Residency in Gastroenterology

The NU SOM Gastroenterology Residency Program is a six-year training program designed to train skilled general internists with subspecialty expertise in gastroenterology. The program emphasizes hands-on procedural experience, evidence-based practice, and clinical research, preparing physicians for hospital-based practice.

Following the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies, the program ensures residents gain comprehensive training in internal medicine for the first three years, followed by three years of specialized gastroenterology training. Residents will rotate through various inpatient and outpatient settings, gaining diverse clinical exposure.

The aims of the NU SOM Gastroenterology Residency Program are:

• To educate residents according to the six ACGME core competencies in the field of Gastroenterology: (Patient Care and Procedural Skills, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, System-Based Practice)
• To train MD graduates to become general internists and gastroenterology specialists capable of applying their knowledge and skills in both clinical and scholarly activities.
• To develop gastroenterology specialists who can meet the healthcare needs of both rural and urban populations in Kazakhstan.

Upon completing the NU SOM Gastroenterology Residency Program, graduates will be well-equipped for a variety of career paths, including:

• Clinical practice in hospitals, outpatient settings, and specialized internal medicine/gastroenterology centers
• Academic and research positions, contributing to medical education and scientific advancements
• Leadership roles in healthcare management and policy development
• Further subspecialty training or fellowships in advanced gastroenterology fields

The comprehensive nature of this program, coupled with its strong academic and clinical partnerships, ensures that graduates are prepared to excel in their careers while advancing the field of gastroenterology both locally and internationally.

By the end of the program, residents will have achieved competency in the majority of the ACGME Milestones for Gastroenterology, including:

1. Patient Care and Procedural Skills:

• Proficiency in diagnosing and managing patients across diverse healthcare settings, including emergency, critical care, and ambulatory services.
• Competence in performing essential gastroenterological procedures, utilizing safe, effective, and cost-efficient medical practices.

2. Medical Knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of gastroenterological disorders and their management.
• Ability to evaluate undiagnosed and undifferentiated medical conditions effectively.
• Proper utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in gastroenterology.

3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement:

• Ability to identify gaps in knowledge and skills and address them through continuous learning.
• Implementation of quality improvement methods for better patient care.
• Critical appraisal of scientific literature to integrate new evidence into practice.

4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

• Effective communication with patients, families, and colleagues across diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Strong collaboration with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Serving as a consultant to other healthcare professionals regarding gastroenterology-related issues.

5. Professionalism:

• Commitment to ethical medical practice, patient privacy, and professional integrity.
• Prioritization of patient needs and advocacy for high-quality care.
• Cultural competence and responsiveness to the diverse patient population in Kazakhstan and beyond.

6. System-Based Practice:

• Effective navigation and utilization of various healthcare systems relevant to gastroenterology.
• Coordination of patient care within different medical settings.
• Integration of cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit analysis into patient management.
• Active participation in patient safety initiatives and quality improvement projects.

The NU SOM Gastroenterology Residency Program provides a rigorous and comprehensive training experience, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism necessary to advance the field of gastroenterology and improve patient care.

During the training, residents will rotate through a variety of general internal medicine and gastroenterology inpatient services and outpatient clinics. All the clinical activities will be carried out in the following Hospitals/Centers:

The clinical curriculum is based on the ACGME Program Requirements for Gastroenterology Residency and fulfils the ACGME Competencies and Milestones described above.

STEP 1. Create your personal account

Register on www.admissions.nu.edu.kz portal to create a Personal Account. Read the instructions about the application procedure given in your Personal account.

STEP 2. Complete your Application Form and attach the required documents

Fill out the application form and attach the required documents:

1. Scanned copy of a National ID card or passport;
2. Scanned copy of secondary school or higher education institution certificate (attestat/diploma) with final academic performance or certificate from the school (spravka) according to the sample in the personal account;
3. Motivation letter in English;
4. Valid copies of certificates. The results of standardized tests must be sent directly to the University through test administrators.

STEP 3. Pay an application fee

The application fee is paid online via your personal account with a bank card.

The application fee is 10 000 tenge and it is increased 3 times from the established amount when paid within the last two weeks before the first officially approved deadline and/or during the extension period for accepting applications for participation in the admission process. This amount is non-refundable.

Step 4. Finish the registration process

Finish the registration process by pressing the “Submit application” button. After submission applicants can’t change their applications.

Step 5. Upload IELTS/TOEFL certificates

Upload IELTS/TOEFL certificates in your personal account in the section "Upload IELTS/TOEFL" and fill up the required information about the certificate.

Further steps

Check your e-mail for notifications from the NU Admissions Department and your personal account to learn about your application status.

If you experience any difficulties with the registration or online application, please contact info_admissions@nu.edu.kz. Refer to your IIN and/or Applicant ID while sending us your requests.

