Our Fellows

I completed medical school in western India before moving to the United States for pediatric residency at the University of Missouri. I chose the University of Virginia for fellowship training in pediatric gastroenterology because of its supportive culture, balanced program size, and strong clinical and research infrastructure. Charlottesville has been a wonderful place to live, combining the energy of a college town with the warmth of a close-knit community.

Clinically, I’ve gained broad hands-on experience in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. In addition to general GI and procedures, I’ve rotated through a wide range of subspecialty clinics, including those focused on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), intestinal rehabilitation, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), alpha-gal syndrome, and aerodigestive disorders. I’ve also worked closely with the inpatient liver transplant team and developed procedural skills in both routine and advanced endoscopy.

My primary fellowship research focuses on bone mineral density in pediatric patients with EoE. Under the mentorship of Dr. Madhusmita Misra (Chair of Pediatrics) and in collaboration with Dr. Barrett Barnes and Dr. Emily McGowan, I am leading a project investigating risk factors for low bone density in this population. This work has been presented at PES and ENDO, where I received the Young Investigator Award. I also presented a rare pediatric GI case at NASPGHAN 2024 and am involved in clinical trials through the Misra Lab focused on improving bone health in vulnerable pediatric populations.

I received my BS in Biology from the University of Texas at Dallas and my MD from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Lubbock, TX, where I also completed my pediatric residency. My interview at UVA stood out as an exceptional experience, and I was drawn to the program’s robust clinical and research opportunities designed to offer a comprehensive fellowship training.

During my PGY-4 year at UVA, I received extensive hands-on clinical training in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. In addition to the general GI clinic, I rotated through various subspecialty clinics, including those focused on intestinal rehabilitation, EGIDs, FPIES, and alpha-gal syndrome. I also gained valuable experience from our liver transplant team and performed a wide range of procedures, from standard endoscopies to more advanced interventions.

My clinical interests lie in the broad spectrum of general pediatric GI diseases, and I am also passionate about contributing as a clinical educator. As part of my current scholarly work, I am conducting a research project investigating the role of iron in modulating T cell responses in celiac disease. This involves analyzing PBMC specimens from affected patients and performing T cell immunophenotyping via flow cytometry. I aim to correlate immunophenotypic findings with clinical outcomes to determine whether specific T cell populations can serve as predictive markers.

From my very first shadowing experience with a gastroenterologist; I sensed a potential for intellectual rigor, as well as meaningful outcomes.  However, I understood  there would be numerous specialties in the vast world of medicine, that would induce interest and passion.  Having completed my education and progressed through residency training, my field of choice was set in stone, so now, choosing a program was my next major task.  UVA Pediatric Gastroenterology is not only a top program in the nation, but it also aligns with my background and what I admired most about my former residency program.

At UVA Pediatric gastroenterology, we have specialists in eosinophilic esophagitis, pediatric hepatic transplant, irritable bowel disease, and are on the forefront of extensive therapies and research projects.  Within my first month of training, I have participated in many procedures, become primary for numerous patients, presented two different conferences, participated in an outreach clinic in rural Virginia, and my favorite – encountering rare conditions I hadn’t seen in my training as a resident.  It’s safe to say that my training has been and will continue to be outstanding.  Our multidisciplinary programs work hand in hand with other pediatric teams, as well as specialties including but not limited to radiology, pathology, anesthesia, surgery, nutrition and immunology.  The teaching has been robust to say the least.  One of our attendings was recently recognized by NASPGHAN and received the Master Educator Award for the current academic year.

The city of Charlottesville is stunning and has already become a second home to me.  The hikes are phenomenal, the mountain views are stunning, and the local shops and amenities include the most common from around the nation, as well as the most unique.  I’m truly honored to be a part of this vigorous, small-knit and powerful family of forward-looking experts.

Estermari Gonzalez-Polanco
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Puerto Rico

Jonathan Medernach
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship, University of Colorado

Norbert Donias
Assistant Professor, El Paso, Texas

Julee Sunny
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia

Craig McKinney
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia