About the Program

Mission

The mission of the UAMS Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship is to provide mentored career development in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, with a strong emphasis on both technical excellence and cognitive mastery. Our goal is to train fellows to become independent, thoughtful, and clinically oriented interventional endoscopists who are well prepared for careers in academic medicine, tertiary referral practice, or high-complexity clinical environments.

The program emphasizes:

• Mastery of advanced endoscopic techniques
• Clinical judgment and procedural decision-making
• Multidisciplinary collaboration
• Research productivity and academic growth

Clinical Training and Procedural Experience

Fellows receive high-volume, hands-on training across the full spectrum of advanced endoscopy, with graduated autonomy under close faculty mentorship.

Pancreaticobiliary Endoscopy

Advanced Endoluminal Surgery

UAMS is home to the only comprehensive endoluminal surgery program in the state, providing fellows with exposure to procedures that are typically limited to large referral centers:

• Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
• Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)
• Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER)
• Advanced endoscopic resection techniques(Complex EMRs, FTRD, etc.)

Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy

• Endoscopic ablation therapies, including radiofrequency ablation and cryotherapy
• Endoscopic suturing
• Luminal stenting and management of complex GI strictures

This breadth of experience ensures that fellows graduate with confidence in managing both routine and highly complex interventional cases.

Research and Academic Development

Research is a core component of the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship. Fellows are expected to actively participate in:

• Clinical research and outcomes studies
• Prospective trials and device-related investigations
• Quality improvement initiatives
• National abstract submissions and manuscript preparation

Fellows work closely with faculty mentors to develop scholarly projects aligned with their career goals. Opportunities exist to publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and to present work at national meetings such as DDW and ASGE.

Fellowship Structure and Appointment

The fellow is appointed as a junior faculty member, allowing for a professional transition from fellowship to independent practice. Fellows have limited GI attending responsibilities, intentionally structured to protect time for:

• Advanced procedural training
• Research and academic development
• Multidisciplinary conferences and teaching

Faculty and Mentorship

The fellowship is led by a dedicated group of advanced endoscopists with expertise spanning pancreaticobiliary disease, endoluminal surgery, and advanced therapeutic endoscopy. Faculty mentorship emphasizes:

• Technical skill development
• Career planning and academic advancement
• Research mentorship
• Leadership development