Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program

The Advanced Endoscopy Center within the Division of Gastroenterology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital offers advanced training in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, geared toward an academic endoscopist. The program focuses on technical and cognitive skill acquisition as well as endoscopic research training and experience.

Program Description and Curriculum

During the two-year advanced endoscopy fellowship, the fellows will receive exposure to all aspects of modern advanced endoscopy, including cutting-edge technologies not available at most institutions. A core focus of the training will be in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy, with broad exposure to ERCP and EUS along with other essential skills of advanced endoscopy including EMR, endoluminal stenting, endoscopic mucosal ablation and enteroscopy. While it is not possible to master all advanced endoscopic techniques in the course of two years, the fellowship will be tailored to accomplish the learning objectives of the fellow. In the second year of training, the curriculum will be customized for each fellow, providing additional training in more advanced procedures such as third space endoscopy, ESD, bariatric endoscopy and transoral fundoplication, among others.

Johns Hopkins’ advanced endoscopy group has a rich tradition of innovation, and fellows have access to the animal lab facility to perform research studies and enhance their endoscopy skills.

In addition to the technical aspect of endoscopy training, special emphasis is laid on cognitive training through didactic teaching and specialty lectures, as well as clinics. Fellows will participate in the weekly GI division and research conferences along with dedicated case conferences for pancreo-biliary or advanced endoscopy. Advanced fellows are responsible for case presentations at conferences and participate in meetings hosted by the advanced endoscopy group. The fellows rotate on the inpatient pancreo-biliary service and develop teaching and leadership skills by interacting with fellows and other trainees.

Advanced endoscopy fellows have dedicated block time for research and are expected to lead research projects, assist in the enrollment of patients to clinical trials and publish in major specialty journals. Fellows will be assigned mentors, matched by their interests, who will ensure each fellow’s learning milestones are met.

Program Length

The program length is two years.

How to Apply

Our program participates in the ASGE Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Matching Program.

Program Directors

Venkata Akshintala, MBBS

  • Program Director, Medical Pancreatology Fellowship
  • Assistant Professor of Medicine

Expertise: Gastroenterology

Current Therapeutic Fellows

Nader Bakheet, M.D.

Residency: Cairo University Hospital
Undergraduate: Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University
Fellowship: Cairo University (Egypt), Asan Medical Center (South Korea), Mayo Clinic (USA)
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
Why Johns Hopkins: Joining Hopkins has always been a dream of mine. I aspire to make significant contributions to the field of interventional endoscopy and being at the forefront of patient care and innovation makes Johns Hopkins the ideal place for me to realize my ambitions.
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking
Interests in GI: Pancreaticobiliary and endoscopic surgery
Nader Bakheet, M.D.

Harjot Bedi, M.D.

Residency: University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
Medical School: University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
Undergrad: Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada
Hometown: Vancouver BC, Canada
Why Johns Hopkins: To expand my interest in pancreaticobiliary advanced endoscopy and therapeutic EUS and learn from world-renowned experts in the field
Hobbies: Running, hiking, working out, and everything active
Interests in GI: Improve diagnostic and therapeutic advances in pancreatic cancer. She also has an interest in endoscopy and medical education.
Harjot Bedi, M.D.

Alec Faggen, M.D.

Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medical College
Undergrad: Pomona College
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Why Johns Hopkins: Unparalleled combination of clinical excellence, innovation, and mentorship.
Hobbies: traveling, spinning, and competition level lawn-mowing.
Interests in GI: Innovation in GI, therapeutic endoscopy, dysphagia, esophageal stents, pancreatology
Alec Faggen, M.D.

Andrew Mertz, M.D.

Residency: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
General GI Fellowship: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Undergrad: University of Maryland College Park
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Why Johns Hopkins: the opportunity to work with innovators, experts, and thought leaders within the field of therapeutic endoscopy
Hobbies: Cooking, video games, dance parties with my 2 year old daughter
Interests in GI: Therapeutic EUS, ERCP
Andrew Mertz, M.D.

Kasenee Tiankanon, M.D.

Residency: Internal Medicine Resident, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand
Medical School: King Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Undergrad: We go straight from high school to Med school, don't have undergrads
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Why Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins stands out as a global leader in advanced endoscopy research and training. I am confident that being mentored by industry experts and having exposure to a wide range of cases will greatly enhance my endoscopy expertise. In addition, the institution's strong focus on research aligns with my academic goals, enabling me to make substantial contributions to the field through advancements and publications.
Hobbies: Drawing, paintings, cooking, outdoors activities
Interests in GI: 3rd space endoscopy
Kasenee Tiankanon, M.D.

Clement Wu, M.D.

Residency: Singapore General Hospital
Medical School: National University of Singapore
Undergrad: National University of Singapore
Hometown: Singapore, Singapore
Why Johns Hopkins: A great combination of cutting-edge research and top-notch therapeutic endoscopy
Hobbies: Running, Canoeing, Parachuting, Reading
Interests in GI: Pancreas cancer, interventional EUS, pancreatobiliary endoscopy, third space endoscopy, artificial intelligence
Clement Wu, M.D.