Clinical Interests:
- Pancreatic and biliary tract disease
- ERCP and Endoscopic Ultrasound
Research Interests:
- Health care utilization and cost effectiveness
- Sedation in endoscopy
- Epidemiology of chronic pancreatitis
- Incidence of incidental findings during medical evaluation and impact on quality of life
My area of excellence is in research. I have a unique training background which combines advanced endoscopic techniques and clinical investigation. The mentorship, support staff and multidisciplinary expertise available at Indiana University provide an optimal environment for my development as a junior clinical investigator. My research focuses on comparative effectiveness studies in advanced endoscopy, particularly in pancreatobiliary diseases. During my first three years as an Assistant Professor, I received a Career Development Award from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy studying the use of fully covered metallic stents in benign biliary strictures, and have received an R21 grant from the NIH/NIDDK for a complementary study focused on post-liver transplant bile duct strictures. I have also received a K23 career development grant to the NIH/NIDDK to develop further expertise in clinical epidemiology and health economics, executing studies evaluating the role of ERCP in the evaluation of indeterminate bile duct strictures. I serve on several national committees and have been asked to speak at multiple national GI meetings. In terms of clinical practice, I am have furthered the endoscopic ultrasound program at the Indianapolis VA medical center which grew during my 2+ years of service to > 200 procedures annually. I perform endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as part of my focused pancreatobiliary diseases clinical practice at University Hospital. I work with 3rd and 4th year medical students in my pancreatobiliary clinic at IU and mentor internal medicine housestaff on the GI inpatient service for 1 month/year. I instruct advanced endoscopy fellows 2 days/week as part of the pancreatobiliary endoscopy team at IU.
