[MUSIC PLAYING] RUBEN QUIROS: This is a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship that we have at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in association with Children's Hospital Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Children have been here for a long time now. They have the clinical aspects of medicine. They are affiliated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, have contributed to become more academic, develop research endeavors, educational endeavors, have a set of missions that are really wide spectrum, rather than being more of a community hospital has become a really an entity that has a big presence in the region. 

Someone told me once you want to pass on what is not in the books, I'm going to teach you what you will not find in the books. It's the experience. University of Nebraska Medical Center is a very fascinating place. It's a pleasant surprise when you come here for the first time and realize that in the middle of the Midwest, you find an institution to this level. This is a place that usually other institutions will look up to. 

MARK KUSEK: We are probably a midsize program. Yet we still have the breadth of niches within pediatric GI, the hepatology, me as the motility expert. We have someone interested in IBD, someone interested in advanced procedures, a nutrition specialist. We also have the small bowel transplant program, which is unique. It's a big enough program to have all of those things, yet it's still small enough that you get to know everyone really well, which I think is just a great place to train. 

ALVARO FLORES: As a fellow, you have different clinical experiences. We have a unique population and I've been able to be exposed to these different types of cases, the faculty has been extremely supportive. You have a great amount of autonomy and support at the same time. 

I have been able to complete my meaningful research. I had help from the biostatistics department at UMC, and they found me a mentor that was able to expand those interests. One of the major strengths of the program is the staff. Faculty is supportive, friendly. I think they all have open door policy even when you're not working directly with them. 

RUBEN QUIROS: When a fellow or someone, a doctor comes to us as a trainee and spend three years in our program, we want him or her or them to be very well trained in clinical activities, also to be researchers. We want them to get exposed enough that we can develop also researchers out of the people that we train and also people we want to have at the end, someone that really enjoys educating people, educating trainees. 

And the last one I think is extremely important is advocating there needs to come out of here understanding that we have to advocate for children. They don't have voice sometimes, and we have to be their voice. And that's what I think, to me, advocating for patients is extremely important. 

ALVARO FLORES: It's a great city. I think of it as a hidden gem. You have a very safe area to live. There's great schools and it's a very nice place to raise families. I think added bonus is not having those traffic loads that you might have in bigger cities. 

MARK KUSEK: There are so many things to do in Omaha outdoor activities. There's good music and sports that come through here. 

RUBEN QUIROS: Finding the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the middle of this city. I have been very impressed throughout the years because this is a well-known place. They do a lot of good medicine here. And being in a city that is not overwhelmingly large, that has been something important for me because also it's a family place. It's a place that used to raise your kids. 

I would like that person that comes to our program to have that willingness and eagerness to learn. Be a person that is self-drive, always looking for opportunities to learn. Also, certain parts of things that you have to learn and apply. Then I would like that also someone that has interest in research and also we like the teaching part. 

MARK KUSEK: We consider ourselves even like a work family. Like a GI family like we all have very different backgrounds, yet we all get along really well and we're happy to help in whatever way we can to help advance a person's career. 

[MUSIC PLAYING]