Gastroenterology/hepatology societies release report evaluating fellowship training ...(e future of gastroenterology training: ...),Health

1. Retain pairing of GI/hepatology training. The training and certification of hepatology and GI should not be separate since many hepatologists are required to manage digestive problems for their patients. Additionally, the task force recommends that the term "gastroenterology and hepatology" (gastroenterology/hepatology) be used when referring to the broad specialty of GI.

2. Create competency-based curriculum. The GI and hepatology societies should revise the Gastroenterology Core Curriculum into a competency-based document, with the recognition that procedural training will still necessitate technical and cognitive milestones. Any changes to the training programs must be consistent with what is best for patients and improve patient care. If the proposed, redesigned curriculum develops and demonstrates improved trainee outcomes against a set of defined core competencies, it will be received favorably by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which certifies internal medicine subspecialists.

3. Condense training process for transplant hepatologists. There is a shortage of trained transplant hepatologists, perhaps as a result, in part, to the length of time for training. The task force believes the Maintenance of Certification process can be used to enhance the requirements for transplant hepatology training and experience while allowing the standard GI/hepatology fellowship to be used as the starting point for training in transplant hepatology.

4. Enhance disease-specific training. In determining what GI/hepatology training programs should look like more generally, the task force agreed that while many trainees will want broad-based training on the full spectrum of digestive diseases, enhanced training in specific disease areas, such as motility and functional disorders, nutrition and obesity, irritable bowel disease, gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary oncology, or advanced endoscopy, should
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