Hepatology Fellowship

Course details

• The program is organized to provide training and clinical experience to create competent consultants in hepatologv.
• The length of training is 18 months, which can be extended to three years if the candidate wishes to do luminal gastroenterolgv as well.
• Trainees will be given the opportunity to assume continuous responsibility for the care of patients with a variety of hepatobiliary disorders.
• Mechanisms of disease processes as well as the clinical manifestations and therapy will be emphasized.
• Appropriate and cost effective utilization of the laboratory and other resources will be stressed.
• To know how new knowledge in hepatologv is acquired, the trainee should participate in at least two research projects.
• Experience with liver transplant patients is an essential part of training.

Pre-Requisites for acceptance in the Fellowship Program 

The applicant for the fellowship should have at least one of the following credentials:

• Board certification in internal medicine by the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization.
• Membership of one of the Royal colleges of Medicine.
• Board certification by the American or Canadian Colleges of Medicine.

Program Content: 

A. Fundamental Knowledge:

Anatomy and embryology of the liver

Physiology of the liver

• Bilirubin metabolism
• Bile salt metabolism
• Drug metabolism
• Regulation of hepatic blood flow.

Liver histopathology

Natural history, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary disease including:

• Viral Hepatitis
• Fulminant Hepatic Failure
• Complications of chronic liver disease i.e. ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and variceal hemorrhage.
• Gall stones and their complications
• Pregnancy related liver disease
• Metabolic liver diseases (Wilsons, hemo chromata sis, alfa-1-antitryp sin deficiency)
• Drug induced liver injury
• Pre-and post-operative evaluation of patients with hepatobiliary dysfunction

Treatment of chronic liver disease

• Selection and long term care of liver transplant patients

B. Procedural skills:

• Percutaneous liver biopsy
• Upper abdominal ultrasound
• Paracentesis

Certification:

• The fellow should have successfully completed of training in clinical hepatology.
• The fellow should pass the written certifying examinations (see above)
• A final written and oral examination will be conducted at the end of the fellowship. External examiners will be invited to participate in the examination.