Meet The Faculty

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The faculty members of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, are committed to teaching and facilitating the growth of medical knowledge as well as performing high-quality clinical care. While our faculty members have published and lectured extensively, they remain clinicians first and foremost, so you will have direct access to their clinical expertise on a daily basis throughout your training.

During gastroenterology training, fellows have access to the following resources and support services:

Computerized patient records system allowing immediate access to medical records from any workstation in the clinic or hospital setting, and through broadband Internet access from home
Electronic access to medical journals and UpToDate
Endoscopy simulator
Teaching tapes for endoscopic training
Gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition texts
Pathology teaching files
Secretarial services for patient care and academic activities
Broadband access to the Internet through a dedicated T1 line to allow rapid literature search, slide creation, database management, word-processing, and e-mail
Professional graphic services for slide, video, and poster presentations
Dedicated office space

From the program director

Mashal Batheja, M.D. Greetings and welcome to our online home!

At Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, our Gastroenterology Fellowship Program has a dual mission: to provide world-class training and excellence in clinical care and endoscopy and to create the next generation of leaders and clinical investigators.

Many of our GI and liver faculty are world-renowned in their subspecialties and our fellows' knowledge and skills are honed as they learn directly from the experts at the bedside, through didactic sessions, in the endoscopy suites, and by conducting clinical research. Our faculty are well represented among the ranks of leadership at national GI and Hepatology societies, leading to myriad opportunities for mentorship and sponsorship for our fellows, a critical aspect in the journey to establish academic careers.

The exceptional number of resources available at our institution greatly facilitates your education during these fundamental years of training. Our three-year program now accepts four fellows per year. We increased from three fellows per year in 2023, reflecting the continued growth of our institution. In addition, we offer advanced fourth-year fellowships in therapeutic advanced endoscopy with additional fellows in luminal interventions, transplant hepatology, and esophageal disorders. There are many exciting educational offerings including our Annual Update in Gastroenterology and Hepatology with interactive live endoscopy, Annual Mayo Clinic Esophageal Diseases Course, and our annual three-site Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology and Hepatology Course.

Mayo Clinic is recognized globally for its collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to patient care. This is one of my favorite attributes of our institution, where I trained myself and chose to return as faculty and educator. I strongly believe teamwork is the path to clinical and academic success, and this spirit of camaraderie is how we best support each other on a daily basis and over the arch of our careers. In the words of Dr. William Mayo, "No one is big enough to be independent of others." If you are interested in an academic program, recognized nationally for its excellence in patient care, education, and research, and one that highly values teamwork, we encourage you to apply!

Mashal Batheja, M.D.
Program Director

Program faculty

Our faculty are dedicated to maintaining a supportive learning environment and consider fellow education as one of the most rewarding parts of their careers. In addition to holding many leadership positions within Mayo Clinic, our faculty members hold or have held many national leadership positions as well.

You have direct access to the Gastroenterology Faculty at Mayo Clinic throughout your training in the Gastroenterology Fellowship and future practice.

