Research

Overview

Research and scholarly activity are integral components of the Henry Ford Gastroenterology Fellowship. All fellows are required to participate in at least one meaningful research project during their training. Dedicated research time is distributed across all three years to allow fellows to develop, execute, and present their work while balancing clinical responsibilities.
The overarching goal is for each fellow to complete a project that results in presentation at a national meeting and submission of a manuscript for publication.

Three-Year Research Progression

First Year

• Identify a research mentor based on interests and available projects
• Select a research question and develop a study protocol
• Complete IRB submission and approval

Second Year

• Conduct data collection, analysis, and interpretation
• Submit research as an abstract to a major national meeting

Third Year

• Present findings at a national conference
• Prepare and submit a manuscript for publication

Conference Participation

Fellows are strongly encouraged to present their research at national and regional conferences. The program provides funding and clinical coverage to support attendance at one major national meeting each year:

• First-Year Fellows: Attend Digestive Disease Week (DDW) and the ASGE First-Year Fellows’ Endoscopy Course, which all first-year fellows participate in together each August.
• Second-Year Fellows: Attend the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) annual meeting.
• Third-Year Fellows: Attend the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) annual meeting.

In addition to national conferences, the Division of Gastroenterology hosts an Annual Research Symposium each April, where fellows present ongoing and completed projects, receive faculty feedback, and showcase their scholarly work to the division.

Research Resources and Institutional Support

Our fellows have access to a wide range of institutional resources to support every stage of research — from project conception to publication.

Sladen Library

• Provides free literature searches and systematic review assistance
• Offers manuscript preparation services for journal articles, book chapters, grants, abstracts, and CVs
• Assistance includes:
  • Citation verification and reference updates within MS Word
  • Creating custom citation styles and formatting
  • Meeting journal-specific style and submission requirements
  • Light grammar review and technical formatting support

GME Research Support Services

• All fellows are eligible for 10 hours of professional research consultation through Henry Ford’s GME-supported Research Support Services, including assistance with:
  • Study design and statistical analysis
  • Data management and interpretation
  • Methodologic guidance

GME Medical Copyediting

The GME Office provides free copyediting services for all residents and fellows preparing manuscripts, abstracts, or presentations.

GME Research Grant Funding

• Fellows may apply for up to $5,000 in GME Research Grant funding to support project costs and data collection.
• These competitive grants offer trainees the opportunity to deepen their understanding of research design, implementation, and dissemination.

Publications by the Division

Explore recent publications and scholarly work from our division: Articles by the Division of Gastroenterology at Henry Ford Health