The role of a regional endoscopic society in fellowship training programs in gastrenterology

In 1988, the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (NYSGE) established a series of evening lectures, entitled "The Fellows' Summer Program,' intended lo introduce first-year Gastroenterology trainees to the didactic fundamentals of gastrointestinal endcscopy. Furthermore, by regular attendance of this lecture series, trainees were afforded the unique opportunity to visit the "other" endoscopy suites extant in the New York metropolitan area and hear the spoken word and recommendations directly from local authorities and experts in gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic training. Emphasis was placed on basic procedural techniques as well as detailed introductions to upper and lower endoscopie procedures. With an acknowledged grant-in-support from a pharmaceutical company a handsome syllabus has been created in 1994.Since 1988, the NYSGE Summer Program (8-10) weekly sessions) has been attended by virtually all entering Gastroenterology Fellows from 35 training programs in the New York Metropolitan area. Often, trainees return in their second and/or third years of training as they recognize that these NYSGE sessions (25-55 trainees in attendance/session) provide a mechanism for Fellows to share training experiences and develop an academic comradely at the highest level. Fellows, therefore, as they begin their training, are introduced to the other (now very well attended) educational activities of the NYSGE which include Intracity Rounds (4 each year, clinical case presentations), Scientific Seminars (e.g., biliary endoscopy, gastrointestinal bleeding, manometry). Fellows Night (endoscopic achievements critiqued by the experts), the Annual Course (approaching the 20th year), and the Annual Dinner where scholarship prizes are awarded to the Fellows who delivered the "best presentations" over the past year. Furthermore, attendance at, and active participation in the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy activities is virtually mandated.It is not the intent of the NYSGE to supplant any aspect of a carefully developed core curriculum at any individual site of Gastroenterology training. Rather, we confidently feel that the educational activities of NYSGE serve as a valuable adjunct to proper training in gastrointestinal endoscopy to the gastroenterologists of the future.