Online application deadline for the residency program for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and for international applicants - June 29, 2025, inclusively (2 pm Astana time).

All registered candidates can check the status of their application in the Personal account. Description of the status below is presented in the order of assignment to the candidate in the Personal account.

Application in processing. This is interim status, which means that the application is being processed. Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the candidate on further steps/stages. Notification on final results will be sent to your email address.

Does not meet entry requirements. The status is assigned to the candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements. It is given after checking the application forms and the documents by the Admissions Department.

Disqualified. The status is assigned to candidates who are disqualified for gross violations of the conditions of the competition. For example, provided deliberately false information.

Rejected by Admissions Committee. At one of the competition stages, the Admissions Committee decided to reject the candidate’s application.

Transfer to another program. At the stage of an application screening the Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for consideration by the Admissions Committee of another program within the same School.

Pending. Candidate’s application is pending.

Waiting list. The Admissions Committee has finished reviewing the candidate’s application and made a decision to put you on a waiting list. Such candidates should expect notification from the University, as there is a possibility that if other candidates reject to study, they may be sent an invitation letter to study.

Recommended for admission to program. Admissions Committee has decided to recommend candidate for the program without going through the Zero Year of Graduate programs.

Recommended for conditional admission. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend a candidate for the conditional admission with a requirement to fulfill the condition by the deadline specified in the notification.

Withdrawn. Candidate decided to withdraw from the competition.

Accepted Program admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.

Refused admission offer. The candidate was recommended for admission, but refused to study.

Refused in favor of another NU program. The status is applicable for those candidates, who applied for several graduate programs at NU. The status is assigned when the candidate chooses another program.

Deferred. The status is assigned to candidates who were accepted for the program, but decided to postpone their studies until the next year.

Did not submit the documents/Refused. The status assigned to candidates who did not provide originals of the documents by the stated deadline, which means that the candidate refuses to study at University.

Did not come to Orientation week/Refused. The status is assigned to candidates who accepted the offer letter, provided hard copies of documents, but did not participate in Orientation week. The vacant place, if available, can be offered to the candidates in the Waiting list.

Enrolled to program. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the main program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.

The curriculum follows ACGME requirements for Gastroenterology Residency and covers essential competencies described previously. Training is conducted across multiple hospitals, including leading research and specialty centers in Astana.

Residency Structure

PGY-1 to PGY-3 focus on core internal medicine training with rotations in general medicine, subspecialties (neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, nephrology, hematology, endocrinology), intensive care, emergency medicine, ultrasound, and electives.

PGY-4 to PGY-6 transition into gastroenterology specialization, covering inpatient and

outpatient gastroenterology, hepatology, liver transplantation, endoscopy, ultrasound, imaging,

and advanced clinical research.

PGY-1: Core Internal Medicine Training

Interns actively participate in patient care, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and procedures under supervision. Responsibilities include order writing and student teaching. Rotations include:

• General Internal Medicine (2 months)
• Neurology (2 months)
• Pulmonology (2 months)
• Intensive Care Medicine (1 month)
• Emergency Medicine (2 months)
• Emergency & Point-of-Care Ultrasound (2 months)

PGY-2: Core Internal Medicine Training

Residents take on supervisory roles for interns and students, assisting in patient management, invasive procedures, and hospital medical records. Rotations include:

• General Internal Medicine (Nephrology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Pulmonology, Cardiology) (6 months total)
• Cardiology (2 months)
• Rheumatology (2 months)
• Elective Clinical Rotation (1 month)

PGY-3: Core Internal Medicine Training

Senior residents refine their supervisory and teaching roles while gaining exposure to subspecialties and research. Rotations include:

• Endocrinology (2 months)
• Hematology (1 month)
• Gastroenterology (Hepatobiliary & Hepatology) (2 months)
• Nephrology & Hemodialysis (2 months)
• Ambulatory Medicine (1 month)
• Elective Clinical Rotation (3 months)

PGY-4 to PGY-6: Gastroenterology Specialization

Residents completing the 3-year Internal Medicine Residency at NU SOM are eligible to continue gastroenterology training.

PGY-4

• Clinical Gastroenterology (Inpatient & Outpatient) – 5 months
• Endoscopy – 4 months
• Imaging (CT, MRI, PET, Ultrasound) – 2 months

PGY-5

• Clinical Gastroenterology (Surgery & Coloproctology) – 6 months
• Endoscopy – 2 months
• Ultrasound – 3 months

PGY-6

• Clinical Gastroenterology (Inpatient & Outpatient) – 5 months
• Liver Transplant Service – 3 months
• Clinical Gastroenterology (Viral Hepatitis) – 2 months
• Elective – 1 month