Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship

Dear Fellowship Candidate,

At Scripps, we are committed to providing exceptional training in gastroenterology and hepatology, with broad exposure to a range of subspecialties. Our mission is to develop not only outstanding clinicians, but also physician-scientists and educators. We are committed to advancing the field through the use of evidence-based decision making and a dedication to continuous education. 

As a former fellow who joined the division over a decade ago, I have witnessed remarkable growth and evolution within the program. We have recruited nationally recognized leaders and expanded our expertise across key areas, including advanced endoscopy, gastrointestinal motility, transplant hepatology and inflammatory bowel disease, enabling us to meet the demands of a high-volume referral center. Despite this growth, fellowship education remains the central priority of our division.

In the coming year, we will launch a unique partnership with the Navy medical system, allowing us to expand our fellowship and train an additional fellow. This collaboration introduces valuable new perspectives on medical training while creating enhanced opportunities for fellows, including the potential for an IBD-focused track, earlier exposure to advanced endoscopy and increased elective time.

It is an honor to serve as program director of the Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program. We look forward to mentoring and supporting the next generation of gastroenterologists as the field enters a new era defined by prevention, innovative therapies, minimally invasive techniques and the integration of artificial intelligence.

Ahmad Mansour, MD

Fellowship Program Director

Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program

Dear Fellowship Candidate,

The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Scripps Clinic brings together an exceptional team of specialists united by a commitment to outstanding clinical care, translational and clinical research and the training of the next generation of gastroenterologists.

We are nationally recognized leaders in gastrointestinal medicine, delivering expert consultation across the full spectrum of GI diseases. Our subspecialty expertise encompasses inflammatory bowel disease, esophageal disorders, hepatology, pancreatic-biliary disease and advanced endoscopic techniques.

Our Esophageal Center of Excellence draws patients from across the country seeking expert care for GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. Our specialists rank among the most experienced in the nation in radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. For pancreaticobiliary malignancies, our dedicated cancer team, a proud member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), provides integrated endoscopic and oncologic care at the highest level.

Our faculty are widely published and hold leadership positions across the field's premier professional societies, including the AGA, ACG, ASGE and AASLD. We maintain an active clinical trials portfolio, supported by a dedicated and experienced research team.

Our gastroenterology fellowship is among the most competitive in the nation, attracting more than 400 applicants each year. Graduates go on to distinguished careers in both academic medicine and clinical practice.

Through partnerships with the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) and The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), our fellows and faculty engage in translational and clinical research that advances the boundaries of GI and hepatology. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to training the next generation of leaders and shaping the future of our field.

Regards,

Fouad Moawad, MD

Fellowship Division Head

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program

Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital

Sample of clinical rotations:

• Advanced endoscopy
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Inpatient GI
• Inpatient hepatology
• Motility
• Outpatient GI/research
• Outpatient hepatology/transplant
• Surgery, radiology, nutrition and pathology
• Electives

The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is exceptionally productive and fellows have access to a wealth of endoscopic training. Our fellows perform an average of at least 400 procedures during their first year and over 1,000 procedures before graduation. During an average year, the Division performs approximately:

• 6,000 colonoscopies
• 2,000 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs)
• 300 endoscopic ultrasounds
• 250 ERCPs
• 100 liver biopsies

The advanced endoscopy group performs more than 600 procedures each year, including:

• Anorectal motility testing
• ERCPs
• Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration
• Esophageal motility testing including EndoFLIP/EsoFLIP
• Single-balloon enteroscopy
• Choledochoscopy (Spyglass)
• Capsule endoscopy
• Radiofrequency ablation 
• Cryotherapy ablation
• EUS guided fiducial placement
• Enteral stenting techniques
• Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
• Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
• Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF)
• Endoscopic suturing
• Endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (ESG)

Fellows have the opportunity to gain experience in these procedures as early as their second year.

Clinical and research training in gastroenterology and hepatology

The Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program started in 1959 and is the oldest in San Diego. It is a three-year ACGME-accredited training program, designed to provide clinical expertise in gastroenterology and hepatology. The curriculum is structured to provide the full spectrum of educational experiences. After completing the program, fellows are fully prepared for board certification in both gastroenterology and transplant hepatology.

Gastroenterology and oncology

Scripps Clinic has a nationally recognized expertise in the treatment of GI and liver malignancies. The Scripps Clinic Esophageal Center is a site of excellence with a unique focus on Barrett’s and early esophageal cancer providing ablative services by radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. We have created a large multi-disciplinary pancreaticobiliary cancer team that participates in the national PanCan network. This team of gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons provides state-of-the-art endoscopic and oncologic treatment of pancreatic and biliary cancers. We have access to multiple leading-edge protocols and are having great success in treating our patients. We have expanded our treatment of liver cancers providing resection, transplant and advanced radiation treatment to our patients. Our colorectal service provides state-of-the-art care from endoscopic diagnosis and treatment to surgical resection using minimally invasive techniques and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Hepatology

The program is run by five hepatologists including four transplant hepatologists that are closely involved in trainee education. Our hepatitis study group is one of the largest referral centers for chronic viral hepatitis treatment in the United States. We collaborate with The Scripps Research Institute and many other centers around the country. Our members present and publish research regularly and lecture nationally and internationally. 

