IBD Centers are set up, so they may seek to replicate similar models as local or regional IBD experts. Currently, 12 centers participate in this program. There is no cost to the fellows who are selected to participate, and all travel expenses and lodging are covered. The program significantly improved the fellows’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward IBD and has steadily gained in popularity, with more than 60-80 applicants for 10-20 positions per year (depending on funding). In addition to the clinical exposure, this experience also facilitates networking with faculty and other fellows at participating institutions. Full details of this program can be accessed from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
A similar, expenses-paid, abbreviated 3-day program of IBD preceptorship has been launched for advanced practice providers (qualified advanced-practice nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants). This program provides preceptee exposure to medical, surgical, outpatient, and inpatient experiences with patients at a leading academic IBD center.
Visiting IBD Research Fellowship Program, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recently launched a new, short-term, mentored research initiative designed to promote career advancement for talented junior investigators dedicated to IBD research, and to enable knowledge-sharing among leaders in the IBD field. The Foundation encourages outstanding young scientists (postdoctoral studies in the first 3 years of their fellowship), who would like to expand their expertise in IBD research to participate in this short-term research training, carried out in a cutting-edge, NIH-funded laboratory under the mentorship of a leader in IBD research. This all-expense covered 3-12 week rotation provides mentorship and technical training in a state-of-the-art research lab relevant to IBD, with an emphasis on preclinical research most closely relevant to human disease. Details of the program can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
IBD Xcel
In 2013, Cornerstones Health, a nonprofit medical education organization, launched a 2-day program dedicated to advances in the field of IBD for junior gastroenterologists within 5 years of completion of their fellowship training. The program includes a didactic component as well as close interaction with a number of IBD experts, small-group discussions about difficult cases, and recent journal articles, as well as career-development advice. The education component is free of cost to selected participants, though travel and housing expenses are not covered.
Besides these dedicated advanced training opportunities, there are major conferences that cover IBD extensively and exclusively. These include the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress® conducted jointly by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association, the annual Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases through Imedex, the annual European Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, the American College of Gastroenterology’s IBD School, as well as several regional courses conducted throughout the country. In terms of networking opportunities for gastroenterology fellows interested in IBD and junior faculty, REACH-IBD (Rising Educators, Academicians and Clinicians Helping Inflammatory Bowel Disease), founded under the auspices of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in 2013, provides a unique resource. This group is open to all clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty (pediatric and adult; medical and surgical specialties, as well as PhDs) less than 7 years out of training with a rank not higher than assistant professor. The mission is to facilitate networking and career development for clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty with an interest in IBD; increase active participation of our members in the clinical, educational, scientific, and research programs within the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation; and foster collaborative research among our members within the Foundation. The group organizes specific breakout events at the Digestive Disease Week® and the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, covering diverse topics such as setting up an IBD practice, funding opportunities, paper and grant writing, career advancement guidance. More information on this can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
To summarize, there are numerous opportunities of varying lengths to receive training in inflammatory bowel diseases. This exciting field is expanding at a rapid pace, and instead of limiting management to dedicated IBD Centers of Excellence, there is clear need for effective dissemination of new management approaches and incorporation of quality measures will likely raise the bar for all patients and physicians who care for them.
AGA offers IBD education
Check out AGA’s on-demand IBD education available in AGA University.
Dr. Singh is assistant professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego. He is supported by the American College of Gastroenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, has received research grants from Pfizer and AbbVie, and consulting fees from AbbVie, Takeda, and AMAG Pharmaceuticals.
The global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising, and it is estimated that by 2025, approximately 2.2 million Americans will be living with this disease. At the same time, there have been several paradigm-changing scientific and medical advances in the understanding and management of IBD. As the diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring armamentarium in the management of IBD increases, so is the complexity of the decision making. Advanced concepts and training are often not covered adequately during a general gastroenterology fellowship. In a survey of 160 trainees, more than one-third of fellows did not feel “confident” or “mostly comfortable” with their level of IBD training. Yet, efficient dissemination, effective translation and integration of these advances into clinical practice is paramount to improving quality of care. To facilitate multiple goals as listed in Table 1, advanced training in the field of IBD is increasingly important. In this article, I review different training options available for young gastroenterologists.
Readers are also directed to an excellent article by David Rubin, MD, published in Gastroenterology in 2015.
Advanced fellowship training in IBD
The most rigorous training in IBD is offered through dedicated advanced fellowships. Currently, there are more than 20 such fellowships in North America, most of them offered at large academic centers with nationally and internationally renowned faculty. These training positions are generally 1 year long, offered after completion of gastroenterology fellowship. The Accreditation Council of the Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) does not accredit these advanced training programs, and there is not a separate American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification for IBD. Funding of such programs comes from different sources including endowments, private foundations, institutional funds, pharmaceutical company grants, and even limited faculty appointments of the trainees. Though there is currently no official regulatory oversight and requirements, most programs have well-defined curricula covering diverse aspects of IBD care. This core curriculum has been nicely summarized in a recent article by Uma Mahadevan, MD, in Gastroenterology.