	Neena Abraham, M.D., M.S. Professor of Medicine Program Director, CardioGastroenterology Clinic Area of specialty: Cardio Gastroenterology, antiplatelet and anticoagulant drug management Academic or research interests: Large observational dataset research and methodology Shared decision-making guidelines Leadership training and mentoring Leadership roles: Institute Director, American College of Gastroenterology Institute for Clinical Research Director, ACG Institute Center for Leadership, Ethics & Equity Executive Team Member, American College of Gastroenterology Board of Trustees, American College of Gastroenterology Chair, ACG Institute Board of Directors Chair, ACG Institute LE&E Center Advisory Board
	Mashal Batheja, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Academic and research interests: Innovation in medical education Leadership roles: Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship GI Faculty Lecturer, University of Arizona-Phoenix Medical School
	Tisha Lunsford, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Section Director, Motility Area of specialty: Motility Society fellowships: FACG, AGAF
	N. Jewel Samadder, M.D. Professor of Medicine Enterprise Co-Leader Precision/Individualized Cancer Medicine, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Area of specialty: Cancer genetics and hereditary gastrointestinal cancer Academic or research interests: Familial and genetic risk of colorectal cancer Cancer prevention Chemo-prevention Cancer genomics Population-based genomics Cancer epidemiology Genetic epidemiology Cancer prevention and screening clinical trials
	Bashar Aqel, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Medical Director, Liver Transplant Program Academic and research interests: Liver transplant outcomes Cholangiocarcinoma Extended criteria donors (DCD, HCV viremic donors, HBV viremic donors) NAFLD Leadership roles: Member, National Liver Review Board
	Prasad Iyer, M.D., M.S. Professor of Medicine Chair, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona Areas of specialty: Early detection, risk stratification, and endoscopic therapy of Esophageal Cancer and Barrett’s esophagus Academic or research interests: Epidemiology and outcomes of Barrett’s esophagus Minimally invasive techniques for detection of Barrett’s esophagus Risk stratification of Barrett’s esophagus using novel biomarkers Clinical Trial design and implementation Leadership roles: Chair, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Arizona Program Director, Clinical Trialist Training Program, Mayo Clinic Center of Clinical and Translational Science Medical Director, Mayo Hub, Trial Innovation Network, Mayo Clinic Center of Clinical and Translational Science Chair, AGA Endoscopy, Technology and Imaging Section Chair, ASGE DDW Hands Sessions Committee Chair, ACG-ASGE GIQuIC Research Committee
	Shabana Pasha, M.D. Professor of Medicine Section Director, Small Bowel Disorders Area of specialty: IBD, colorectal neoplasia, small bowel enteroscopy Academic or research interests: Small bowel enteroscopy Artificial intelligence in capsule endoscopy IBD Biobank co-founder and biomarker research Society fellowships: FACG FASGE Leadership roles: American College of Gastroenterology Governor of Arizona ASGE Scientific Committee ACG Prior Authorization Task Force WGO Guidelines Committee GI Nutrition Block Faculty and Student Affairs Executive Committee, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
	Francisco Ramirez, M.D. Professor of Medicine Director of Endoscopy (Scottsdale, Arizona) Area of specialty: Esophageal disorders (Barrett's esophagus, dysphagia, complex procedures in the esophagus) Academic and research interests: Barrett's esophagus Endoscopic treatments of dysplastic Barrett's Innovative endoscopic techniques Quality in endoscopy Leadership roles: Associate Chair for Staff Development, Department of Medicine Chair, Endoscopy Committee American College of Gastroenterology Diversity Committee American College of Gastroenterology Research Committee
	David Chascsa, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Program Director, Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Area of specialty: Transplant hepatology Academic and research interests: NAFLD and obesity specifically in the setting of cirrhosis and liver transplantation Leadership roles: Transplant Center Associate Chair for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Arizona
	Suryakanth Gurudu, M.D. Professor of Medicine Section Director for Colorectal Neoplasia Area of specialty: Colorectal neoplasia, GI neoplasia, IBD Academic and research interests: Outcomes in colonoscopy quality AI in colonoscopy Hereditary colorectal cancer Multi-target stool DNA Capsule endoscopy Leadership roles: Director of Quality, Mayo Clinic Arizona Gastroenterology and Hepatology Member representing Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, NCCN Guidelines Committee
	Jonathan Leighton, M.D. Professor of Medicine Arizona Medical Director, Office of Joy and Wellbeing Area of specialty: IBD Academic and research interests: Small bowel imaging, including capsule endoscopy Deep enteroscopy and cross-sectional imaging Artificial intelligence and biomarker discovery in IBD Leadership roles: Enterprise Medical Director, Office of Mayo Clinic Experience Vice President, American College of Gastroenterology Vice Chair, Scientific Programs Committee, World Gastroenterology Organization
	Marcelo Vela, M.D. Professor of Medicine Section Director of Esophageal Disorders Program Director, Advanced Esophageal Diseases Fellowship Area of specialty: Esophageal disorders Academic and research interests: GERD Dysphagia Esophageal motility disorders Non-cardiac chest pain Eosinophilic esophagitis Barrett's esophagus
	Christina Ha, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Section Director, IBD Area of specialty: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis Academic and research interests: Medical education Impact on aging in IBD Leadership roles: Chair, Professional Education Committee, Crohn's Colitis Foundation National Scientific Advisory Committee, Crohn's Colitis Foundation Associate Editor American Journal of Gastroenterology Co-Chair, Milestone-IBD Advanced IBD Fellowship Initiative
	Rahul Pannala, M.D. Associate Professor Section Director, Pancreas Clinic Area of specialty: Pancreas, therapeutic endoscopy, and endobariatrics Academic and research interests: Pancreatobiliary diseases Endobariatrics Medical innovation Global health Leadership roles: Vice Chair, Education Committee, World Endoscopy Organization Chair, GI Disease Oriented Group, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona
	Norio Fukami, M.D. Professor of Medicine Director of Therapeutic Endoscopy Area of specialty: Therapeutic endoscopy Academic and research interests: Advanced tissue resection Pancreaticobiliary disease Third space endoscopy Leadership roles: Program Director, Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship Program Director, Interventional Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Fellowship

Visiting professors

Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during morning and late afternoon lectures. Residents and fellows are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to interact with experts from other academic centers and are relieved from clinical assignments to do so.

Academics ▸ Residencies and Fellowships ▸ Gastroenterology Fellowship (Arizona) ▸ Meet The Faculty

Meet The Faculty

From the program director

Program faculty

Visiting professors

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