Training & Curriculum

Fellows attend 3-5 half-day outpatient clinics at the Cedars-Sinai IBD Center working directly with our core IBD faculty. This includes 1 half-day of IBD fellows continuity clinic, allowing for longitudinal patient care. We additionally have a robust inpatient IBD consult service. Fellows rotate on service approximately 4-8 weeks per year and are expected to supervise general gastroenterology fellows and rotating residents & medical students. Fellows will have appropriate faculty back-up during these week-long rotations.

Participation in our novel multidisciplinary clinics is further encouraged. These include:

• IBD Pouch Clinic
• IBD Nutrition Clinic
• IBD Prehabilitation Clinic
• IBD Spondyloarthritis Clinic
• IBD Women’s Health, Pre-Conception & Pregnancy Clinic

Fellows will also have the opportunity for dedicated sub-specialty rotations in Abdominal Radiology, IBD Pathology, Colorectal Surgery, and Rheumatology.

Fellows participate in dedicated IBD endoscopy blocks 1-2 days per week and will develop an expertise in IBD endoscopy including chromoendoscopy, stricture dilation, scoring of disease activity. Opportunities are additionally afforded to complete training in video capsule endoscopy and intestinal ultrasound (IUS). Our IBD faculty consists of several providers who have incorporated IUS in their clinical practice, including leaders in IUS research who additionally serve as expert IUS faculty for the International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS) and for the Intestinal Ultrasound Group of the Unites States and Canada (iUSCAN). Interested fellows will be supported to complete the IBUS Module 1-3 training curriculum during their year.

Fellows with specific interests in dietary treatment and management of IBD will be considered to participate in our Advanced Dietary IBD Education and Training (DIET) Program.

The research experience is a critical component of the Advanced IBD fellowship. Fellows will be assigned a primary research mentor (basic-science, translational, or clinical) to identify potential research interests and projects. Fellows will additionally have access to and contribute to our MIRIAD Biobank to aid in identifying an appropriate research project. Under supervision with their research mentor, fellows are expected to develop, conduct, and complete their project over the course of the academic year. Fellows are provided statistical, analytic, and regulatory support, and will present their research project to faculty at monthly research meetings and at Gastroenterology Ground Rounds for critical appraisal. Fellows are expected to submit their research for presentation at national or international meetings and to submit a manuscript for publication.

Fellows are also encouraged to participate in our large-volume industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials program. Fellows will have the opportunity to participate as sub-investigators in studies and to conduct patient care visits.

Fellows with interests in healthcare delivery are invited to apply to the novel Masters of Science in Health Systems (MSHS) program.

Fellows will have exposure to educational conferences throughout their fellowship and are responsible for moderating approximately 2 conferences a month. Our program offers several educational conferences on a weekly to monthly basis including:

• IBD Case Conference
• IBD Core Research Conference
• IBD Pathology Conference
• IBD Journal Club
• IBD Multidisciplinary Conference
• IBD Psychosocial Case Conference
• Gastroenterology Grand Rounds

All opportunities to participate in national IBD fellow educational initiatives will be afforded. Fellows will be provided resources for and are encouraged to attend the Advances in IBD Meeting, Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, and Digestive Diseases Week. Attendance to additional conferences will be considered.