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upper gi doctor

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Upper GI Doctor
salary: $ - $
categories: [Healthcare, Gastroenterology, Physician]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Upper GI Doctor.
Comprehensive recruiter-written overview of the Upper GI Doctor role: responsibilities, clinical and technical skills (EGD, ERCP, EUS, surgical management of esophageal/stomach disease), career progression, education and experience expectations. SEO optimized for upper GI, endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal surgery, multidisciplinary care, and clinical governance.

🎯 Role Definition

The Upper GI Doctor is a specialist physician or surgeon responsible for the diagnosis, treatment and longitudinal care of patients with diseases of the esophagus, stomach and proximal small bowel. This role commonly combines outpatient assessment, endoscopic diagnosis and therapeutic procedures (EGD, ERCP, EUS when applicable), inpatient care of acute upper GI conditions (bleeding, perforation, obstruction), participation in multidisciplinary meetings, and contribution to service development, audit and teaching. Ideal candidates are board-certified/qualified in gastroenterology or upper gastrointestinal surgery with advanced endoscopic or surgical fellowship training and demonstrable experience in complex upper GI management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Specialist Registrar / Senior Registrar in Gastroenterology or Upper GI Surgery
  • Consultant in General Gastroenterology seeking sub-specialization in upper GI
  • Fellowship-trained Upper GI Endoscopist or Thoraco-abdominal Surgeon with upper GI fellowship

Advancement To:

  • Clinical Lead / Service Lead for Upper GI or Endoscopy
  • Consultant Clinical Director or Divisional Lead (Surgery/Gastroenterology)
  • Academic Professor or Lead Investigator (Upper GI research)
  • Regional or National Specialist Advisor (e.g., NICE guidance groups)

Lateral Moves:

  • Endoscopy Lead / Endoscopy Unit Director
  • Upper GI Oncoplastic or Bariatric Surgery pathways
  • Roles in Clinical Governance, Quality Improvement, or Medical Education

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform high-volume diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, EGD) with proficiency in advanced maneuvers including targeted biopsies, hemostasis for bleeding lesions, dilation of strictures and foreign body removal, documenting findings and plans clearly in electronic medical records.
  • Deliver specialist care for acute upper GI hemorrhage: triage, resuscitation coordination, urgent endoscopic hemostasis, post-procedure risk stratification and escalation to interventional radiology or surgery when required.
  • Conduct therapeutic ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) when within scope, including biliary and pancreatic duct cannulation, stone extraction, stent placement, and management of ERCP-related complications.
  • Perform and interpret diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures for staging of oesophageal and gastric cancers, sampling of submucosal lesions and guided drainage, when credentialed.
  • Manage elective and urgent inpatient referrals for obstruction, perforation, corrosive injuries and other complex upper GI presentations, coordinating multidisciplinary care and peri-procedural optimization.
  • Provide longitudinal outpatient clinic care for benign and malignant upper GI disorders (GORD, Barrett’s oesophagus, peptic ulcer disease, motility disorders, dyspepsia) including shared decision-making, risk counseling and surveillance planning.
  • Lead and participate in upper GI multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings for oesophageal, gastric and proximal small bowel malignancies, presenting cases, reviewing staging, and contributing to complex treatment plans including perioperative, endoscopic and oncologic strategies.
  • Undertake pre-operative assessment and post-operative follow-up for patients undergoing esophagectomy, gastrectomy or complex minimally invasive upper GI surgery; liaise with anaesthesia, critical care and allied health teams to optimize outcomes.
  • Perform minimally invasive upper GI surgical procedures (laparoscopic or thoracoscopic approaches) where trained and credentialed, including partial gastrectomy, hiatus hernia repair and oesophageal surgery, ensuring adherence to surgical governance and enhanced recovery protocols.
  • Supervise and instruct junior doctors, registrars and endoscopy trainees during clinics, ward rounds and procedures, providing structured feedback and contributing to training curricula and assessments.
  • Maintain meticulous procedural documentation, consent records, adverse event reporting and coding for endoscopy and surgical procedures, ensuring compliance with local and national clinical governance standards.
  • Participate in structured quality improvement and audit activities for endoscopy services and upper GI outcomes (e.g., detection rates, complication rates, waiting times), and implement changes to enhance patient safety and service efficiency.
  • Review and interpret cross-sectional imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT) and contrast studies pertinent to upper GI pathology, integrating radiological findings into clinical and procedural planning.
  • Initiate and manage complex medical therapies relevant to upper GI disease (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, nutritional support, parenteral feeding escalation, immunomodulators for selected pathology) and coordinate care with dietetics and nutrition teams.
  • Provide on-call specialist cover for upper GI emergencies, including timely clinical decision-making, telephone advice to referring clinicians and participation in transfer and escalation pathways for critically ill patients.
  • Lead patient consent discussions for high-risk interventions, explain alternatives, complications and expected recovery trajectories, and ensure documentation meets legal and institutional standards.
  • Coordinate community and primary care follow-up, including discharge summaries, monitoring plans, surveillance schedules for Barrett’s oesophagus and cancer survivorship care.
  • Contribute to research activity by recruiting into clinical trials, data collection, protocol development and dissemination of results through presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Provide specialist input into endoscopy service development: capacity planning, equipment procurement, maintenance programs, infection control and staff competency frameworks.
  • Manage complex benign upper GI disease pathways including treatment of motility disorders (with access to manometry/pH testing), eosinophilic oesophagitis management, achalasia and prolonged dysphagia assessment and therapy planning.
  • Recognize and manage post-procedural complications (perforation, post-ERCP pancreatitis, delayed bleeding), arrange imaging, interventions and multidisciplinary input promptly to minimize morbidity.
  • Mentor and support junior clinicians in research methodology, clinical audit and quality assurance projects, and contribute to departmental teaching programs and continuing professional development.

