MU Department of Medicine 2011-2013 Annual Report Feb. 2014 | Page 23

2011-2013

Department of Medicine

23

Overview of Education
The Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at the University of

through outpatient and inpatient care, endoscopic activities,

Missouri-Columbia has a long-standing history of producing

divisional and department conferences, participation in research,

outstanding gastroenterologists that go on to practice all over

and independent self-motivated learning. Clinical duties are split

the nation. The primary mission of our 3-year fellowship program

between the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics and the

is to teach the art and science of gastroenterology to highly

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital. Graduates of the

motivated and accomplished internists. Trainees become familiar

training program are fully prepared to enter independent clinical

with the presentation, natural history, pathophysiology, diagnosis

and academic practice.

and treatment of gastrointestinal, liver and hepatobiliary diseases

OverView of Research

Editorial Boards • Funded Research • Publications

At the Missouri Digestive Health Center, our team of scientists

Dr. Jamal Ibdah is currently the Senior Associate Dean for

and physician researchers continually search for the causes

Research and Professor of Medicine, Medical Pharmacology and

of digestive diseases. Our researchers search for and develop

Physiology, Raymond E. and Vaona H. Peck Chair, and Director of

therapeutics, which could eventually lead to cures for many

the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His research

digestive diseases. The MDHC consists of the Division of

focuses on utilizing animal models and human subjects to

Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Division of Colorectal

explore the role of genetic and environmental alterations in

Surgery at the University of Missouri - Columbia, School of

mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in the development of fatty

Medicine. The MDHC has six centers of excellence that treat

liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. Dr. Ibdah’s recent

a full range of digestive disorders. Each center is staffed by

publications and work in the lab explore the effects of exercise

physicians who are experts in their field and who have years of

on fatty liver disease.

experience in treating complex and rare disorders.
Areas of expertise include:
• Advanced and therapeutic endoscopy
• Liver disease
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Colorectal cancer
• Nutritional sciences
The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology has one of the
most active research programs of any division in the School of
Medicine. A number of the faculty members are funded through
sources including the NIH, the VA Hospital, and private industry.

Spotlight
The 1st Annual GI & Liver Symposium was held on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Faculty members from the Division of Gastroenterology
& Hepatology, Department of Medicine, and Department of Surgery were invited to speak to a target audience of: internists, family
practitioners, gastroenterologists, surgeons, fellows and residents in training, specialists with an interest in GI and liver diseases, nurse
practitioners, and physician assistants located in the surrounding Mid-Missouri area. The course highlights from the Symposium were
to provide comprehensive coverage of the recent advances in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of common gastrointestinal
and liver diseases. It was a successful event and will be held on an annual basis in March.