Malgorzata “Maggie” Bujarska, MD – Graduated in June 2024 and became faculty at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Brittany Siegel, DO – Graduated in June 2024 and became faculty at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore Medical Center (Neptune, New Jersey).
Brianna McSorley, MD - Graduated June 2023 and is a Pediatric GI Faculty within our division, Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. “I am so thankful to have trained at MCW/ CW for my pediatric gastroenterology fellowship. All of the faculty and support staff truly feel like a family and were always eager to teach and mentor fellows and provide any support that was needed. I specifically enjoyed the flexibility of the program to make it your own, especially in your third year, because this gave me the opportunity to hone my procedure skills and learn many advanced endoscopic procedures that I would not have had the opportunity to do at other fellowships. I am even more thankful to have been able to join this amazing group of faculty back in 2023 and am now able to give back to the fellows and provide the same mentorship and support that I was given.”
Anam Bashir, MD - Graduated June 2023 and is completing a one-year advanced fellowship in Nutrition and Intestinal Rehabilitation at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania (2023-2024). “My primary goals of gastroenterology fellowship were to be exposed to varied pathologies, acquire good procedural skills, and find mentors for life. I not only achieved all three during my pediatric GI fellowship but also gained so much more. The entire department and faculty are genuinely invested in the learning and growth of fellows. The mentors I have found at MCW not only guided my professional growth but also become invaluable friends and role models. Whether your aspirations lie in research or clinical practice, the program is designed to nurture and develop your personal goals. One unexpected but cherished bonus was the work life balance I found at Milwaukee, despite the demands of a busy fellowship. The city’s manageable pace allowed me to spend quality time with family and raise two children. This balance contributed to my overall wellbeing and satisfaction. As I graduated from the program, I felt confident and well prepared to function as an attending physician independently.”
Andrea Gosalvez Tejada, MD – Graduated June 2022 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Marshfield Medical Center. “Reflecting on these past three years, I can only be thankful and feel blessed for all the direct and indirect mentorship I’ve received from the division that has helped me grow as a pediatric gastroenterologist and shape my career. The robust, diverse clinical exposure and plenty of opportunities to do various procedures by the hand of nationwide renowned pediatric gastroenterologists is a strength and highlight of the program.”
Geetanjali Bora, MD – Graduated June 2022 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Children’s National Health Center in Washington D.C. “My GI fellowship training at MCW was an incredible learning experience. As a GI fellow I got the opportunity to hone my clinical skills in all major subspecialities clinics including GI motility, IBD, transplant hepatology, aerodigestive disorders, celiac disease, feeding disorders, and intestinal rehabilitation. There is abundant opportunity to learn various GI procedures including some advanced endoscopic skills. The highlight of my training was the inspiring mentorship that I received from our distinguished faculty in both clinical and research realm. The program is well equipped to support its fellow in their research endeavors and the faculty is closely involved in fellow education and learning. I also learned a lot from our dieticians, GI psychologists, nurse practitioners and research assistants. Everyone is friendly and gets all along very well with each other. Overall, I feel immensely fortunate to have trained in such a supportive learning environment”
Alexis Gumm, MD - Graduated June 2021; completed a transplant hepatology fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard) in Boston MA (2021-2022) and is a Pediatric GI Faculty within our division, Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. “The pediatric GI fellowship at MCW provided a superb clinical education, as well as procedural education, but I was most impressed by my fellowship research experience. I came into my fellowship knowing my area of interest within ‘hepatocardiology,’ and by October of my first year, I had a cardiology mentor. We formulated a hypothesis, which led to the development of a pilot study, all within the first 6 months of fellowship. By the start of my second year, I had my IRB approved and my first grant submitted, which I obtained. I was able to complete a prospective pilot study assessing high-intensity exercise as a risk factor for liver injury in the Fontan population, which has since been published. I had never written a grant prior to my fellowship and was relatively new to research, but the training and experience I obtained over the 3 years I was here was insurmountable and has truly set me up for success as a clinical investigator within the field of ‘hepatocardiology.’”
Jonathan Wong, DO - Graduated June 2021 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is director of endoscopy at American Family Children’s Hospital. “My time at MCW made up some of the most formative years of both my personal and professional life. What I am most grateful for is the mentorship I received from multiple dedicated faculty. My experiences in Milwaukee not only prepared me for a career in academic medicine but also honed clinical and procedural skills I now use on a daily basis. I look forward to continuing collaboration with my home institution and would recommend any aspiring Pediatric Gastroenterologist seriously consider joining the ranks of MCW alumni.”
