Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship Program at Cook County Health

Mission Statement

To empower the next generation of gastroenterologists to thrive in private practice as well as academia, ensuring they deliver the highest level of patient care.

We foster a collaborative environment that values mentorship, innovation and continuous learning.

We are aligned with the mission of our healthcare system, which is to provide the world’s best health care to all residents of Cook County, regardless of their ability to pay. 

A group of twelve people stands outside in front of a building labeled Cook County Health. They are smiling, dressed in business casual or formal attire, and are surrounded by green trees and grass.

Cook County Health is among the largest public healthcare systems in the country. One of the benefits of doing fellowship here is the sheer number of uncommon and unusual pathologies that one encounters. Our program provides fellows with the opportunity to gain extensive experience in Endoscopy through a high volume of procedures. In addition, it is one of the few programs in the nation that provides significant hands-on training in ERCP during the three-year fellowship. We have expert faculty with special interest in Motility, IBD and Interventional endoscopy, who will provide the fellows with outstanding clinical and academic experience in various aspects of Gastroenterology. Our program is affiliated with Rush University Medical Center. This collaboration allows fellows to learn from an even more diverse pool of patients and also gives them the opportunity to rotate with Liver Transplant service.

Our 3-year ACGME accredited fellowship program stands out for its comprehensive approach to Gastroenterology and Hepatology training. We have a proven track record of producing highly successful physicians who are leaders in their respective areas of practice. Graduates of our fellowship program are now members of faculties, Department Heads and Program Directors at some of the leading academic medical centers throughout the U.S., as well as highly accomplished gastroenterologists who are instrumental in providing their skilled services to the community.

There are three fellowship positions each year. All are clinical, but research is encouraged, and each fellow will be provided with ample opportunities for research.

Program Contact

Dr. Vikram S. Kotwal is pictured smiling in a white lab coat with a checkered tie, standing against a plain background. The lab coat has text on the chest.

Vikram Kotwal, MD

Program Director

[email protected]

Francetta Hampton is pictured with long dark hair and glasses while wearing a gray sweater and a necklace, smiling slightly against a gray background.

Francetta Hampton, MHA

Fellowship Coordinator

[email protected]

Applications

Application Process

The Division of Gastroenterology at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County accepts fellowship applications from candidates who are eligible to take the American Board Examination in Internal Medicine at the time of starting the Fellowship in Gastroenterology.

Our Gastroenterology Fellowship Program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), adhering to its regulations and deadlines.

You can apply to our program via ERAS. All application packets must include the following: 

  1. Three letters of recommendation
  2. Copies of USMLE scores
  3. A personal statement
  4. Medical school transcripts
  5. A curriculum vitae

Please note that we follow the ERAS timeline for application submissions.

Meet Our Fellows

NameEducation 
Robert Kwei-Nsoro, MD
Chief Fellow
  • Undergraduate: University of Ghana
  • Medical School: University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
Edwin Wang, MD
  • Undergraduate: New York University, NY
  • Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
  • Residency: University of Washington School of Medicine, WA

Sania Saleem, MD

  • Medical School: King Edward Medical University, Pakistan
  •  
  • Residency: John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL

Mohamed Boshnaf, MD

  • Medical School: Benghazi University Faculty of Medicine
  • Residency: Baptist Health – UAMS
NameEducation 
Grecia Santaella-Mendez, MD
  • Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus
  • Medical School: University Central del Caribe Esc de Med, Bayamon Puerto Rico
  • Residency: Loma Linda University Health, CA
 
Daksh Ahluwalia, MD
  • Undergraduate: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
  • Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
 
Mihir Shah, MD
  • Medical School: Government Medical College, Surat
  • Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
 
NameEducation 
Patricia Gulino-Zarza, MD
  • Medical School: Universidad Nacional de Asuncion Facultad de Medicina
  • Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
 
Mitchelle Zolotarevsky, MD
  • Undergraduate: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Residency: University of Chicago (North Shore) Program Internal Medicine-General
 
Tarek Jaber, DO
  • Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago, IL
  • Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
  • Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
 
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