Division of  Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship

Program Overview

The UPMC IBD Advanced Fellowship is a one-year, non-accredited program for gastroenterologists seeking advanced training in the diagnosis, management, and research of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This fellowship is housed within the University of Pittsburgh’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center, one of the largest and most comprehensive programs in the U.S., offering a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Fellows benefit from exposure to a unique and diverse patient population, including both inpatient and outpatient experiences, and gain hands-on training through innovative programs such as Total Care-IBD, the nation’s first IBD subspecialty medical home. The Center’s robust clinical and translational research infrastructure, including access to registries, clinical trials, and IBD genetics studies, provides fellows with immediate opportunities to engage in research, precision medicine, and evidence-based practice.

Fellows hold an Instructor of Medicine appointment within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and the program is tailored to individual career goals, whether clinical, research, or academic. While education, research, and clinical training are the focus, fellows will also staff a pre-negotiated number of weeks as attending on the inpatient gastroenterology service.

Key Features:

  • Clinical Training: Inpatient care on the dedicated IBD service and outpatient clinics, including Total Care-IBD and IBD endoscopy, as well as opportunities in small bowel transplantation, parenteral nutrition (TPN), and collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
  • Research Opportunities: Access to a large clinical and translational research database, including IBD genetics and registry data; participation in clinical trials, observational studies, and collaborative research projects; and mentorship from IBD faculty thought leaders and an experienced support team.
  • Educational Activities: Weekly IBD case discussions and journal club; didactic and research-focused conferences with original research presentations and critical appraisals; participation in IBD LIVE, a weekly interactive case discussion series with 25+ East Coast academic centers; and engagement in IBD patient education initiatives, such as UPMC IBD UNITE.
  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Close work with Total Care-IBD, Colorectal Surgery, Pathology, and Radiology, as well as exposure to cutting-edge multidisciplinary IBD care.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Faculty:

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Arthur M. Barrie, III, MD PhD
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David G. Binion, MD
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Patrick Buckley, MD
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Jeffrey M. Dueker, MD, MPH
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Richard H. Duerr, MD
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Amir-Ali Ghaffari, MD PhD
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Elyse R. Johnston, MD
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Marc Schwartz, MD
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Kelly Thomas, MD

How to Apply

Applicants should have completed residency training in Internal Medicine and an accredited three-year fellowship in Gastroenterology (or equivalent training) prior to the start of the program. Candidates must also hold a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or be eligible to obtain one before beginning the fellowship.

The program welcomes applications from qualified U.S. and international candidates; however, J-1 and H-1B visa sponsorships are not available.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV by May 15, 2025, to

Amir-Ali Ghaffari, MD, PhD
c/o Ms. Kim Luketic, Program Coordinator
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
PUH, M2, C Wing
200 Lothrop St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

For additional information or inquiries about the program, please contact Kimberly Luketic at kil6@pitt.edu.

Amir-Ali Ghaffari, MD, PhD

Program Director 
ghaffariaa@upmc.edu 

For more information, please contact:

Kim Luketic
GME Senior Manager
412-864-7071
kil6@pitt.edu