Transplant Hepatology Fellowship

Program Director: Reena Salgia, M.D.
Fellowship Coordinator: Ivy Anspach

Objectives:

The Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at Henry Ford is a 1-year pilot training program that takes place during the 3rd year of our ABIM-certified Gastroenterology Fellowship. Currently this is available to internal Gastroenterology fellows who are in good standing, and interested in committing to a career in advanced hepatology and liver transplantation. The objective of the training program is to provide outstanding clinical training to allow candidates to become ABIM certified in transplant hepatology. Fellows will graduate with a comprehensive knowledge and comfort of managing patients with acute and chronic liver disease including acute liver failure, portal hypertension, pre- and post-transplant management, long-term complications of liver transplant, and hepatobiliary cancers.

Clinical Activities:

This is a year-long fellowship during which the majority of the time will be dedicated to advanced training in hepatology and transplant. Rotations will be focused on the inpatient consultative service, ambulatory clinics that include pre-transplant and post-transplant management, liver cancer clinic, rotations in liver pathology and liver radiology. The fellow will be able to serve in the role of junior attending on the consultative service, while mentored by a senior staff. He/She will get to have an active role teaching the gastroenterology fellows, residents, and medical students. During the training, there is a focus on learning the pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative management of liver transplant patients. Additionally, the fellow with learn immunosuppressive management and the management of complications post-transplant. During the 1-year training, the fellow will get an opportunity to perform liver biopsies, observe transplant surgeries (both cadaveric and live donor), and observe a donor procurement. There are many opportunities over the year to participate in research and to present at a regional and/or national level.

Educational Activities:

The educational focus of the training program continues on during the Transplant Hepatology training. This includes a didactic curriculum focused on transplant hepatology and advanced hepatology topics, histopathology, and radiology teaching. Important educational conferences including Journal Club, Morbidity and Mortality conference, and Grand Rounds are attended by the fellow. Every week, the fellow would participate in our Multidisciplinary Transplant Selection Committee as well as weekly Liver Tumor Board. Fellows are encouraged to attend both the annual AASLD meeting and the American Transplant Congress and receive funding support to cover expenses. We encourage and support submission of research and participation in other educational conferences and CME areas of interest.