Gastroenterology Fellowship Program

Led by faculty at the forefront of GI research and treatment, the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program trains future physicians in gastroenterology, delivers outstanding care to patients with digestive and liver disease, and advances biomedical research into digestive diseases.

Our mission: To train future leaders in academic gastroenterology who will improve the practice, education and research in this discipline.

Aims of the GI Fellowship Program:

Recruit highly qualified trainees seeking rigorous clinical training, supervised autonomy, and deep exposure to medical discovery
Connect fellows with institutional resources that cultivate scientific curiosity and innovative thinking
Deliver comprehensive, compassionate care to every patient
Uphold the highest standards of clinical care and professionalism
Tailor each fellow's experience to their career goals
Gather input from all stakeholders to continually improve our program and drive innovation in medical education

Our ACGME-accredited program enrolls five new fellows per year and offers both a clinical and a research track.

Clinical track fellows complete approximately 30 months of clinical training and approximately six months of research.
Research track fellows split their time evenly, with 18 months of clinical training and 18 months of research training.

Watch the video to learn more about the VUMC Gastroenterology Fellowship Program.

GI Fellowship spotlight

Our fellowship program is defined by the depth of subspecialty training within our division. For example:

Fellows gain hepatology exposure at the nation's top-ranked transplant center. The Vanderbilt Transplant Center performed 960 solid organ transplants in 2025, the most in the nation, including 183 liver transplants and multiple combined liver-kidney and liver-heart transplants.
Fellows participate in a multidisciplinary experience at one of the oldest and largest Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centers in the country, which was established in 2002 and provides 360-degree care of patients.
Fellows train alongside and receive direct mentorship from some of the nation's leading esophagologists, gaining hands-on experience in esophageal motility disorders, reflux disease, and advanced diagnostic techniques such as high-resolution manometry and pH testing.

In the clinical track, fellows can tailor years two and three of their fellowship to their specific clinical interests and goals. Trainees on this track will be well prepared for a career in academic medicine as a clinician educator.

Year 1: Fellows on both tracks complete intensive clinical training in year one, including hands-on endoscopic instruction. Clinical rotations take place at Vanderbilt University Hospital and clinics, the adjacent Nashville VA Medical Center, and the Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks (OHO) Endoscopy Center/IBD clinic. Rotations include Vanderbilt GI Consults, Vanderbilt Hepatology Consults, Vanderbilt Nutrition Consults, Outpatient hepatology, Outpatient Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, VA Endoscopy, VA Consults, and VA Clinics. Endoscopy teaching locations include the Vanderbilt Endoscopy Lab, the OHO Endoscopy Center, and the VA Endoscopy Lab.

Years 2 and 3: Structured Flexibility. Years two and three are tailored to each fellow's interests, with additional training in hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, esophageal and anorectal motility, pancreaticobiliary disease, and wireless capsule endoscopy. We offer electives within our partner divisions at Vanderbilt including colorectal surgery and the Vanderbilt Weight Loss Center. Interested clinical fellows may apply to the ABIM Combined Gastroenterology/Transplant Hepatology Track for their final year of fellowship.

Continuity Clinics: Each fellow maintains two continuity clinics. During years one and two, there is one clinic at Vanderbilt and one at the VA – alternating weekly. During year three, fellows elect two subspecialty clinics within the division such as esophagus, hepatology, IBD and alternate weekly.

Conferences and didactic sessions: Fellows attend weekly didactics designed by division faculty, including Fellows' Hour (required ABIM GI fellowship topics), morbidity and mortality conference, GI grand rounds, endoscopy conference, and clinical case conference.

Scholarship: During years two and three, clinical fellows have approximately six months of protected time to devote to research and academic pursuits. Each clinical fellow will work with a mentor within the division who will assist them with clinical research and career development.

Years 2 and 3: Each year, our research fellows complete an additional three months of clinical training and participate in either basic laboratory research or clinical research.

