Program Structure

The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at Wake Forest School of Medicine is a challenging, three-year experience that allows physicians to build the foundation for a career as a gastroenterologist. The Faculty is committed to the training and development of Fellows as they become knowledgeable, skilled, ethical, and compassionate consulting specialists. Our program is fully accredited by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.  Three positions will be offered each year.  

The goal of our program is to develop independent, critical thinking, clinical skills necessary to care for those suffering from digestive disease, proficiency in the utilization of basic endoscopic technology, and a thorough knowledge of the most current medical literature of our specialty.  We also seek to provide each Fellow with an opportunity to develop a clinical or research niche which could serve as the foundation for an academic career.  

Significant patient care, teaching, and research responsibilities will be an integral part of the training experience in GI, which is divided into half-month rotations, each with specific responsibilities.  The rotations include:

• GI Consult Service
• General Endoscopy
• Ambulatory Clinic
• ERCP/ Therapeutic Endoscopy/Advanced Endoscopy
• Motility
• VA Medical Center
• Research

In addition, each Fellow will have a weekly continuity clinic throughout their fellowship experience, and will share on-call duties with other Fellows. 

Conferences are an important part of the fellowship experience and include the following:

• GI Core Curriculum Conference
• GI Case Conference
• GI Journal Club
• GI Pathology Conference
• GI Radiology Conference
• GI Surgery Conference
• Morbidity and Mortality Conference
• Research Conference 

The section will provide funding for the purpose of attending a national scientific meeting. In addition, fees for North Carolina licensure will be provided, as such licensure is an absolute requirement for fellowship training.  All Fellows are encouraged to join the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) during their fellowship. These memberships will make many educational materials available and will provide the basis for a long-term involvement with these professional societies. Any application or membership fees will be paid by the section.

For more information about the program, contact the Program Director: 

 Joel T. Bruggen, MD
Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director
Email:  jbruggen@wakehealth.edu

Or the Program Coordinator:

Renea Donley
Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Coordinator
Email:  rdonley@wakehealth.edu

Tel:  336-713-7311
Fax:   336-713-7322

Mailing Address:  
Section on Gastroenterology
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem , NC   27157