Mother Child W Physician

Welcome to the MCW Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & and Nutrition Fellowship Training Program

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to the training of our fellows as academic pediatric gastroenterologists. The purpose of this fellowship is to train academic pediatric gastroenterologists who can function both as clinicians and scientists. The Fellowship Program is under the direct supervision of Dr. Katie Vaidy, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. In addition, once a research mentor has been identified, that individual will serve as the faculty advisor for the research portion of the program. Each fellow will also develop a scholarship oversight committee to oversee his/her progress throughout the program. 
Faculty Lecutre Students

Fellowship Program Overview

Learn more about our fellowship and the people and places that make it special.

Our Fellows Discuss our Program

Our fellows discuss our fellowship, our institutions, and living and training in Milwaukee.

As a fellow, you will...

  • Receive training in gastroenterological consultation, diagnostic and therapeutic GI procedures and direct patient care in the only fellowship program for the entire state of Wisconsin with a catchment area of over 9 million patients.
  • Begin pediatric endoscopy training early in your fellowship with dedicated endoscopy time during all three years of training.
  • Maintain outpatient “Fellows Only” continuity clinics throughout all three years of your training. These clinics will be supported by a consistent faculty, nursing, and dietician team.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration with our Radiology, Surgery, Adult GI and Pathology teams.
  • Develop habits of critical inquiry necessary for continuing intellectual growth.
  • Gain the knowledge and skills to formulate hypotheses.
  • Design a self-driven scholarly activity with the support of faculty mentors.
  • Present your scholarly activity at local and national meetings.
  • Foster skills as an educator by collaborating and teaching a diverse group of learners (medical students, residents, nurse practitioner students) in a world class medical school.

Fellowship Details

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A Message from our Fellowship Director

As Fellowship Director, I am privileged to work with a diverse group of hard working and caring providers, nurses and administrators who are committed to supporting each other, our patients and their families. Our division exists like a family. This family includes an extraordinary team of experts in all facets of pediatric gastroenterology, nutrition and hepatology. The success of our fellowship and our fellows is the at the heart of this family.

In my role as fellowship director, I am honored to support a team of fellows who are truly exceptional and motivate us to continuously improve our program. We have the sustained support of amazing fellowship coordinators and division leaders who are dedicated to maintaining a culture of innovation, congeniality, respect, and excellence. Our entire division is committed to fostering comprehensive and individualized training for our fellows to succeed as autonomous clinicians, educators and life-long learners.

While I am humbled by the responsibility of continuing a tradition of success for our current and past fellows, I look forward to guiding our program into an exciting future.

Katie Vaidy, MD
Fellowship Director

About the Program

During the first year, the Fellow will be exposed to a wide variety of patients with gastrointestinal, hepatic and nutritional diseases. Education will focus on the development of expertise for appropriate work-up, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. In addition, the Fellow will develop familiarity of the pediatric and adult gastrointestinal literature through literature search and active participation in patient care conferences, departmental conferences and journal clubs. Towards the end of the first year, the Fellow will identify a research mentor and together select a specific project to pursue during the second and third years of the Fellowship under the direction of the mentor. In the second and third years the fellow has ~75% protected time for research and will continue to gain clinical expertise in outpatient clinics and procedures.

We will accept two fellows annually through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).


Clinical Experience

As a fellow in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Program, you will have the opportunity to gain extensive clinical experience. Patient care activities include inpatient consultations, GI and liver inpatient care, and specialty outpatient clinics including a fellow’s continuity clinic. Fellows will be exposed to a wide variety of patients with gastrointestinal, hepatic and nutritional diseases. Education will focus on the development of expertise for appropriate workup, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

During the second and third years, the fellow will have opportunities to rotate through our various specialty clinics, including aerodigestive clinic, celiac disease, colorectal dysmotility, cyclical vomiting syndrome, enteral feeding program, eosinophilic esophagitis, feeding disorders program, IBD, functional abdominal pain, intestinal failure and rehabilitation, liver disease, and lifestyle medicine collaborative in order to gain more outpatient care experiences in multidisciplinary subspecialty areas.


Procedure Experience
Fellows will receive hands-on training in the technical aspects of standard gastroenterological procedures for children, including upper and lower endoscopy, polypectomy, pyloric dilation and botox injection, control of GI bleeding, and foreign body removal. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in advanced motility studies including esophageal, anorectal, and colon manometry. Advanced endoscopic procedures that fellows can be involved in include esophageal, intestinal, and colonic dilations, steroid injections, needle knife incisional therapy, stent placements, single balloon enteroscopy, ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, endoflip, transnasal endoscopy, banding and sclerotherapy of esophageal varices, and liver biopsies. Fellows participate in the reading of pH impedance probe studies and capsule endoscopy studies.
Research Experience

Towards the end of the first year, fellows will identify a research mentor/s and together select a specific project to pursue during the second and third year of the Fellowship under the direction of their mentors. A formal research curriculum is offered beginning in the second half of the first year.