Basic Science: Fellows work in a world-class scientific environment with mentors studying Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, immune response and associated carcinogenesis, mucosal immunology, oxidative liver injury, and colon and gastric cancer, along with other basic research opportunities across campus.
Clinical Research: Paired with formal coursework, clinical research enables fellows to earn a master's degree in public health (MPH) or clinical informatics (MSACI), with opportunities in GI motility, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Each research track fellow is assigned a mentoring committee that works with their primary mentor to develop a training plan. During year one, fellows explore in-depth research opportunities and are matched with a faculty mentor — either joining a preceptor's laboratory or entering a master's degree program. The committee continues to guide the fellow throughout training, allowing significant flexibility in shaping an individual research program.

A NIH T32 Training Grant supports our research track and trainees must be eligible for the NIH T32 Training Grant to participate in the research track. The program aims to inspire trainees' interest in digestive disease research and equip them to perform paradigm-shifting science that benefits the patients and communities we serve.

Why Nashville? Quotes from our own fellows!

"There's always something fun to do in Nashville, whether it's seeing a show, checking out a new restaurant, finding a hike to try out, or attending some other special event planned in one of the many parks or venue spaces. The list goes on. The music scene holds up to its reputation, and I was surprised how good the food is here. Nashville is an exciting and vibrant city."
“The city just has something for everyone. You like food? Got it. Nightlife? Got it. Trees and open spaces? Got it. Live music and sports? Got it. It's so easy to find your thing and enjoy living in the city you are training in.”
“My favorite thing about living in Nashville is the green space! There are parks right outside of the city that are great for walks and hikes. I love getting some fresh air on my weekends off, and it is beautiful when the leaves change in the fall.“
“Nashville is a beautiful city that, for me, is in a sweet-spot as far as "big" cities go: still having many of the things I enjoy about larger towns without many of the consequences of an incredibly large city. Within the city, it's grown enough that there is always a new neighborhood to explore (small craft restaurants, breweries, art/music events). With Nashville not being as flat as other places I've lived, it has beautiful and easy walks/small hikes/creek-floats within the city limits. Outside the city, there are multiple more substantial hikes within an hour or two depending on what you're looking for, and obviously you have the Smokies + North Carolina 3-4 hours away. We also have a major growing airport with new direct flights every day, while still having Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Louisville easily accessible within a few hours drive.”
"I have enjoyed my time in Nashville a lot. I love the energy of the city, all the music around me, and exploring all the delicious restaurants. My favorite part has been the unlimited supply of cowgirl boots and sequin outfits. Also, the bachelorette parties keep this city so entertaining!"

Visit the Department of Medicine's About Nashville page to learn more about the great city that VUMC calls home.

Supporting Our Fellows: We surround every fellow with layered mentorship designed to support the whole person, not just their training. First-year fellows are paired with a peer buddy to help navigate the transition into fellowship, while an endoscopic mentor guides technical skill development, and a scholarship mentor supports academic and career growth. Our dedicated wellness ambassador and wellness program also work to promote fellow well-being throughout training.

Supporting Our Fellows and Their Families: We are committed to supporting fellows through every stage of training, including family planning. Many of our trainees grow their families during fellowship, and we have supported numerous fellows through parental leave during training.

All applicants for training in GI must be board-eligible or board certified in Internal Medicine. 
All applications for the Vanderbilt University GI Fellowship Training Program must go through ERAS to submit your application. If you have questions, please email Lisa Dunlop.
All materials should be submitted through ERAS. A complete application includes the following:
- CV, photo
- Personal statement
- Medical school transcript
- USMLE scores
- MSPE
- At least three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from the residency program director).
Applications will begin to be accepted in July. Interview invitations will be sent in early August. Interview dates will begin in September.
All applications through ERAS go through a holistic review by program leadership. As of 2025, program signaling will be included as part of the holistic review process.
Vanderbilt participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) for GI fellowships.
- Although we do offer two tracks in the program, please note that all applicants apply through the same NRMP code: Vanderbilt University Med Ctr-TN-Gastroenterology/Clinical 1702144F1