Conferences
There are several formal and informal conferences that are held on a monthly or weekly basis as part of the Gastroenterology training program. These conferences have various formats and include the range below.
Internal Conferences
Fellows will attend at least ninety percent of all gastroenterology conferences. An attendance record will be maintained. Some conferences will be combined with other functions at either the institution and/or the medical school. Other services, students, residents, and the gastroenterology community are encouraged to attend all fellowship conferences.
Fellows are encouraged to participate in a weekly virtual pathology conference conducted by the GI division of the University of Iowa under the supervision of Dr. Ali and the University of Iowa GI Pathology faculty.
Cases are selected either by the Gastroenterology Service or by the Radiology staff presenting the conference. Common and uncommon radiologic features are reviewed. This may be on a selected interesting case or targeted topic basis. Normal anatomy, as well as imaging techniques and general principles of radiology, will also be covered (and will also be addressed in Clinical and Basic Science Conferences – 4 and 5 below).
The entire staff, including house staff and fellow physicians, meet to discuss either perplexing diagnostic cases or management problems so that all may be allowed to participate and contribute their knowledge and experience. The fellow presenting the case also reviews and formally presents the most recent and/or pertinent literature concerning the case. Specific attention to the nutritional aspects of ongoing patient care will be explored when appropriate. At least once a month on average, a case specifically focusing on nutrition will be discussed. This will occur at the end of each core lecture session.
A series of lectures, usually of a didactic nature, on common clinical problems, diagnostic techniques or therapeutic modalities, are presented by both staff and trainees on a rotating basis. The topics are spread out over a three-year period so that during the entire fellowship training, the fellows are exposed to each lecture only once during their training. The only exception is those topics that the staff feels the fellows (especially the incoming first-year fellow) must be exposed to on a yearly basis. For this conference, slides are prepared utilizing a variety of slide-making software such as Harvard Graphics or PowerPoint, both of which are readily available within the department. Handouts or lecture outlines are also highly encouraged. Feedback via form will be given to both staff and fellows. The fellow’s performance and progression will be included as a part of their training record.
A series of lectures by both staff and fellow physicians covering basic science and physiology topics. These topics are spread over the entire three-year fellowship training, so that fellows are exposed to each topic once during their fellowship. This will also include articles from the general medical literature, as well as gastroenterology journals, are reviewed by the entire service. Critical review of scientific articles is emphasized. This will be incorporated at the end of most of our weekly core lecture sessions. The fellow’s performance and progression will be included as a part of their training recorded.
The status of ongoing fellow research projects will be tracked and reviewed on a monthly basis. This will include independent projects for graduation requirements as well as other projects on which fellows are assistant investigators. This forum, often in conjunction with Journal Club, will also be used to develop research ideas. Staff will be serving as a sounding board for these ideas, shepherding and mentoring the fellows in the development of these hypotheses. Research design principles, ethics of research, informed consent standards, human subject use, etc., will be an a priori part of these sessions.
Topics of general medicine interest are presented by UMU and VAMC staff or by distinguished visiting professors. Participation is hospital-wide.
Cases are selected by both the Gastroenterology Service and the Surgery staff for presentation at the conference. Common and uncommon cases are reviewed with emphasis on the interaction between the specialties, thereby promoting system integration, professional relations, and teamwork. This may be on a selected interesting case or targeted topic basis. Surgical techniques and approaches will be discussed for the benefit of the medical trainees, and medical approaches will be discussed for the benefit of the surgical trainees. Radiological and pathologic input will be solicited when appropriate.
As a part of their duties regarding conference scheduling, the third-year fellow will ensure that at least one Tuesday lecture each quarter will be devoted to topics in this document.
As a part of their duties regarding conference scheduling, the third-year fellow will ensure that at least one Tuesday lecture each quarter will be devoted to this topic. In addition to the lecture, the below link will be reviewed.
External Conferences
All fellows may request written permission from the fellowship Program Director and program administrator to attend national conferences. Fellows whose efforts have been accepted at said conferences for presentation (abstracts, oral, or poster presentations) will be given priority.
Fellows will receive a $300 educational allotment from the Department of Medicine, which can be used toward reimbursement for conference attendance, registration, lodging, meals, and airfare. First author presenters will be granted an additional $600 reimbursement budget, as per the Department of Medicine. These reimbursement options are only available once per academic year and will reset in July of the next academic year. The Gastroenterology division is happy to help cover the cost of poster printing, if fellows request and receive written approval from the Division Chief and Program Director. Original receipts for all requested reimbursements will be required.
