Year 1 (PGY-4): Foundations in Gastroenterology
The first year of the fellowship (PGY-4) is designed to build a strong foundation in general gastroenterology and inpatient management.
Introduction to Fellowship
The initial month serves as an introduction to the fellowship program, orienting new fellows to the clinical environment, protocols, and expectations at BSW Round Rock.
Round Rock Inpatient Rotation
Four months are dedicated to inpatient service at Round Rock. During this rotation, fellows are at the forefront of managing a wide range of gastroenterological and hepatological consults. Responsibilities include patient evaluation, formulating and implementing management plans, triaging care effectively, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and performing essential inpatient endoscopic procedures. A key component is the fellow’s role in teaching and supervising residents and medical students rotating through the service, fostering leadership and educational skills. Patient care strategies and procedural plans are always presented to and supervised by an attending physician, ensuring a robust learning environment.
Round Rock Clinic Only Rotation
Three months are spent in an outpatient clinic setting, exclusively at Round Rock. This rotation focuses on outpatient gastroenterology and hepatology care. Fellows are responsible for the comprehensive care of outpatients, from initial assessment and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up for various gastrointestinal and liver conditions. This rotation is crucial for developing continuity of care skills and building long-term patient relationships.
Pathology / Radiology Rotation
One month is dedicated to rotations in Pathology and Radiology. This integrated experience is designed to enhance the fellow’s diagnostic acumen by providing hands-on learning in interpreting gastrointestinal radiological and pathological findings. Fellows learn to correlate clinical scenarios with imaging and histological results, which is vital for accurate diagnosis and effective patient management.
Research Rotation
Two months are allocated to research. This protected time allows fellows to engage in scholarly activities, contributing to the advancement of gastroenterological knowledge. Fellows can participate in ongoing research projects or develop their own research interests under faculty mentorship, fostering academic growth and contributing to the field.
Hepatology Clinic Rotation
One month is spent focusing specifically on Hepatology in a dedicated clinic setting. This rotation provides in-depth exposure to patients with diverse liver diseases, allowing fellows to develop specialized skills in hepatology diagnosis and management.
Year 2 (PGY-5): Expanding Expertise
The second year (PGY-5) broadens the fellow’s experience, introducing more advanced rotations and responsibilities.
Round Rock Inpatient Rotation
Two months are spent on the Round Rock Inpatient service, building upon the first year’s experience with increased complexity in case management and procedural skills.
Lakeway Inpatient Rotation
One month is dedicated to inpatient service at Lakeway. This rotation exposes fellows to a different patient population and hospital environment within the BSW system, broadening their clinical perspective.
Pflugerville Inpatient Rotation
Another month is spent at Pflugerville Inpatient service, further diversifying inpatient experiences and patient demographics within the BSW network.
Round Rock Clinic / Endoscopy Rotation
Three months are dedicated to a combined clinic and endoscopy rotation at Round Rock. This integrated rotation enhances procedural skills in general endoscopy under the direct supervision of experienced faculty. Fellows gain proficiency in a range of endoscopic procedures while continuing to manage outpatient clinic responsibilities.
Hepatology Clinic Rotation
One month is spent in the Hepatology Clinic, deepening expertise in liver disease management and allowing for more focused learning in this subspecialty.
BUMC Transplant Hepatology Rotation
A one-month required away rotation at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) in Dallas focuses on Transplant Hepatology. This intensive rotation provides advanced exposure to a high volume of complex hepatology cases, specifically in the context of liver transplantation. Fellows gain invaluable experience in pre- and post-transplant patient care within a major transplant center. Importantly, this rotation is fully funded by the BSW-Round Rock institution, covering housing and meal expenses, removing financial barriers to this crucial training opportunity.
Elective Rotation
One month is available for an elective rotation. This flexible rotation allows fellows to tailor their training to specific interests, whether it be further specialization in a particular area of gastroenterology or hepatology, or exploring related fields.
Year 3 (PGY-6): Advanced Gastroenterology and Leadership
The final year (PGY-6) emphasizes advanced skills, leadership, and preparation for independent practice.
Lakeway Inpatient Rotation
Three months are spent at Lakeway Inpatient service, allowing fellows to take on senior roles in patient management and team leadership within the inpatient setting.
Pflugerville Inpatient Rotation
Three months are dedicated to Pflugerville Inpatient service, further refining leadership skills and complex case management across diverse inpatient environments.
Round Rock Clinic / Endoscopy Rotation
Three months are focused on Round Rock Clinic and Endoscopy. This advanced endoscopy experience builds upon previous training, with increasing exposure to more complex diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, including ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound. Fellows are expected to demonstrate proficiency and increasing independence in performing these advanced procedures under faculty guidance.
Hepatology Clinic Rotation
Two months are spent in the Hepatology Clinic, solidifying hepatology expertise and preparing fellows for independent practice or further subspecialization in hepatology.
Elective Rotation
Two months are available for elective rotations, allowing for further specialization, research, or focused training in areas aligned with the fellow’s career goals.
This structured and comprehensive rotation system within the BSW Round Rock Gastroenterology Fellowship ensures that fellows receive well-rounded training, preparing them for successful careers in academic or private practice gastroenterology and hepatology. The program’s emphasis on diverse clinical settings, progressive responsibility, and specialized rotations ensures graduates are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern gastroenterological care.
