Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

A World-Class Education. A Singular Opportunity.

Norwalk Hospital’s Gastroenterology Fellowship is designed for physicians interested in a high-quality, clinically focused training program in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, delivered in a broad-based, academic setting. In fact, the combination of our expert staff, history of clinical excellence and Yale affiliation make our program a world-class educational and career opportunity, one exclusive to gastroenterology fellows at Norwalk Hospital.

All fellows receive intensive training in research methods, techniques and ethics during the course of their fellowship. Presentation of research findings at national meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals are requirements for a successful completion of the Gastroenterology Fellowship.

Overview

Norwalk Hospital-Yale Affiliation

Our Gastroenterology Fellowship is a Yale University School of Medicine level II affiliated, three-year program leading to ABIM certification in Gastroenterology. Training occurs primarily at Norwalk Hospital, a progressive, 300-bed community hospital academically affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine. First- and second-year fellows spend a total of six months on the Klatskin liver service, the inpatient hepatology consultation rotation and the liver transplant service at Yale-New Haven Hospital, the primary teaching hospital of Yale. Norwalk Hospital fellows also participate in clinical and research conferences at Yale.

Clinical Training

The Norwalk Hospital Digestive Disease Center has a long history of clinical excellence and has sponsored a fellowship program for more than 30 years. Fellows receive training in all aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP and EUS as well as double balloon enteroscopy, enteral stent placement and tissue ablation techniques in a state-of-the-art endoscopy unit where 11,000 procedures are performed annually. In addition, fellows receive intensive training in the management of digestive diseases in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings. A full schedule of conferences provides each fellow with a strong background in nutritional support, pathology and the interpretation of radiology imaging studies.

The training program at Norwalk Hospital is coordinated by six key clinical faculty members, all with extensive experience in the teaching of gastroenterology fellows. Daily didactic, topic-based teaching rounds are supplemented by an intensive conference schedule. Fellows also participate in the weekly GI conference at Yale featuring case presentations and clinical reviews.

Research

By integrating our comprehensive training experience with opportunities to engage in clinically oriented research, our fellows are prepared to combine excellent patient care with clinical investigation. All fellows participate in research studies involving general gastroenterology and hepatology, cancer screening and outcomes-based studies in quality improvement.

Current areas of interest include an analysis of the effect of anesthesia choice on adenoma detection rate, participation in a multicenter study of differing EUS-FNA needles, a pilot study on the use of EUS-FNA for routine liver biopsy, an evaluation of vaccination practices in patients receiving steroids and immunosuppressive medications, and a correlation of adequacy of pathology specimens with the number of passes during the EUS-FNA.

Faculty & Staff

Rakhee Mangla, MD

Program Director, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Section Chief Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Fellowship: Norwalk Hospital
Residency: Hospital of St. Raphael Oral/Maxillofacial
Medical School: Rajendra Medical College

Professional Statement

Dr. Mangla is a board-certified advanced gastroenterologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders. She believes in patient-centered care, allowing patient participation with a focus on access and communication. She is the only gastroenterologist in Connecticut who performs double balloon enteroscopy for small bowel evaluation. She is trained in advanced endoscopic procedures like treatment of barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal cancers using modalities like endomucosal resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation and hybrid argon plasma coagulation (APC). Dr. Mangla also specializes in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), utilized for evaluation of lesions in the liver, pancreas and bile ducts, as well as routine colonoscopies and endoscopies. As faculty, she enjoys teaching fellows in the training program.

Reid L. Hopkins, MD

Associate Program Director, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Fellowship: Boston Medical Center
Residency: Rhode Island Hospital
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine

Professional Statement

Dr. Hopkins is a general gastroenterologist and is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He received his medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) distinction from NYU School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Brown University followed by a fellowship in GI at Boston University. His areas of clinical interest include inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis) and conditions such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease and colon cancer screening. He has a special interest in exploring patient-centered approaches to treatment using shared decision-making. He has done research in bowel preparation for colonoscopy and health maintenance in inflammatory bowel disease. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, cycling and cooking.

Suma S. Magge, MD

Attending, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Professional Statement

Dr. Magge is a board-certified gastroenterologist. She sees patients ages 18 and older and treats a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, functional bowel diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, liver disease and special gastroenterological issues facing women. She performs colonoscopies for colon cancer screening in addition to upper endoscopies. She also specializes in esophageal disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia. She performs esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal manometry to aid in the diagnosis and management of esophageal disorders. She also performs small intestinal capsule endoscopy for evaluation of obscure and occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

Ajay Singh, MBBS

Attending, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Fellowship: New York Medical College
Residency: New York University School of Medicine

Professional Statement

I am board certified in Gastroenterology. I see patients with a wide variety of gastroenterological problems. This includes reflux, constipation, stomach ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, etc. I perform colonoscopies and upper endoscopies. After finishing medical school in India, I completed my residency in Internal Medicine at NYU School of Medicine (Brooklyn Campus), following which I completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology.

Alexander P. Abadir, MD

Attending, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center
Residency: University Of California Irvine School of Medicine
Medical School: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

Professional Statement

Dr. Alexander Abadir is a physician specializing in gastroenterology. He sees adult patients aged 18 years and older. He treats a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, celiac disease and malabsorptive disorders, Barrett’s esophagus, gastric reflux, post-surgical bowel disorders, and liver disease. Dr. Abadir has completed additional training in the diagnosis and management of motility and functional diseases such as achalasia and irritable bowel syndrome. He performs colonoscopies for colon cancer screening, focusing on the latest techniques to improve outcomes. He also performs upper endoscopies, feeding tube insertions, Barrett’s ablation, endoscopic dilation, esophageal manometry and pH impedance, wireless pH studies, and other diagnostic techniques for motility and functional disease. From his research background, he has presented at national conferences on a diversity of gastroenterology topics and has published in scientific journals on original research. With a longstanding passion for teaching, Dr. Abadir has previously taught medical students and trainees at Harvard Medical School and the Boston University School of Medicine. He believes in establishing strong patient-physician partnerships where decisions are made jointly to prevent disease, while always treating symptoms so patients can live without being affected by their medical conditions.

Carlos Jose Figueredo Alcala, MD

Attending, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Gastroenterology Fellowship at Norwalk Hospital

Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center
Residency: Montefiore-Albert Einstein
Medical School: Universidad Central de Venezuela

Professional Statement

I am triple board-certified medicine, gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist whose journey in medicine began in Caracas, Venezuela, where I earned my medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela. Driven by a passion for academic excellence and compassionate care, I moved to the U.S. to complete my internal medicine residency and chief residency, followed by fellowship in gastroenterology where I served a chief fellow at Montefiore Medical Center.