Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome from the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Gastroenterology Fellowship Training Program.
Virginia Commonwealth University (The Medical College of Virginia) has a long tradition of clinical excellence. Our health system is a busy, growing, state-of-the art facility, which is ideally situated amid the state’s population centers. Our accessibility stimulates a fast-paced work environment with a notably diverse patient population. Consistent with our socially-conscious mission to provide the best medical care regardless of financial status, we care for more than half of the state’s uninsured patients. At the same time, we provide state-of-the art primary, subspecialty, and tertiary care for the densely populated eastern half of the state. This diversity and recognized clinical excellence creates a rich, hands-on learning environment for the fellow in Gastroenterology.
At VCU, our program strives to provide the mentorship you need to continue your growth as a physician. We value and celebrate the individual achievements of all of our fellows while simultaneously enjoying a collegial environment that recognizes our responsibility to promote one another as members of a team. It is this collegiality that has made me love being a part of VCU Health, the Department of Internal Medicine, and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition since I moved to Virginia and joined the faculty in 2008. It is this collegiality that continues to excite me every day as we share our intellectual journey as students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians.
And did I mention that Richmond is a great place to live? Richmond ranks among Amazon’s 20 most-read cities in the United States. Outside magazine ranked Richmond as the “Best River Town in America” due to amenities such as the James River Park System and all the outdoor activities, sporting events, and festivals. Esquire magazine named Virginia THE Food Region of 2014 with Rappahannock among the 12 best new restaurants in the country in 2014 and Restaurant Adarra in 2021. National Geographic Included Richmond in its list of 10 places to “Travel for Food in 2016”. Southern Living awarded Alewife the “Best New Restaurant” and Richmond in its top 10 cites for food in 2020. USA Today, VinePair, and Hop Culture have all rated Richmond among their top 10 beer cities. Working Mothers magazine rates VCUHS among the best employers for working moms. Forbes magazine ranks Richmond among the top ten cities for working mothers and the 15th happiest cities for young professionals in the U.S. The U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, based on resident surveys and CDC data, designated Richmond as the happiest, most content city in the U.S. In 2014 , Frommer named Richmond among the top 10 international destinations. This was followed by Lonely Planet's “Top 10 Places to Visit” in 2018, Expedia's “Cities that Must be Seen” in 2018, and Forbes's “10 Coolest Cities to Visit” in 2018. Meanwhile, Travel and Leisure listed Richmond among its international list of the ten “Best Places to Travel 2016” and, more recently, its “Best Places to Travel” in 2021. According to the 2024 study conducted, Richmond has been ranked the best city for climate resiliency in the United States.
With a rich history, great wines, the mountains, the Chesapeake, and the ocean, Richmond is seated at the heart of Virginia. With so much to offer, it is not hard to see why the state boasts that “Virginia is for Lovers” and a place for those who love to live passionately. If you are looking for a great place to train you need to look no further than the Gastroenterology fellowship training program at VCU.
Ravi Vachhani, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Email: ravi.vachhani@vcuhealth.org