Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship

Overview

The Faculty Career Development in Advanced Endoscopy position is a non-ACGME Fellowship open to current or recently graduated fellows in gastroenterology. The interventional endoscopy faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is committed to providing a comprehensive education experience in advanced endoscopic techniques to motivated individuals who interested in pursuing an academic career.

Clinical experience
The program consists of a structured one-year third tier faculty career development program during which the candidate will gain hands-on experience in a broad range of advanced techniques including:

Therapeutic ERCP
Diagnostic EUS
Interventional EUS
Luminal stenting
Cyst drainage
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Cryotherapy
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
Device-assisted enteroscopy

Research experience
Faculty will be provided with research mentoring and will be expected to conduct novel, meaningful research during the year with presentation of their findings at national meetings with eventual publication in peer-reviewed journals. Ample opportunity exists for collaboration with departments outside of the interventional endoscopy service.

Requirements
Applicants should have completed an ACGME accredited academic gastroenterology fellowship within five (5) years of application. Those candidates with experience in clinical research and an interest in academic medicine are encouraged.

How to apply
We are participating in the ASGE AEF Match program. Apply to the program

Curriculum vitae
One-page personal statement delineating your interest in interventional endoscopy and career goals
A minimum of two (2) and no more than three (3) letters of recommendation sent directly by the author

For more information, contact

Stephen Kim, MD
Director, Faculty Career Development in Advanced Endoscopy
Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
[email protected]

International Physician Observership Program

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Kim at [email protected]

Current Advanced Endoscopy Fellow

Firas Bahdi, MD
Health Sciences Clinical Instructor of Medicine
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
David Geffen School of Medicine

Dr. Bahdi earned his medical degree from the University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine in 2017. He then moved to the United States and was engaged in gastroenterology research at both the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and UCLA, leading various research studies in advanced endoscopy and Barrett’s esophagus. Subsequently, Dr. Bahdi completed his internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 2022, where he was recognized with several honors, including the Henry D. McIntosh Outstanding Resident Award, Resident as Educator Award, Best Research Award and Outstanding Ambulatory Care Award. Dr. Bahdi later completed his gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA in 2025, during which he was heavily involved in various clinical research projects in advanced endoscopy, endobariatric and Barrett’s esophagus. During his fellowship, Dr. Bahdi also led the UCLA team in winning the 2024 ASGE Golden Scope and ACG EndoTitan competitions. His primary interests lie in third space endoscopy, Barrett’s esophagus and pancreaticobiliary diseases. Dr. Bahdi will be an integral part of the interventional endoscopy team at UCLA, contributing to both academic and clinical excellence. He is actively involved in research and education, aiming to advance the field and mentor future gastroenterologists.