I feel extremely fortunate to have received this invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provided by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. I completed my Advanced Endoscopy Training under the supervision of Professor Somashekar Krishna, Director of Endoscopy at the Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University. Prof. Krishna provided exceptional guidance and mentorship, offering in-depth exposure to a broad range of advanced endoscopic procedures.
During my three-month training period, I had extensive experience with complex and technically challenging ERCP cases, as well as both diagnostic and therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS). This included exposure to advanced interventions such as EUS-guided cystogastrostomy, EUS-guided gastrojejunostomy, EUS-guided gallbladder drainage, EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE), EUS-guided pancreatic lesion ablation, and EUS-guided pancreatic cystic microscopic evaluation using Cellvizio.
In addition to Prof. Krishna’s mentorship, I had the privilege of learning from several other distinguished faculty members, each an expert in their respective domain. I learned advanced ERCP and EUS techniques from Professor Georgios Papachristou, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology; endoscopic suturing and closure techniques from Dr. Hamza Shah; POEM, G-POEM, and EFTR from Dr. Jordan Berlin; and endoscopic bariatric procedures from Dr. Raj Shah.
I am also deeply grateful to Professor Khalid Mumtaz for his compassionate and insightful teaching on the management of post–liver transplant patients, particularly those with biliary strictures. Accompanying him during outpatient clinics and inpatient rounds provided me with an excellent understanding of multidisciplinary hospital systems and collaborative patient care.
In summary, this training has been an enriching and transformative experience that will greatly enhance my clinical practice back home. It has also opened doors for future collaboration and professional growth. I remain sincerely grateful to the ASGE and Fujifilm for offering such an outstanding program. My message to junior colleagues is simple: apply without hesitation—you will gain an extraordinary learning opportunity.
Endoscopic Training Award
The ASGE Endoscopic Training Award provides Advanced Fellows or Junior Faculty the opportunity to train outside of their home country with a premier GI Endoscopist or group to advance their training.
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Dr. Masood Muhammad Karim
2024 Award Recipient