The Advanced GI Motility Fellowship is a 1-year advanced training program offering unparalleled clinical depth and rigor, as well as opportunities for translational research in motility disorders.

At Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we recognized the need for advanced training in motility disorders for pediatric gastroenterologists and created the Advanced GI Motility Fellowship Program. Fellows will work directly with experts from our Suzi and Scott Lustgarten Center for GI Motility and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

We offer fellows:

• A structured curriculum that addresses clinical, research, procedural and didactic components
• World-renowned faculty with extensive years of combined experience treating patients and conducting clinical translational research
• Physicians and staff with specific expertise in functional bowel and gastrointestinal motility disorders
• A large and diversified patient population

Program goals

We will:

• Provide fellows with formalized and immersive subspecialty training in the field of pediatric neurogastroenterology and motility
• Expose fellows to a wide range of relevant pathology seen at our referral center through clinical and procedural experience
• Train pediatric gastroenterologists to:
  • Conduct and interpret motility studies independently
  • Participate in the treatment of patients with complex functional disorders
  • Serve as a consultant to other gastroenterologists and clinicians
• Provide fellows with a sophisticated understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of gastrointestinal motility
• Help fellows understand the brain-gut axis and how it impacts functional bowel disorders
• Educate fellows about all facets of gastrointestinal motility disorders including:
  • The structure and function of the enteric nervous system
  • Subgroups of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Genetics, natural history and management of specific conditions such as Hirschsprung disease

Training sites

Fellows will work under the direct supervision of an attending gastroenterologist at these locations:

• CHOP’S Main Campus at University City
• GI Endoscopy/Motility Suite and outpatient clinics in the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, including the Motility Second Opinion Program, Pediatric Colorectal Program, Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders, GI Psychosocial Program, Aerodigestive Clinic, Interdisciplinary Care for Abdominal Pain Syndrome, Chronic Constipation Program and Acquired Autonomic Dysfunction Program

Additional optional rotations may be offered within nutrition, surgery, pathology, radiology and with the adult motility team at the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.

How to apply

Candidates must have graduated from an accredited pediatric gastroenterology fellowship program and be Board Eligible or Board Certified (BE/BC) in Pediatric Gastroenterology at the time of recruiting. 

Selected applicants will be interviewed by Program Director Prasanna K. Kapavarapu, MD.

A group interview will also take place and may include staff from the GI Motility Center including the Clinical Director, as well as gastroenterologists and nursing staff.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Contact us

Prospective fellows are encouraged to contact Tiffany Bond, Fellowship Coordinator, at bondt1@chop.edu or 215-590-3247.