Amornluck “Pang” Krasaelap, MD - Graduated June 2020 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, MO. "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to complete my fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The fellowship program provided a diverse environment, which was instrumental in my learning as it brought together a wide range of perspectives. I was able to learn immensely from my colleagues and the attending physicians, who were always willing to share their knowledge and expertise. The program also provided me with opportunities to teach and lead the team of residents and medical students, which was a truly enriching experience. Beyond the academic setting, the city itself added to the allure of the program. Milwaukee is a vibrant city with a great sports scene, offering plenty of opportunities for relaxation and entertainment. The people I met were consistently kind and welcoming, contributing to a positive overall experience. The size of the program was just right - not too big to feel overwhelming, but not too small to limit opportunities. My time at the Medical College of Wisconsin has been a pivotal part of my medical journey, and I am truly appreciative of the experience."
Karlo Kovacic, MD - Graduated June 2020 and became is a Pediatric GI Faculty within our division, Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
Vikram Christian, MD – Graduated June 2019 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at University of Minnesota. “As a pediatric resident, I had aspired to complete my fellowship training in an academically strong program that offered good clinical experience. I found the Pediatric Gastroenterology training program at the Medical College of Wisconsin to be exactly that. Strengths of the program include a large faculty group with diverse clinical interests, high patient volume and complexity, abundant procedural experience, several well-established clinical programs, extremely supportive clinical and administrative staff and a strong focus on research/academics. Constant mentoring and support over the past three years have allowed me to conduct clinical research, present at national conferences, publish in reputed journals and solidify a career path in nutrition. The faculty, administrators, nurses, dietitians, psychologists and support staff were very easy to get along with and will be missed as I graduate from training.”
Prasanna Kapavarapu, MD – Graduated June 2019 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The pediatric gastroenterology fellowship program at the Children's Wisconsin/Medical College of Wisconsin is one of the few outstanding clinical and research fellowship programs in the nation which offers unequivocal opportunities for fellows in training. My fellowship journey here at Children's Wisconsin/MCW has taught me a lot of important life worthy lessons. The breadth of clinical care exposure during fellowship is worth mentioning especially given that Children's serves as the tertiary referral center for the whole state of Wisconsin. The GI Division's commitment to encourage research by fellows is enormous, and this is reflected very well through the support I received in pursuing both bench and clinical research during my fellowship. The Neurogastroenterology and Motility team is a big strength of this program, and I was fortunate to be trained by this excellent team to build a career as I graduate from here to join a premier institute at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Above all, I really cherish my time and the relations built during my fellowship here at Children's Wisconsin/MCW."
Sarah Cole, MD - Graduated June 2018 and became Pediatric GI Faculty at South Dakota – Avera McKenna Hospital and University Health Center. “After interviewing for fellowship here in Milwaukee, I knew that this program was the perfect fit for me. My initial impression proved to be true as my fellowship experience was challenging and extremely educational. The faculty are each specialized in various areas within pediatric gastroenterology including advanced endoscopy, eosinophilic esophagitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cyclic vomiting syndrome, hepatology, nutrition, and motility. Fellow are provided with a substantial amount of support in pursuing their research interests. I was involved in the care of patients with a wide variety of interesting presentations and disease processes. The faculty are very helpful and provide an appropriate amount of autonomy. I feel very prepared to begin my career as a pediatric gastroenterologist.”
Ammar Khayat, MD - Graduated February 2018 and returned to Saudi Arabia to practice. “I’m very proud to have been trained in this program as it offered me the opportunity to not only work with world experts in the field but to be exposed to all Sub-specialties of Pediatric GI such as liver diseases, IBD, functional, nutrition and TPN care, CVS, obesity, and motility where this program exiles. The program also allowed me to customize my training based on my needs and my future job and interests. This was - in my case more so than others- a big plus considering the work environment I’d be in is completely different. A big strength I’d like to highlight is my comfort level in endoscopy procedures including specialized procedures like esophageal dilations and PEG tube placements; thanks to the high volume of procedures performed in this program. Academically, I had the opportunity to work on different research projects of my choice and based on my interests. My mentors were very supportive and involved in guiding me through every step. Most faculty in this program were very encouraging and idea-stimulating so I had no shortage of opportunities to work on projects. As an international graduate, again I’m very proud to have graduated from this program that gave me the confidence to practice Pediatric GI in any kind of clinical or academic setting.”
