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The Only Specialized Gastroenterology Course Designed for First Year Fellows

Believe it or not, we can still remember what it’s like to be beginning your fellowship. You’ve already been studying for years, and yet, the more specialized you become, the more it feels like there is to learn. Your time and budget are limited, and it can be hard to know where to start.

We Built Our First Year Fellows Conference for You

Our First Year Fellows Conference brings together renowned and leading experts in academia, practice, and industry to provide a comprehensive and practical overview of gastroenterology.

Every year, we introduce first-year fellows to clinical work in various fields, including general gastroenterology, hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, and endoscopy. This course brings together nationally and internationally recognized thought leaders to provide informative lectures, practical insights, and hands-on opportunities.

Our goal is that by the end of the program, every participant understands:

The basics of IBD and IBD management options
How to work up and manage common liver disorders
Endoscopy techniques and procedural indications

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Pre-Register for 2026 - First Year Fellows

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Are you interested in the First Year Fellows or APP GI course?

First Year Fellows

APP GI

Have a Look at This Year’s Speakers & Agenda

Dates: August 2-3, 2025 | Location: Estancia del Norte, San Antonio, TX

Christian Horn, MD

Director, Hepatology Service
Madigan Army Med Center
Doug Taylor, MD

Staff Gastroenterologist, Northbay Medical Center
Jason Rocha, MD

Staff Gastroenterologist
UTHSCA
Harry Thomas, MD

Gastroenterologist
Austin Gastro/GI Alliance
Wassem Juakiem, MD

Advanced Endoscopy
Keesler AFB
Carl Kay, MD

Staff Gastroenterologist
Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center
Kevin Pak, MD

Director, Hepatology Service
Brooke Army Medical Center
David Tang, MD

Advanced Endoscopy
UT Austin
Richa Shukla, MD

Associate Professor
Baylor College of Medicine
Anish Patel, DO

Director, IBD Center
Brooke Army Medical Center
Juan Echavarria, MD

Staff Gastroenterologist
UTHSCA
Stacey Collins, RD

IBD Registered Dietitian
Stacey Collins Nutrition

Timetable

SAturday, August 2

Meet the Team Behind Focus GI

.	.	.
Pre-Session	7:00 - 7:50	Breakfast
	7:50 - 8:00	Welcome & Introduction	Richa Shukla, MD
Session 1: Lead by Christian Horn, MD	8:00 - 8:30	Non-invasive assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis	Eugenia Tsai, MD
	8:30 - 9:00	Cirrhosis Diagnosis and Management	Jan Petrasek, MD
	9:00 - 9:30	Steatotic Liver Diseases	Kevin Pak, MD
	9:30 - 10:00	Morning Break
	10:00 - 11:00	Interactive Cases	Christian Horn, MD
	11:00 - 12:00	Lunch
Session 2: Lead by Wassem Juakiem, MD	12:00 - 12:30	Introduction to Endoscopy	Jason Rocha, MD
	12:30 - 13:00	Tools of the Trade	Wassem Juakiem, MD
	13:00 - 13:30	Foreign Body Management	Carl Kay, MD
	13:30 - 14:00	“On-Call” Calls	Doug Taylor, MD
	14:00 - 14:30	Afternoon Break
	14:30 - 17:30	Hands On Sessions
	17:30 - 17:45	Closing Remarks	Richa Shukla, MD
	18:00	Reception, sponsored by Erbe

Sunday, August 3

.	.	.
Pre-Session	7:00 - 7:50	Breakfast
	7:50 - 8:00	Welcome & Introduction	Anish Patel, DO
Session 1: Lead by Anish Patel, DO	8:00 - 8:30	Introduction to IBD	Harry Thomas, MD
	8:30 - 9:00	Therapeutics Options	Richa Shukla, MD
	9:00 - 9:30	GI Nutrition	Stacey Collins, RD
	9:30 - 10:00	Morning Break
	10:00 - 11:00	Interactive Cases	Anish Patel, DO
	11:00 - 12:00	Lunch
Session 2: Lead by Wassem Juakiem, MD	12:00 - 12:30	Upper GI Bleeding	David Tang, MD
	12:30 - 13:00	Therapeutic Colonoscopy	Juan Echavarria, MD
	13:00 - 16:00	Hands On Sessions
	16:00 - 16:15	Closing Remarks	Richa Shukla, MD

What Will it Cost Me?

It’s completely free. We also offer complimentary accommodations for out-of-town fellows and a $150 travel stipend to out-of-town participants who complete the post-course survey.
Where Should I Stay?

Hotel is provided by FOCUS GI at Estancia del Norte San Antonio, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Free parking is available on site.
What Should I Wear?

Please come in casual attire – we recommend scrubs.

Find Out What Other First Year Fellows Think About This Course

“Tools of the trade was extremely helpful as an overview and Dr Quiles had some very practical tips that were very easy to implement immediately into practice.”
“Practical medical decision making for grey-zone cases was most helpful at this point in training.”
“Top 10 mistakes provided great quick pearls and was easy to follow. Dr. Horn’s talk was thorough and very helpful.”
“I thought Dr. Harrison's talk was excellent because I've never actually seen a presentation where the lecturer actually went through the major trials in IBD, so it was very helpful. I also thought Dr. Markell's talk was incredibly valuable to get the surgical perspective in IBD care.”
“Dr. Stilwells talk provided some great pearls we are unlikely to be exposed to again.”

We’re already preparing for next year and would love to see you there.