The Pancreatology Fellowship draws trainees from across the U.S. and around the world. While all our fellows have a love of learning and a compassionate approach to patient care, they come from diverse backgrounds, family status, and professional and personal interests.

Jaime de la Fuente, M.D.

Medical school: Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN

Residency: Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN

Fellowship: Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN

What attracted you to gastroenterology?

My initial attraction to the specialty was the combination of seeing medically complex patients, but also having a procedural component to be able to diagnose and/or treat patients quickly. In addition, my interactions with the GI faculty and mentors during my residency period showed how happy and fulfilled one could be practicing in this field. 

Why did you choose Mayo Clinic for fellowship training?

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was one of the few places that were able to balance excellent clinical experience, time for research, work/life balance, and access to experts in all aspects of not only pancreatology but also all of gastroenterology and hepatology. 

Did anything surprise you about Mayo's program?

It never ceases to amaze me how approachable and accessible the consultants and attendings I work with are even while many of them are on international/national GI guidelines and are world experts in their respective fields. 

What does your future look like right now?

My career aspirations involve taking an active role as both a clinician educator and researcher in an academic setting. I am currently in the process of looking for a job in academic pancreatology.

Bradford Chong, M.D.

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Medical school: Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois

What attracted you to gastroenterology?

I enjoyed learning about the pathophysiology, as well as the diagnosis and management of GI disorders. It was gratifying to help patients understand their condition, dispel common misconceptions, and provide a treatment plan to improve their symptoms and overall quality of life. Being able to treat digestive conditions with medical and endoscopic therapies was also appealing to me. 

Why did you choose Mayo Clinic for fellowship training?

I chose Mayo for the opportunity to train at a world-class institution with longstanding traditions of innovation, patient-centered care, and mentorship.

What makes the Mayo Clinic Pancreatology Fellowship unique? 

The Pancreatology Fellowship is an immersive experience with daily exposure to a wide breadth and depth of pathology in a dedicated Pancreas Clinic. I've been able to learn from the foremost experts in the field and collaborating in pancreas research with experts across multiple disciplines has been exciting. 

The Pancreas Clinic is well supported by pancreas-specific nurses and well-integrated with other disciplines. As a result, patients benefit from expedient and streamlined delivery of high-quality care that is truly unique to Mayo. It has been very satisfying to take care of patients and train under this model of care. 

Did anything surprise you about Mayo's program?

I think just how smooth the transition to Mayo Clinic has been and how open and generous people are toward each other. As renowned as the faculty are, they are incredibly down-to-earth, easily approachable, and highly invested in your growth as a clinician and investigator. My co-fellows are kind and eager to lend a helping hand, for anything big or small. The institutional culture and the learning environment have a vital impact on the training experience, which has been outstanding at Mayo. 

What does your future look like right now?

After completing my fellowship, my plans are to join a large-volume academic center as a medical pancreatologist, with research interests in the early detection of pancreas cancer and health services.