Get to know Henry Lam, DO, gastroenterology fellow.
Career goal: There are so many interesting things in gastroenterology that it’s hard to choose! Currently, I am undecided in terms of my career goal, although I do have a special interest in advanced endoscopy and hepatology. Whatever career path I choose, I hope to be able to provide each and every one of my patients with the best care possible.
LVHN has the camaraderie of your local community hospital, but the prowess and resources of a large academic center.
What makes your Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) training program different from others across the country?
LVHN has the camaraderie of your local community hospital, but the prowess and resources of a large academic center. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, where you do your first year of training, serves as a major hub and referral center for our nearby sites. This means exposure to a variety of pathology as well as dealing with some of the sickest patients. However, have no fear because you are always under the fine tutelage and guidance of your attending.
Our program is further highlighted by some unique training opportunities. For one, we have a dedicated hepatology inpatient service along with an outpatient liver clinic staffed by two transplant-trained hepatologists. As such, we get top-notch training and exposure to diseases of the liver across the spectrum from run-of-the-mill drug-induced liver injury to complex decompensated cirrhosis. Secondly, we have a subspecialty inpatient service dedicated to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pancreaticobiliary cases. With four IBD specialists and four advanced endoscopists, there’s always someone to run by cases or bounce off ideas. The nature of these cases lends themselves so that we are often working closely with our surgical colleagues. We have many surgical services and teams including colorectal, oncology and bariatrics.
What has been the most extraordinary part of your training experience so far?
During my first year, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a podium presenter for Digest Disease Week (DDW) 2024 where I showcased my first-quarter project on “Eliminating the Misuse of Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) in the Hospital Setting.” It was satisfying, albeit nerve-wracking, to see the culmination of my efforts come to fruition on the big stage. Prior to presenting at DDW, our program helped me prepare by arranging a mock presentation to allow for feedback and constructive criticism. On game day, Dr. Hiral Shah and Dr. Anthony Auteri, Chief of Gastroenterology, made their way to Washington, D.C. to support my efforts.
What is one memory you have from your training so far that will stick with you for your career?
I first came to LVHN as a fourth-year medical student. Even at that time I knew that I wanted to be a gastroenterologist. On my first day of my GI rotation, I met Dr. Anam Malik, a first-year gastroenterology fellow. Fast forward four years later, I am starting my first day as a GI fellow myself and my very first attending is none other than Dr. Malik, now a full-fledged gastroenterology attending. It’s funny how things come full circle. Always remember rule No. 1: If you’re not doing at least one digital rectum exam a day, then you’re not doing your job.
What is one piece of advice you would share with someone as they select a training program?
I think any GI fellowship will provide you with the tools necessary to become a gastroenterologist. As such, when it comes time to select a training program, it’s important to choose a place where you will be happy for the next three years. Take the time to do an audition rotation or reach out to current trainees to get a sense of the program’s culture and see if it fits with your own personal vibes. Who knows, where you train may be where you decide to lay down your roots for not only your career, but also your family moving forward.
What does it mean to be a fellow at LVHN?
Growing up in the Lehigh Valley, I always knew that I wanted to come back to the area to train and serve my community. I was fortunate enough to match LVHN, my top choice, for both residency and fellowship. As a trainee of the network for the past four years, I would say that not only do you get some of the finest training here, but you are also well supported by your colleagues, attending physicians and the health network. If you looked at a roster of the LVHN’s attendings, you will see that many of them were once trainees through LVHN themselves. The ability to retain homegrown talent speaks volumes to the training experience at LVHN.