The Pancreas Fellowship is a full-time, 12-month experience. In special circumstances, arrangements can be made for other lengths of training.

Clinical training

As a fellow, you will see patients in the Mayo Clinic Pancreas Clinic. This practice provides exposure to our robust regional practice that includes common pancreatic conditions such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, and pancreatic neoplasms, as well as the national and international practice that includes complex pancreas referrals. The fellow also has the opportunity to see patients in the high-risk Pancreas Clinic, a clinic focused on pancreatic cancer surveillance for individuals with familial and genetic risk factors of pancreatic cancer.

You work under the close supervision of Mayo Clinic pancreatologists. In addition, consultations are available with members of the Division of Pancreaticobiliary Surgery to evaluate surgical options for management.

Electives

During the course of the year, you have the opportunity to spend time in focused areas related to pancreatology. The fellowship is tailored to your particular interests.

Potential areas for electives include:

• Nutrition
• Clinical genomics
• Radiology
• Pathology
• Inpatient GI service

You participate and present at the monthly Mayo Clinic Pancreas Interest Group noon conference. In addition, you may attend a variety of weekly GI divisional and GI subspecialty conferences.

Research training

The mission of the Pancreatology Fellowship is to train leaders within the medical pancreatology community. In addition to a comprehensive clinical exposure, you will be given the opportunity to develop or expand your research program in pancreatology. Our fellows are paired with a mentor and given ample protected time to dedicate to research. 

As a fellow, you will have access to specialized research centers and their resources within Mayo Clinic, including the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Research Program, the Center for Individualized Medicine, the Center for Regenerative Medicine, and the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery.

You will also be offered the opportunity to attend a weekly Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology research conference, as well as academic skills workshops throughout the academic year.

Call frequency

There is no after-hours call responsibility during this fellowship.

Moonlighting

One year is spent on focused training and research, therefore moonlighting is generally not allowed.

Evaluation

To ensure you gain proficiency and develop the corresponding technical skills, your performance is monitored throughout the Pancreatology Fellowship. You are formally evaluated by your supervising faculty member, and then you meet with the program director to review these evaluations. In addition, you regularly evaluate the faculty to ensure your educational goals are being met.