Gastroenterology Fellowship Program

A message from Vishvinder Sharma, MD, Program Director

Welcome to the Valley Hospital Medical Center Gastroenterology Fellowship Program.

The GI Fellowship Program is an ACGME-accredited three-year training fellowship in Gastroenterology. It was conceived six years ago in partnership with Digestive Associates, a high-volume specialty practice where continuity clinic is held. The program’s strength is derived from the exceptional clinical exposure provided at Valley Hospital Medical Center and several of its sister hospitals within the Las Vegas Valley.

Instruction is provided by seven board-certified gastroenterologists as well as a faculty member board certified in liver transplantation. Evidence-based medicine is the hallmark of our instructional platform and the successful fellowship candidate is expected to participate in that program. Didactic lectures, journal club, radiology, and pathology experiences benefit from the fellows' input. Each of the fellows is also responsible for a clinical research project under the supervision of a research mentor.

Clinical training takes place in three Valley Health System hospitals: Valley Hospital Medical Center, Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, and Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center. The fellow is responsible for all facets of the patient's gastroenterology care under the direct supervision of his or her attending physician. Endoscopic intervention of course plays an integral role in the care of our patients and the acquisition of necessary skills is achieved over the three-year training program. This includes EGO, colonoscopy, ERCP, PEG, esophageal and anorectal manometry, and video capsule endoscopy. Outpatient continuity clinic takes place at three office locations under the auspices of the Digestive Associates, LLP.

What cannot be communicated in any welcome letter is the strong sense of community that permeates our fellowship program. We are family in every sense of the word and draw strength from each of our members. We welcome you to participate.