Fellowship Program

Program Description

The overall goal of the Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship Program is to train clinical and academic leadership. The program encompasses a comprehensive clinical exposure, with the candidate being supervised by full time academic faculty of highly experienced experts in IBD.

The successful candidate is expected to complete a research project during the tenure. A wide variety of clinical and basic science research options are available including projects relating to clinical outcomes and pharmacogenetics, epidemiology and genetics, as well as animal models of IBD and associated colorectal cancer, cell and molecular biology.

Applicants must have completed at least two years in an approved gastroenterology fellowship and should be competent in all areas of general gastroenterology and routine endoscopic procedures. Advanced IBD Fellows will be expected to participate directly in the care of outpatients with IBD seen in conjunction with IBD Faculty for at least four half-day sessions, weekly. An additional whole day will be devoted to endoscopic procedures needed for the care of these patients. The Advanced IBD Fellow will also assist in follow up of inpatient consultations and admissions to the IBD service. About 20-40% of time will be devoted to the design and execution of independent research projects relating to IBD. Appropriate kinds of research will include clinical trials, observational studies, outcomes research, meta-analyses, decision analyses, lab-based basic science and translational projects.

Training Requirements

The fellowship program provides a full-time, 12-month experience. In special circumstances, arrangements can be made for other lengths of training. Elements of the program include:

Clinical Training

The advanced fellow will see patients in the IBD Clinics at McGill’s 4 primary teaching hospitals, with comprehensive exposure to diverse clinical presentations. The candidate will work under the close supervision of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition's academic gastroenterologists who have a special interest in IBD. In addition, consultations are available with members of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery to evaluate the surgical options for management.

Electives

During the year, the trainee will have the opportunity to spend time in focused areas related to IBD, tailored to the trainees' particular interests. Potential areas for training include: state of the art diagnostic as well as therapeutic endoscopy, radiology, pathology, clinical nutrition, colorectal surgery, and pediatric GI.

The trainee will participate and present at the biweekly McGill IBD Research Group meetings. In addition, the trainee is expected to attend the weekly Gastroenterology Divisional Academic Sessions and GI subspecialty conferences.

Research

The fellowship program covers the full spectrum of clinical and basic science aspects of IBD. Trainees will have the opportunity to participate in IBD studies under the mentorship of a McGill IBD Research Group member. The Advanced IBD Fellowship Program offers:

• Personalized training for selected individuals who wish to pursue careers as clinician- investigators.
• Formal training in clinical and basic research in preparation for conducting independent research.
• The opportunity to pursue a master's degree in biomedical science or clinical research, according to the trainee’s needs.
• A high faculty-to-trainee ratio, large patient population and advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and research facilities that combine to create an integrated, comprehensive educational experience.

Research Focus Areas:

• Clinical epidemiology and outcomes mucosal immunology
• Biomarker studies in IBD (genetics and serology), classification of IBD
• Genetic, environmental and microbial factors involved in disease pathogenesis intestinal epithelial cell biology
• IBD imaging, including capsule endoscopy
• Colon cancer (dysplasia) screening
• Animal models of IBD (pathogenesis, carcinogenesis)
• Pathology
• Surgical outcomes pediatric IBD
• Quality of care indicators and assessment, harmonized care and rapid access clinics
• Personalized medicine, predicting outcomes in patients on biologicals and immunomodulators (TDM, clinical and biomarkers)