Clinical training in these programs is offered through a mix of outpatient IBD clinics (generally three to five clinics/week, with one or more senior IBD-focused faculty member), supervising general gastroenterology fellows for inpatient IBD care, dedicated IBD-focused endoscopy sessions (generally one or two sessions/week) including chromoendoscopy and stricture dilation, as well as formal and informal mentorship by one or more senior faculty members, time and mentorship for scholarly activities, and appropriate evaluation and feedback systems. In addition, most programs offer multidisciplinary training through dedicated clinics with colorectal surgeons (such as pouch clinics, etc.), opportunities for observing and interacting with radiologists, pathologists, psychologists, and dietitians.
There is no centralized application process and prospective applicants should reach out to their program directors and mentors regarding guidance, as well as program directors of specific training programs to learn more about these programs, generally in the second half of their gastroenterology training. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation maintains a list of fellowship training programs and appropriate contacts. In choosing a specific program, prospective fellows should consider the rigor and diversity of training, balance between service and scholarship, mentorship opportunities as well as the experience and outcomes of previous fellows in the program. Besides formal interviews at prospective program, fellows should utilize the networking opportunities afforded through the American Gastroenterological Association (both with senior faculty as well as through the Trainee and Early-Career Committee), the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation as well as other organizations in learning more about programs.
Visiting IBD Fellow Program: Clinical observership, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Visiting IBD Fellow Program – with the support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation – which launched in 2006, arose from the need for immersive training in IBD, especially for fellows for whom IBD exposure may be limited. In this 1-month “observership,” interested 2nd and 3rd year fellows get the opportunity to observe faculty at a high-volume, multidisciplinary IBD Center of Excellence. Besides providing additional knowledge and expertise in the field, this also allows fellows the chance to understand how IBD Centers are set up, so they may seek to replicate similar models as local or regional IBD experts. Currently, 12 centers participate in this program. There is no cost to the fellows who are selected to participate, and all travel expenses and lodging are covered. The program significantly improved the fellows’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward IBD and has steadily gained in popularity, with more than 60-80 applicants for 10-20 positions per year (depending on funding). In addition to the clinical exposure, this experience also facilitates networking with faculty and other fellows at participating institutions. Full details of this program can be accessed from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
A similar, expenses-paid, abbreviated 3-day program of IBD preceptorship has been launched for advanced practice providers (qualified advanced-practice nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants). This program provides preceptee exposure to medical, surgical, outpatient, and inpatient experiences with patients at a leading academic IBD center.
Visiting IBD Research Fellowship Program, through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recently launched a new, short-term, mentored research initiative designed to promote career advancement for talented junior investigators dedicated to IBD research, and to enable knowledge-sharing among leaders in the IBD field. The Foundation encourages outstanding young scientists (postdoctoral studies in the first 3 years of their fellowship), who would like to expand their expertise in IBD research to participate in this short-term research training, carried out in a cutting-edge, NIH-funded laboratory under the mentorship of a leader in IBD research. This all-expense covered 3-12 week rotation provides mentorship and technical training in a state-of-the-art research lab relevant to IBD, with an emphasis on preclinical research most closely relevant to human disease. Details of the program can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
IBD Xcel
In 2013, Cornerstones Health, a nonprofit medical education organization, launched a 2-day program dedicated to advances in the field of IBD for junior gastroenterologists within 5 years of completion of their fellowship training. The program includes a didactic component as well as close interaction with a number of IBD experts, small-group discussions about difficult cases, and recent journal articles, as well as career-development advice. The education component is free of cost to selected participants, though travel and housing expenses are not covered.
Besides these dedicated advanced training opportunities, there are major conferences that cover IBD extensively and exclusively. These include the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress® conducted jointly by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association, the annual Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases through Imedex, the annual European Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, the American College of Gastroenterology’s IBD School, as well as several regional courses conducted throughout the country. In terms of networking opportunities for gastroenterology fellows interested in IBD and junior faculty, REACH-IBD (Rising Educators, Academicians and Clinicians Helping Inflammatory Bowel Disease), founded under the auspices of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in 2013, provides a unique resource. This group is open to all clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty (pediatric and adult; medical and surgical specialties, as well as PhDs) less than 7 years out of training with a rank not higher than assistant professor. The mission is to facilitate networking and career development for clinical fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty with an interest in IBD; increase active participation of our members in the clinical, educational, scientific, and research programs within the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation; and foster collaborative research among our members within the Foundation. The group organizes specific breakout events at the Digestive Disease Week® and the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, covering diverse topics such as setting up an IBD practice, funding opportunities, paper and grant writing, career advancement guidance. More information on this can be found on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
To summarize, there are numerous opportunities of varying lengths to receive training in inflammatory bowel diseases. This exciting field is expanding at a rapid pace, and instead of limiting management to dedicated IBD Centers of Excellence, there is clear need for effective dissemination of new management approaches and incorporation of quality measures will likely raise the bar for all patients and physicians who care for them.
AGA offers IBD education
Check out AGA’s on-demand IBD education available in AGA University.
Dr. Singh is assistant professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego. He is supported by the American College of Gastroenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, has received research grants from Pfizer and AbbVie, and consulting fees from AbbVie, Takeda, and AMAG Pharmaceuticals.
