Education in the Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Program
One-Year Clinical Training
Goals
- Evaluate UNOS organ offers and asses organ quality for transplant
- Understand the proper timing and management of patients who require liver transplantation, including those with acute liver failure
- Understand the basics of organ procurement and determining organ quality during procurement
- Evaluate Patients for liver transplantation, including indications and contraindications
- Understand UNOS and OPTN regulations related to transplant care
- Function effectively with interdisciplinary health care team, including nurses, physicians and social workers
- Become familiar with pre and post-operative care and long term care of transplant patients, including immunosuppression management
Objectives
- Independently evaluate candidates for transplantation, asses the patients suitability and risks for transplant and postoperative complications
- Learn management of transplant patients both before and after surgery, treatment of rejection and other surgical and medical complications
- Understand immunosuppressive drugs, including induction and maintenance, recognized side effects and complications related to them
- Perform and understand the indications and implications of percutaneous liver biopsy, including histologic analysis
- Understand UNOS and OPTN regulations
- Participate in quality improvement project for the transplant program
- Participate in division and department of internal medicine educational conferences and processes
Inpatient Hepatology Service
- Pre- and post-liver transplant liver patients are admitted to the primary hepatology service, staffed by a transplant hepatology attending physician, a gastroenterology fellow, four internal medicine residents and an APN
- Transplant surgery team consults for inpatient evaluations
Research
In addition to the clinical training, all fellows are expected to participate in research endeavors. Protected research time is permitted during the fellowship program.
Fellows are encouraged to present and attend at least one conference during their 12-month fellowship. There is a wide range of active liver transplant projects ongoing, of which fellow participation is encouraged.
Educational Programs, Conferences and Seminars
Trainees are encouraged to attend and present at a national meeting each year (AASLD). The transplant hepatology fellow is expected to assist in resident and fellow education with trainees rotating through the hepatology services and clinics.
In addition, the fellow is to actively participate in weekly multidisciplinary transplant committee meetings and conferences.
