Hepatology Training Pathways

By achieving American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and/or American Board of Pediatric (ABP) certification in transplant hepatology, you demonstrate your commitment to the profession and show the public, your patients, your institution, and your colleagues that you have attained expertise in advanced and transplant hepatology beyond the general hepatology competence expected of a gastroenterologist. Certification in transplant hepatology is the preferred pathway for the expert hepatologist, whether your career goals involve practice in an academic liver transplant program or a community general hepatology practice.

Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Programs

There are two pathways available to achieve certification in transplant hepatology:

  • Transplant hepatology training after gastroenterology fellowship (“fourth year”)
  • Dual certification training in transplant hepatology during gastroenterology fellowship (formerly known as the “Pilot”)

There are over 60 ACGME-accredited fellowships in transplant hepatology currently available. Most but not all transplant hepatology fellowship programs currently offer the dual certification pathway.

Transplant Hepatology Training After Gastroenterology Fellowship ("Fourth Year")

  • One year of advanced training for those who have completed a three-year fellowship in gastroenterology (total of four years for completion of gastroenterology and transplant hepatology fellowship training)
  • Benefits of an additional year of fellowship training after completion of a gastroenterology fellowship include:
    • Advanced training in general and transplant hepatology
    • More time available for training and development of competence in gastroenterology
    • More time to pursue scholarly activities including research and/or an advanced degree during the three-year gastroenterology fellowship
    • Opportunity to pursue advanced training at a different institution
  • Ideal for trainees interested in an academic hepatology career, advanced degree, and/or a career with a significant research focus

When and How to Apply

  • Visit the AASLD Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Application System to search for available transplant hepatology fellowship positions. You can reach out to learn more about programs and/or submit applications to participating programs through the site 
  • Programs can be viewed and applications submitted in January-March of the year before anticipated start of transplant hepatology fellowship training 
  • Interviews take place in March and April 
  • Match Day is in May of the year prior to start of training
  • Visit the site for the current schedule and to search for participating programs

 

Dual Certification Training in Transplant Hepatology During Gastroenterology Fellowship (Formerly Known As The “Pilot”)

  • Transplant hepatology training during the three-year gastroenterology fellowship (total of three years for completion of gastroenterology and transplant hepatology fellowship training)
  • Benefits of dual-certification training include:
    • Advanced training in general and transplant hepatology
    • Less time in training that may not align with career interests
    • Shortened overall duration of training
  • Ideal for trainees interested in a clinically-focused hepatology career

When and How to Apply

  • The dual certification pathway is available to existing gastroenterology fellows at a program with an accredited transplant hepatology fellowship program at the same institution
  • In some programs, this pathway may be competitive depending on the number of interested fellows and other program-specific factors
  • Discuss your interest in this pathway with gastroenterology fellowship program directors during interviews and/or during your first year of gastroenterology fellowship
  • See ABIM and ACGME websites for program requirements

 

Transplant Hepatology Certification

  • Upon completing transplant hepatology training and passing the gastroenterology board certification, fellows will be eligible to take the Transplant Hepatology Board Certification Exam jointly offered by the ABIM and ABP
  • The dual certification pathway is currently only eligible for certification through the ABIM and is not available through the ABP