Research

Fellows have many opportunities to participate in ongoing research projects. All trainees must develop their own research project and are expected to publish in a peer-reviewed journal. Fellows are encouraged to participate in local, regional and national professional organizations. Many trainees have presented abstracts that have been honored at the national level. The Division is active in clinical research in viral hepatitis diagnosis and treatment, cirrhosis and cholestatic diseases liver (PBC, PSC), colon cancer detection, organ transplantation, circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, therapeutic procedures in Barrett’s esophagus, including radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation and endoscopic mucosal resection, and inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Sample didactics schedule (PDF, 59 KB)
• Sample gastroenterology fellowship curriculum (PDF, 130 KB)
• Sample advanced endoscopy rotation (PDF, 82 KB)

• Fouad Moawad, MD - Division head
• Ahmad Mansour, MD - Program director
• Ali Fakhreddine, MD - Associate Program Director
• Mazer Ally, MD
• Jennifer Au, MD
• Walter Coyle, MD
• Ahmed Deabes, MD
• Adam Deising, DO
• Julio Gutierrez, MD
• Faizi Hai, MD
• Joy-Marie Hermes, MD 
• Douglas Hunt, MD
• Behnam Moein Jahromi, MD
• Gordon L. Kim, MD
• Gauree Konijeti, MD
• John “Gus” Kuldau, MD
• Jill Lane, MD
• Raymond Lee, MD
• Gordon Liss, MD
• John Lyons, MD
• Chiara Maruggi, MD
• Quan Nhu, MD
• Richard Nodurft, MD
• Paul Pockros, MD
• Kristina Seeger, MD 
• Emily Singh, MD
• Matthew Skinner, MD
• Franklin Tsai, MD 
• Sujan Thiruvengadam, MD
• Han Zhang, MD

Scripps Clinic/Green Hospital fellowship pay and benefits:

• PGY IV year - $100,202
• PGY V year - $104,653
• PGY VI year - $109,190

Salary scale 2026-2027 (PDF, 59 KB)

*Including a housing stipend

Insurance

• Health and dental insurance plans are available for fellows and their dependents for a minimal cost. Fellows may participate in the Scripps Wellness program to reduce their health care premiums. Confidential counseling and psychological support services are available on request.
• Life insurance coverage, up to $1,000,000, is available for fellows and their dependents.
• Long-term disability insurance, at Scripps rates, is available for purchase. State Disability Insurance is paid by the fellow. The State of California requires this contribution.
• Fellows are covered by malpractice insurance while performing services within the scope of their training at Scripps Clinic. The liability limit is $5,000,000 per claim/$5,000,000 annually. Tail coverage is provided.

Educational expenses

Scripps provides an educational expense allowance annually to each fellow for professional meetings and conferences, books and journals, professional dues and other educational expenses.

Vacations and leave

Fellows receive 20 vacation days annually. Six paid sick days are allotted annually. Parental and other leaves of absence follow Scripps policy and California State Law. Substantial absences may necessitate additional rotations to complete training.

Other benefits

• Lab coats and scrubs are provided and laundered by Scripps
• Paid parking in the adjacent gated and covered structure is provided at no cost
• A full-service cafeteria is in the hospital
• Call rooms are provided
• Scripps Health non-profit 501(c)(3) – Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs

Applicants interested in applying to fellowship, should apply using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Please note that all interviews for this year will be conducted virtually per AAMC recommendations and there will be no in-person visit option.

Applicants interested in applying to Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology, do not apply in ERAS and should refer to the program link for information on applying.

Please provide the following:

• Completed application
• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Three endorsement letters (one from a residency program director and two from subspecialty faculty members)
• Medical school transcript
• ECFMG certificate (if applicable)
• USMLE transcript or Comlex scores

Matching program

Programs that use the Medical Specialties Matching Program (MSMP) of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP):

• Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
• Allergy and Immunology 
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Hematology/Oncology
• Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology SF Match
• Rheumatology

Visit NRMP to register for a match.

Visit SF Match to register for Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology.

• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, an ACGME-accredited residency program.
• All licenses, ECFMG certification, and professional certifications are the applicant’s responsibility.
• Scripps Clinic does not operate its own J-1 or H-1 visa program.
• MUST have a current California Physician's and Surgeon's License and DEA certificate by start date. Please see Medical Board of California requirements for licensure.

To learn more about the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program at Scripps Clinic, contact Samantha Brown at 858-554-3200 or email [email protected].