Gastroenterology and Hepatology Specialty Profile
Gastroenterology is the specialty with deals with diseases of the entire gastrointestinal tract and associated organs including the liver, biliary tract and pancreas. Often a significant proportion of the work involves endoscopic procedures. These specialists deal with a mix of acute (e.g upper gastrointestinal bleeding) and chronic (e.g inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disease) pathology, which varies from functional and/or relatively minor (e.g dyspepsia) to life-threatening (e.g acute hepatic failure and bleeding oesophageal varices). A range of technical procedures are employed which provide both diagnostic information and the potential for therapeutic intervention. These are likely to become more numerous and more effective as technology advances.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Training Program
Training Program
Advanced training is overseen by the Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) in gastroenterology. A comprehensive guide to the vocational training program is available from the RACP website in the advanced training section of the Requirements for Physician Training handbook.... more
Application process
A centralised computer-based online matching system is being developed, and has already commenced in Victoria & Tasmania. However, this new process does not obviate the need to liaise directly with hospital department directors. In other states, trainees are currently required... more
Length of Training
Advanced training in gastroenterology requires a minimum of 3 years, including a 2 year period of core training and one year of non core training typically devoted to research, gaining further experience in a specialized area of gastroenterology, or training... more
Cost of Training
See Physicians - Cost of Training... more
Availability/Competition for training positions
In 2006, there were a total of 72 advanced physician trainees in gastroenterology (the third largest group). There was an intake of 21 new first year advanced trainees. Positions for gastroenterology training tend to be very competitive.... more
Flexibility in Training
See Physicians - Flexibility in Training... more
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Case Study
Dr. Jeremy Ryan
Name: Dr. Jeremy Ryan
Career stage: Consultant
Location: Melbourne, Victoria and Warrigal and Sale in regional Victoria
Medical Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
What do you enjoy most about your specialty?
I enjoy the procedural work including gastroscopy and colonoscopy .It is investigative procedural work. It requires a technical skill that you enjoy doing because you gain an expertise and do it well....
What are the challenges in gastroenterology?
The challenge is always to come up with a solution to the patient's problem....
Gastroenterology and Hepatology Workplace
The workplace
In the most recent AMWAC survey of the gastroenterology workforce, specialists reported that they spent the majority of their time in outpatient consultations, followed by endoscopic and other procedures, then hospital ward rounds. Gastroenterologists often liaise with other inpatient units... more
The doctor-patient relationship
Gastroenterologists spend a large amount of time on direct patient care, and relationships with patients may vary from very short term (e. performing an endoscopic procedure for a referring inpatient unit) to long-term care (e.g patient with inflammatory bowel disease,... more
Intellectual content
A broad knowledge of gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology is required. Aspects of microbiology, oncology, nutrition and immunology are frequently encountered. Psychosocial aspects of substance abuse and functional illnesses are also relevant to gastroenterology practice. Thus although procedural skills are... more
Lifestyle and Practice Options
Gastroenterology is a demanding specialty, and many of these specialists work long hours. In the most recent AMWAC survey, about 40% of specialists felt that they were overworked. However, a large majority of specialists were satisfied with their work overall.... more
News Archive
- 18.11.08 | The rising tide of medical graduates: how will postgraduate training be affected?
- 14.11.08 | An update from AMA Victoria
- 14.11.08 | Doctors 4 Hospitals
- 13.11.08 | 75 more training places for 2009 AGPT
- 10.11.08 | Rudd pledges $148m for GP training
- 07.11.08 | Doctors fleeing Victoria for better jobs in Queensland
- 07.11.08 | 2008 AMAV enterprise bargaining Victorian Hospital Employed Doctors
- 05.11.08 | New books available through My Medical Career
- 05.11.08 | Medical Labour Force 2006 Report Released
- 05.11.08 | 2008 GPET convention web link live!
- 01.11.08 | Overloaded junior doctors revolt over hospital working conditions
- 22.10.08 | So you want to be a Doctor?
- 16.10.08 | Australian Health Review - 2008 Student Paper Award
- 12.09.08 | Wine, Olive oil and Tapas event
- 09.09.08 | The Medical Women's Congress is fast approaching!
Specialist Case Studies:
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Med Resources & Further Reading
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics e-dition: Text with Continually Updated Online Reference, 18e
by By Robert M. Kliegman, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; Richard E. Behrman, MD, Executive Chair, Pediatric Education Steering Committee, Federation of Pediatric Organizations, Menlo Park, CA; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, CA; George Washington University, Washington, DC; Hal B. Jenson, MD, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Director, Center for Pediatric Research, and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA; and Bonita F. Stanton, MD, Schotanus Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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- Guides Repaying your HELP debt in 2007-08
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- Colleges The Royal Australasian College of Physicians - Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
- Websites Science Daily
- Books Gastroenterology and Hepatology: A Clinical Handbook
- Reports Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Summary of Subscriptions, Examination, Training and Other Fees for 2007.
- Medical Boards Northern Territory Licensing Authority
- Blogs The Dragonfly initiative
