DIGEST: Developing innovative gastroenterology specialty training

Highlights • There is a need for adult and pediatric gastroenterologists with expertise in CF. • The DIGEST program was created to meet this need. • This article reports on the development, implementation and results of DIGEST.
Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) now have an increased life expectancy, due to advances in care provided by a multidisciplinary team. The care model has expanded over time to include multiple subspecialties. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation conducted a survey of Care Center Directors and identified a need for pediatric and adult gastroenterologists with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal, pancreatic and hepatic complications of CF. To address this need, the Developing Innovative GastroEnterology Specialty Training (DIGEST) program was created. The development, implementation, and early results of this training program are reported herein.