During the second and third years, fellows will have ~75% protected time for research. Potential research mentors may be within adult or pediatric GI, other divisions within pediatrics and/or research scientists from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Fellows will learn research theory, methodology, and data analysis and interpretation skills. Fellows will develop projects for presentation at national meetings and gain experience in writing manuscripts for publication.

Academic Curriculum

Our fellowship will be a period of intensive and memorable learning. The objective of the program is to prepare fellows to be an outstanding consulting pediatric gastroenterologist with expertise in all fields of pediatric gastroenterology including, but not limited to: Nutrition, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hepatology, general GI disorders and motility disorders. This program will prepare fellows to achieve competency in all standard diagnostic pediatric GI endoscopy procedures.

Formal didactic sessions occur weekly (2-2.5 hours/ week) and presentations are given by both fellows and faculty. Sessions include Topic Conferences, Radiology Conference, Pathology Conference, M&M, Journal Club, Case Presentations, Pediatric Surgery/ Peds GI Combined Conference, Adult/ Pediatric GI Combined Conference, Research Presentations and Visiting Professor Presentations.

Pediatric Joint Fellowship Curriculum
The Joint Fellowship Curriculum (JFC) at the Medical College of Wisconsin is a series of longitudinal educational experiences designed to cover topics required for all pediatric fellows. While specialty-specific education is covered within each section, the JFC endeavors to cover the remainder of topics that are common to all fellowship trainees. Fellows not only gain insight on these topics from campus-wide experts, but also do so in a collaborative learning environment with their same level fellow peers from across the pediatric enterprise.

Learn more about our curriculum

A Day in the Life of a Fellow

The 36-month curriculum is divided roughly into 13 months of clinical activities and 20 months of research activities as follows:

First year

  • Inpatient service/procedures: ~22 weeks
  • Consult service/procedures: ~22 weeks
  • Research: ~3 weeks
  • Vacation: 4 weeks
  • Nutrition Rotation: 1 week

Second and Third years

  • Inpatient/consult service: 4 weeks
  • Research/Clinic/Procedures: 44 weeks
  • Vacation: 4 weeks
Diversity and Inclusion

At MCW and within the Department of Pediatrics, we have several programs and resources focused on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Our departmental and institutional focus is confronting negative perceptions and welcoming our community. Below is just a sampling of the efforts across our institutions to embed the principles of diversity and inclusion into our culture.

  • DOP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council | Our Diversity Council, led by Dr. Mike Levas, the DOP Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion, and comprised of faculty, staff, administration, and trainees, is focused on connecting with partners across our system and within the community to ensure the DOP is a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer.
  • DOP Fellowship and Residency Diversity and Inclusion Committees | In a city filled with its own diversity and rich cultural history, our fellows and residents recognize the importance of addressing diversity, health equity, and inclusion within our programs. As such, the program is proud to recognize the presence and work of its Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • DOP Unconscious Bias Training | The AAMC has partnered with Cook Ross, Inc., a leading consulting firm, to create training focused on the science behind unconscious bias to help academic medical staff and faculty mitigate disparities. Seven members of our team have earned a certification as unconscious bias trainers through Cook Ross. These trainers have translated what they’ve learned into a two-hour training for our faculty and staff. By learning how to identify and confront unconscious bias, it is possible to mitigate the impact and promote respect for all groups.
  • Trauma-Informed Workplace Training | This committee has undertaken actions including a department-wide survey and the creation of four online training modules sharing the principles of trauma-informed approach and how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in ourselves and others. This group started as part of Fostering Futures, a state-wide initiative aimed at infusing a trauma-informed approach into all the systems and organizations that touch the lives of Wisconsin citizens with the goal of expanding across the state to make Wisconsin the first trauma-informed state in the nation.
  • Office of Diversity and Inclusion | Established in March 2016, the MCW Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) partners within MCW and with community partners to foster and drive inclusion excellence as an effective, empowering enabler of MCW mission and strategic goals.
  • Spring Festival of Cultures | The annual Spring Festival of Cultures encourages an increased awareness and celebration of the visible and non-visible identities among our MCW community. This three-day event is an opportunity to promote the fostering of diversity, inclusion and unity at MCW.
  • President’s Diversity and Inclusion Award | MCW’s President's Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students, residents, trainees, and community members in contributing to diversity and inclusion through exemplary leadership.
  • Institute of Health and Equity | The Institute for Health & Equity is focused on researching the root causes of health disparities in our communities, and advancing the best ideas to foster health equity throughout the world. We target populations with abnormally high rates of disease and injury – urban and rural alike – and then we find out why. Partnering with community health collaborators who live and work closest to the most vulnerable populations, we are making an impact on reducing those disparities, one community at a time.
  • GMF-MCW Partnership | Through their overall partnership, MCW and GMF will bring complementary expertise on a range of strategies to invest in the health, equity and economic well-being of people across Milwaukee, beginning with the neighborhoods adjacent to the new development. Guided by community priorities and data, the GMF-MCW Partnership will be a catalyst for additional investment and community impact. Together, the partners will:
    • Engage resident and community partnerships
    • Improve social determinants of health
    • Catalyze change that leverages resources and investment

