The Gastroenterology/Hepatology Fellowship Program is designed to provide training for either a career in clinical practice or academic gastroenterology.  Currently there are two positions available each year in this three-year program, which encompasses MetroHealth Medical Center, and some selected rotations in the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

During the three years of fellowship, a total of at least 12 months is available for performance of research and electives.  The rest of the fellowship period is spent in gaining experience in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition in the two institutions.  All fellows receive extensive training and experience in the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopies and colonoscopies, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography.  Two outpatient clinics a week are held in which fellows follow patients for the duration of the fellowship under the supervision of attending physicians.  Regular conferences are held including radiology, pathology, journal club, core lectures and research topics (total three hours per week).  In addition, consultation teaching rounds are held daily.

Since the Division of Gastroenterology provides a consultation service to the Department of Internal Medicine and other hospital departments, fellows have independent consultative interactions with the residents and medical students before full consultative rounds with the attending gastroenterologist.  In this way, independent consultative, cognitive skills are fostered.  Continuity Clinic (twice a week at MetroHealth) will enable fellows to follow their patients throughout the course of their fellowship.  The Specialty Clinic is always attended by multiple consultant gastroenterologists.

Research experience is gained usually in two types of settings:

• Clinical research encompassing areas of interest to the gastroenterology division including the following: Hepatitis C, health care delivery issues, fatty liver, and complications of liver disease.
• Basic research areas of interest are: intermediate metabolism in liver disease, body composition measurement, pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, hormonal nutritional and metabolic alterations in liver disease, mechanisms of Hepatitis C, fat and alcohol liver injury and treatment of viral hepatitis.

However, fellows can perform research in other areas of special interest in gastroenterology.  The fellowship is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and enjoys a national reputation for productivity and excellence.

Fellows receive four weeks of vacation in addition to four floating holidays per year.  Health, life, dental, and vision care insurance are included in the benefit package.  Parking is available for a nominal charge.  Salary for the 2012-2013 academic year is $53,718 for a PGY4 fellow.


Kevin Mullen, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology
MetroHealth Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University

2012 Fellowship Applications

Applications must be submitted through ERAS and the deadline is August 31, 2012.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Fellowship Coordinator Holly Bennett.