The Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, draws trainees from across the U.S. and around the world. Meet our current fellows and learn about their focus inside and outside the clinic.

Current fellow

Umang Arora, M.B.B.S.

What attracted you to transplant hepatology? 

During my gastroenterology fellowship, I felt confident in my overall training and had broad exposure to a wide range of cases. However, transplant hepatology consistently felt like my Achilles’ heel. Although I was involved in discussions and referrals, my understanding remained largely superficial, and I was aware that I lacked insight into the depth and complexity of the field. This awareness stayed with me and gradually became a strong motivator on this journey.

What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for transplant hepatology training? 

The term “Mayo protocol” had always sounded as routine to me as “observation” when discussing treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma. Similarly, the “Mayo score” for ulcerative colitis never registered in my mind as being tied to a specific institution. In all honesty, I did not fully appreciate that Mayo Clinic had been ranked number one worldwide in gastroenterology for 35 consecutive years until I arrived here. And now that I am here, surrounded by the humblest of giants in modern gastroenterology, I can truly see why.

What are your research interests and career aspirations? 

I am interested in clinical research that will hopefully one day focus on addressing unanswered questions in disease pathophysiology through a clinical lens. My goal is to conduct clinical trials and pragmatic, all-comers prospective cohort studies with direct clinical relevance. My research interests include recompensation in chronic liver disease, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and hepatobiliary oncology with its transplant-related aspects.

What is living in Rochester like for you? 

I had lived in a large, densely populated city for nearly 30 years and was ready for a change. Rochester is a quiet, quaint, and welcoming town that feels genuinely safe, yet offers a surprising range of activities, including skiing, art theatres, and local community events. Mayo Clinic makes a conscious effort to organize, host, and sponsor social activities — particularly during the summer months — which helps maintain a strong sense of community. The winters, however, are very much winters.

What does your future look like right now?

I plan to return to Delhi, India in the near term, with the goal of contributing to and strengthening the transplant program at the institution I will be joining. Despite the heavy clinical demands of private practice, I intend to protect dedicated time for research so that I can continue learning and remain passionate — very much in the way I have trained here.