Learn More about MCW's Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Fellows Through the Years (program established in 2005; excerpts from 2012-present)

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.

Our Institutions

About the Medical College of Wisconsin
With a history dating back to 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,600 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 4.0 million patients annually.

About Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2019, Children’s invested more than $130 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Our Faculty
Our engaged, experienced faculty members are eager to support you throughout your fellowship.

Meet our Faculty

About our Division

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition encompasses 23 faculty and 7 Nurse Practitioners that provide clinical care, educational opportunities and/ or research activities. Clinical activities include general pediatric gastroenterology and specialized clinical programs in Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, Obesity (NEW Kids Program and Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, Motility Disorders, Liver Transplant, Celiac Disease, Eosinophilic GI Disorders, Nutrition (Enteral Feeding Program), Functional GI Disorders, Intestinal Rehabilitation. Faculty staff GI Inpatient Service and Liver Medical Service and provide inpatient consultations for other specialties.

Research activities are robust and include Inflammatory Bowel Disease clinical trials (Drs. Noe, Elkadri and Cabrera), Pathogenesis and Treatment of Chronic Nausea and Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (Dr. Karrento), Esophageal Motility in Health and Disease (Dr. Kovacic), Mucosal Immunology/ Microbiome (Dr. Salzman), Pathogenesis of Immune-Mediated Liver Diseases (Dr. Mack), Health Outcomes in Fontan Associated Liver Disease (Dr. Gumm), Health Outcomes post Liver Transplant (Dr. Lerret), Celiac Disease Health Outcomes (Dr. Chugh), and Advanced Endoscopy Best Practices and Health Outcomes (Dr. Lerner). Our faculty have a large breadth and depth of clinical and research expertise to facilitate clinical learning from different styles and a variety of research pursuits.


Living and Training in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets and a prime location for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s main campus. A one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW students, faculty and employees take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

Learn more about housing and rental options.

Learn more about Milwaukee

Application Process and Visa Information

Our 3-year fellowship program is ACGME accredited and begins on July 1 each year. We accept two fellows each year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applicants must have completed a US-accredited residency program. Applications from prospective applicants are accepted from July through October via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will access your application and contact you to make interview arrangements.

Complete applications should include the following:

  • ERAS application form
  • At least 3 letters of reference including Program Director letter
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation/Dean's Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Personal statement
  • MD Applicants: USMLE scores - Steps 1, 2, and 3 or
  • DO Applicants: COMLEX scores – Levels 1, 2 and 3
  • ECFMG certificate for foreign medical school graduates (see visa information below)

Our program currently accepts the following visas:

  • Permanent Resident Visa
  • Visitor Exchange Visa sponsored by ECFMG (J-1)
  • Temporary Professional Workers (H-1B)

For additional visa information please visit MCW’s office of Graduate Medical Education.

Apply on ERAS

Benefits, Conditions and Terms of Employment

Fellows are employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH).

See MCWAH Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment for information regarding vacations, leaves, insurance, stipends and professional liability.

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 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 a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and have come away from fellowship with countless new friends and mentors."

A Graduated Fellow

Third Year Fellows

Malgorzata "Maggie" Bujarska, MD

Bujarska MD Margaret

Medical School: Rush University Medical Center
Residency: Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Brittany Siegel, DO

Siegel DO Brittany

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Case Western Reserve University

   
   

Second Year Fellows

Robert Becker, MD

Robert Becker MD\

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Gila Ginzburg, MD

Gila Ginzburg MD

Medical School: Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology
Residency: Advocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge

   
   

First Year Fellows

Christiana Ekezie, MBBS

Ekezie_Christiana

Medical School: Abia State University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Forum Patel, DO

Forum Patel DO

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

  
  

Our Team

Katie Vaidy, MD

Vaidy_Katie

Assistant Professor
Fellowship Program Director

Orlando Diaz

Orlando Diaz 2020 v2

Fellowship Coordinator

Linda Somppi

Medical College of Wisconsin Logo

Education Program Coordinator

Fellowship Program Contact

Orlando Diaz

Pediatrics Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Coordinator
odiaz@mcw.edu

Maps & Directions to Children's Wisconsin