Gastroenterology Fellowship

The Gastroenterology Fellowship program is a three-year program that provides the opportunity for trainees to achieve cognitive knowledge and procedural skills, develop interpersonal skills, professionalism, cultivate humanistic attitudes, ethical behaviors and gain supervised practical experience as a consultant in treating a wide range of clinical problems- acute and chronic- in varied patient populations (different ethnicities, age groups, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds). During the three-year fellowship, clinical and research experience will be spent at the principal affiliate and sponsoring institution Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/RWJ University Hospital, with dedicated clinical rotations at the University Hospital/Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and the Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Fellows also actively participate in student and resident training.

Educational conferences are held on a regular basis and all fellows participate actively in the planning and participation of these conferences.

CLINICAL SITES:

The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) Gastroenterology Fellowship is an ACGME accredited program where fellows are exposed to a large diversity of cases through our clinical sites.

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH)

RWJMS is the sponsoring institution for the fellowship program. Located in New Brunswick, RWJUH is the principal affiliate and clinical site. This is a large 600-bed tertiary level university hospital, and is recognized as one of New Jersey’s premier academic medical centers. The Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology is staffed by nine full-time faculty with significant expertise in various GI and liver disorders, and provide education and training to the fellowship program. Rotations include General GI and Hepatology consult service, IBD outpatient service, Advanced/Biliary consult service and Ambulatory Practice.

University Hospital via Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS)

Fellows rotate here during their 2^nd and 3^rd year where they receive training in advanced liver diseases and liver transplantation. Located in Newark, University Hospital is a large academic center that harbors the first liver transplant center in New Jersey. The Center for Advanced Liver Diseases and Transplantation provides advanced liver disease management and pre/post-liver transplant care.

VA New Jersey Health Care System

Fellows receive ambulatory clinic experience and endoscopic procedural training through outpatient endoscopies at their specialized ambulatory procedure units.

CALENDAR OF ROTATIONS:

Fellowship training encompasses the following rotations:

General GI Consult Service (RWJUH)IBD Outpatient Service & Endoscopy (RWJUH)

Interventional/Advanced/Biliary Consult Service (RWJUH)

Hepatology Inpatient and Outpatient Service (RWJUH)

Transplant Hepatology Service (UH, Newark)

Research (RWJUH)

Ambulatory Practice – Continuity Clinics (RWJUH)

VA Rotation (West Orange/Lyons, VA)

Electives (RWJUH)

All fellows are required to rotate on every rotation so that they are provided with comprehensive exposure to all aspects of gastroenterology and hepatology.  For fellows who enter the program with a well-defined interest in a particular area, attempts are made to expose the fellow to that field as early in their training as possible.  The only exception is Interventional/Advanced Consult Service, wherein fellows are required to perform at least one year of standard endoscopy training before embarking on more advanced procedures. 

EXPERIENCE

Fellows are given extensive time for research during research rotations despite their rigorous clinical training at this time.  The research rotation will be protected time.  Fellows must declare one or more research interests, which they will have time to discover during their first year.  By second year, they are expected to establish a research focus, design a project, identify a mentor and initiate their research project.  These projects may include basic science or clinical research.  The main focus of this rotation is to develop research skills that can be applied within a highly academic setting, resulting in a quality publication at the end. The fellows are encouraged to actively participate in research activities and present their findings at a national meeting.

OPPORTUNITIES

Every fellow is expected to identify a mentor and project(s), and initiate meetings with potential mentors and others participating in their research. Fellows then meet regularly with their research mentor through the course of their study. Every fellow is also expected to complete at least one quality improvement project over the course of their fellowship.  If they choose, they may lead this project with a team including but not limited to medicine residents and students.  Their quality improvement project should be conceptualized by the end of first year.  Updates on this project will need to be provided during each semi-annual Program Director evaluation.

Fellows are also expected to submit research to one or more of the four main digestive diseases conferences each year.  As a first author, they will present this research at the conferences.  While attending these conferences, they will participate in other scheduled lectures, courses and conferences, and present this updated research during didactic sessions. Fellows may also choose to participate in other research activities including writing book chapters, manuscript reviews and invited research submissions

• Completion and passing of all three USMLE steps
• ABIM board certified or board eligible
• The accepted applicant must obtain a full NJ license (limited license if on visa)
• A valid ECFMG certificate for all foreign medical graduates
• Completion of a prior internal medicine residency is required

Meghana Ghattu, MD

Fellowship Year 1

Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University

Residency: Abbott-Northwestern Hospital Program

Fellowship: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Hepatology

Ankoor H. Patel, MD

Fellowship Year 1

Medical School: New York Medical College

Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Naveen Mallangada, MD

Fellowship Year 1

Medical School: Stony Brook School of Medicine
Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Sophia Pimpinelli, MD

Fellowship Year 1

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Toni Marie Chandler, MD

Fellowship Year 2

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Residency: Atlantic Health (Morristown) 

Fellowship: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Hepatology

Brenda French, MD

Fellowship Year 2

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Lauren Lally, MD

Fellowship Year 2

Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Samuel Jo, MD

Fellowship Year 2

Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Residency:  Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Ping He, MD, PhD

Fellowship Year 3

Medical School: Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Scott Ventre, DO

Fellowship Year 3 – Chief

Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Justin Zhuo, MD

Fellowship Year 3

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine

Residency: Stanford Health Care-Sponsored Stanford University

Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellow 2024 – 2025

Briette Karanfilian, MD

Fellowship Year 1- PGY 7

Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Fellowship: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Gastroenterology

Faculty Listing needed