Application process

We have 9 fellows in our Gastroenterology program, with 3 fellowship positions available each academic year. We will accept applications for those positions through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) starting in July of each year. Our program also participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) for Gastroenterology.

Our program requests the following supporting documents via your ERAS application:

• Three letters of recommendation (in addition to the letter from your Internal Medicine Program Director)
• One letter from your Internal Medicine Program Director
• Medical School Transcript
• USMLE Scores
• Photograph (optional but recommended)
• A copy of your CV
• Personal Statement: Outline your interests in GI/Hepatology. Include a description of your career goals after the completion of your fellowship training.

International medical graduate applicants must be ECFMG certified by the NRMP ranking deadline to be considered. Applicants must be legally able to work in the U.S., or to obtain work authorization. 

Application timeline

Early June: ERAS opens

Mid July: ERAS Application visible to program

August/September: Interview Season

October: NRMP match order list opens

November: NRMP match closes

December: Match!

OHSU Equal Opportunity Policy

The OHSU Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) leads and supports the university-wide initiatives to create an environment of respect and inclusion for all people. CDI is dedicated to fostering partnerships to enhance OHSU's mission of healing, teaching, research and community services. With a range of resources and services, CDI supports and empowers students, faculty and staff from all walks of life, including historically underrepresented populations.

Diversity News & Events

OHSU provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. It does not discriminate on any status protected by law. This policy applies to all employment, education, volunteer, and patient care related activities or in any other aspect of OHSU's operation. Retaliation for reporting discrimination is prohibited. To make an inquiry or report an incident of discrimination, contact OHSU's Office of Civil Rights Investigations and Compliance (OCIC) Department at 503-494-5148, ocic@ohsu.edu

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ("Title IX") protects individuals from discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex or gender in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal aid. OHSU, as a recipient of federal funds, complies with Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 by prohibiting sex and gender discrimination and harassment, which includes sexual misconduct and sexual violence, in education programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Inquiries about Title IX compliance or sex/gender discrimination and harassment may be directed to the OHSU Title IX Coordinator at titleix@ohsu.edu.

Inquiries may also be directed to the U.S. Department of Education, Western Region Office for Civil Rights, at 206-607-1600, ocr.seattle@ed.gov.

Photo Roster

2024-25 GI Fellows

First year fellows

Jennifer Koh, MD, MPH
MD: University of Miami
Residency: University of Southern California

Lee James Varelas, MD
MD: University of Pittsburgh
Residency: University of Pittsburgh

Nicole Wong, MD
MD: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: OHSU

Second year fellows

Eddy Leung, MD
MD: University of Hawaii
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Claire Shin, MD, MS
MD: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago

Patrick Stauffer, MD
MD: OHSU
Residency: OHSU

Third year fellows

Shanna Cheng, MD
MD: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin

Jeffrey Rebhun, MD
MD: University of Queensland School of Medicine
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago

Jennifer Rodriguez, MD
MD: University of Miami
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

First year training

The first year primarily entails inpatient clinical responsibilities on the consultative services at OHSU and the Portland VA Medical Center. While on the GI Consult Service, the fellow is part of a team that includes a GI attending and a medical resident. The team is responsible for performing GI consultations for patients on the medical and surgical services. The duties of the fellow include the supervision and direction of the service, and the instruction of the house staff and students in basic aspects of Gastroenterology. The fellow is supported by full-time faculty members who serve as resources for any questions, problems or procedures that are required day or night. In addition, for the first month, the first-year trainee is accompanied by a second-year fellow to help him/her ease into the new environment. The program is structured to develop strong bonds between the fellows and faculty members, resulting in the best teaching and patient care possible.

Our first-year fellows also spend a total of two outpatient months at Kaiser Permanente as a consulting Gastroenterologist to obtain experience in the private practice of Gastroenterology.

The first-year fellow will obtain extensive experience in diagnostic as well as therapeutic upper and lower endoscopic procedures. Emphasis is placed on the appropriate application of endoscopy as well as the attainment of technical skills. During the first three months of fellowship, the Summer Core Lecture series is presented twice weekly by members of the GI/Hepatology faculty, the surgery faculty and a variety of other services. Topics include:

• Introduction to endoscopy
• Stress management during fellowship
• Basics of GI Pathology
• Management of GI bleeding
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Jaundice
• Hepatitis C
• Capsule endoscopy
• Esophageal manomtery

Second & Third year training

The second and third year of fellowship allow for more time to pursue scholarly activities that are a mandatory part of the program requirements. This may include:

• Participation in research projects
• Presentations at national and international Gastroenterology meetings
• Journal publications.

Each fellow is encouraged to align him or herself with one of the faculty members and participate in research on a topic of joint interest. There is less emphasis on consult rotations. In the latter part of the third year, the fellow serves as the attending on the GI consult service at the University with faculty back-up. This is an experience unique to our program and a significant confidence builder before entering the “real world”.

Conferences

The fellows attend a number of conferences both within the Division and the Department of Medicine. There is a weekly conference that allows for topics in pathology, hepatology, clinical nutrition and hepatobiliary disease. Every Monday morning, there is a research conference during which research topics and meeting presentations are discussed. There is also training in the critical review of the medical literature. An outstanding medical school library, internet/literature search access, courses and seminars in the basic sciences, statistics and public health courses are also available.