Julia Fritz, MD - Graduate June 2017 and became a faculty member of Pediatric GI at Maine Medical Partners in Portland, ME. “Coming to Milwaukee for my pediatric gastroenterology fellowship was the best decision I ever made. Yes, a large part of that is because I met my future husband in Milwaukee, but it also has to do with the training I got at Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin. The robust clinical experience (made possible by the size of the hospital and the variety of interests of the faculty) meant that I feel prepared to practice in a smaller, more generalized practice because I was able to care for and learn from a wide range of patients during training. In addition, the flexibility of the program allowed me to pursue my interest in quality improvement and receive the necessary training to make this a part of my future career. While traditional clinical or bench research was not my cup of tea, I feel confident that the program provides strong opportunities and support for fellows seeking this path. More than anything, what makes me thankful for my time at MCW is the people I met there. Nurses, administrators, and faculty members became friends who supported me through the tough times and celebrated my joys (in and out of work). Having a supportive network is essential during fellowship regardless of where you train, and I found it at Children’s Wisconsin.”
Rachel Dunn, MD - Graduated June 2017 and became faculty member of Pediatric GI at St. Vincent Medical Group in Indianapolis, IN. “Choosing a fellowship program is never easy. There are so many things to consider! I first heard about the program at Milwaukee back when I was applying for pediatric residency. Since I knew then that I had an interest GI and heard so many great things about the program here, I decided to pursue my residency and hopefully my fellowship at MKE. Life worked as planned and I am very happy to have completed my fellowship with this program. The size of the program and number of faculty provided both a great general and sub-specialty exposure within GI. I feel that I was exposed to so many rare cases here that I would not have seen at a smaller practice. In addition, I was able to receive training in advanced endoscopy techniques as a fellow! Thanks to my program, I feel ready to pursue my career as a pediatric gastroenterologist.”
Rajmohan Dharmaraj, MD – Graduated in June 2016 and became a faculty member at the University of New Mexico Hospitals in Albuquerque, NM.
Sravan Matta, MD – Graduated in June 2016 and became a faculty member at the Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Group in Roseville, CA.
Catherine Larson-Nath, MD - Graduated in July 2015 and became a faculty member of Pediatric GI at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. "I had an amazing experience training in Milwaukee. I was supported through every step of the fellowship process from clinical care to research mentorship. At the Medical College of Wisconsin you are exposed to all areas of Pediatric Gastroenterology, from general GI and IBD to more specialized areas of motility, nutrition, feeding team, and liver transplant. This is very unique and makes Milwaukee special and an excellent place for training. Coming into fellowship I was worried about research as I had no experience. Once in Milwaukee I felt well supported and now know that research will always be a part of my career and that is due to my experience in fellowship. Most importantly I feel prepared to start my career as an Pediatric Gastroenterologist and have come away from fellowship with countless new friends and mentors."
Sarika Rohatgi, MD - Graduated in July 2015 and her faculty appointment is pending. "MCW is a great place to get a diverse clinical exposure in a wide variety of basic as well as uncommon GI diseases, outstanding endoscopic procedural experience and good research opportunities. It has a great group with helpful, understanding and approachable colleagues and a strong support system of nurses, nurse practitioners, psychologists and dietitians. Fellowship here has taught me a lot and groomed me well as a physician and a person."
Katja Karrento, MD - Graduated in July 2014 and is Pediatric GI Faculty within our division, Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. “The fellowship training at MCW entirely shaped my future career as an NIH funded clinical investigator and international leader in Neurogastroenterology. I am exceedingly proud and grateful to have trained here. From early on during fellowship, my interests and ambitions were strongly supported by a team of wonderful mentors, all who have had substantial impact on my future career and life. Our peds GI fellowship is infused with a culture of community, personalized learning and life-long friendships. It is built upon a foundation of dedicated and caring mentorship in an environment of diverse clinical exposure, high level research and advanced procedural training. Most importantly, our fellowship provides supportive learning and essential work life balance. Because of this community and caring environment, I chose to stay here as faculty. The fellowship program continues to evolve under dedicated leadership. I believe it provides even better opportunities and training today.”
Alisha Mavis, MD - Graduated in July 2014; completed her pediatric liver transplant fellowship at Lurie Children's Hospital and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Duke University.
Bhaskar Gurram, MD - Graduated in July 2013 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX.
Diana Lerner, MD - Graduated in July 2013 and is Pediatric GI Faculty within our division, Children’s Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
Khalil El-Chammas, MD - Graduated in July 2012 and is Pediatric GI Faculty at Mercy Medical Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati Ohio.
Vi Goh, MD - Graduated in July 2012 and became a faculty member at the University of Boston in Boston, MA.