Secondary Functions

  • Support departmental service reviews, capacity modelling and waitlist management to reduce delays in diagnostic endoscopy and elective procedures.
  • Participate in guideline development and adoption of best practice protocols (e.g., surveillance intervals, dysplasia management, antibiotic prophylaxis policies).
  • Contribute to patient education initiatives, information leaflets and informed-consent materials to improve understanding of upper GI conditions and procedures.
  • Collaborate with allied health professionals (dietitians, speech and language therapists, stoma teams, physiotherapists) to plan integrated peri-procedural and rehabilitation pathways.
  • Assist with procurement decisions for endoscopy technologies and disposables, providing clinical input into business cases and cost-effectiveness evaluations.
  • Engage in local and national networks for upper GI care to share outcomes data, benchmark performance and implement evidence-based improvements.
  • Provide expert medico-legal opinions, second-opinion consultations and participate in complex case reviews when requested by governance or legal teams.
  • Represent the service in patient safety and incident review panels, contributing specialist clinical insight to root cause analyses and remedial action plans.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced upper GI endoscopy (EGD) with competency in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques (biopsy, hemostasis, dilation, foreign body removal).
  • ERCP skills including biliary/pancreatic cannulation, sphincterotomy, stone extraction and stenting (or close collaboration with ERCP specialists if not personally credentialed).
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for staging and fine-needle aspiration/biopsy—procedural skill or ability to collaborate with credentialed EUS operators.
  • Experience in management of acute upper GI bleeding, including resuscitation protocols, transfusion strategies and endoscopic haemostasis.
  • Surgical skills for upper GI procedures where relevant: laparoscopic/ thoracoscopic oesophageal and gastric surgery, hiatus hernia repair and minimally invasive resections (for Upper GI surgeons).
  • Interpretation of cross-sectional imaging and staging investigations (CT, PET-CT, contrast swallow studies) relevant to oesophageal and gastric disease.
  • Proficiency with electronic health records, procedural coding, endoscopy reporting systems and national registries (e.g., endoscopy audit databases).
  • Experience in multidisciplinary team leadership, case presentation and shared decision-making for oncology and complex benign disease.
  • Competency in clinical governance tasks: audit design, outcomes measurement, complication reporting and quality improvement methodology.
  • Research skills: trial recruitment, data collection, critical appraisal and academic writing for peer-reviewed publication.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent clinical judgment and decision-making in high-stakes, time-sensitive scenarios.
  • Clear, compassionate communication with patients and families, including delivering difficult news with sensitivity.
  • Leadership and team-working ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary care across specialties and departments.
  • Teaching and mentorship aptitude for junior doctors, trainees and allied health staff.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for procedural planning, documentation and follow-up care.
  • Resilience and stress-management to work effectively in on-call and emergency settings.
  • Cultural competency and patient-centered care approach to tailor treatment plans to diverse populations.
  • Continuous learning mindset with openness to new techniques, guidelines and technologies.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills for managing complex clinical or operational disagreements.
  • Ethical practice, professional integrity and adherence to regulatory standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • MBBS/MD or equivalent medical degree plus full registration with the country’s medical regulatory body (e.g., GMC, ABMS).
  • Completion of specialty training in Gastroenterology or General Surgery with substantive experience in upper GI disease.

Preferred Education:

  • Fellowship in Upper GI Surgery, Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship (ERCP/EUS), or sub-specialty fellowship in upper GI oncology.
  • Postgraduate qualifications or certifications in endoscopy, advanced endoscopic therapeutics, or surgical minimally invasive techniques.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Gastroenterology
  • General Surgery / Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • Internal Medicine
  • Surgical or Endoscopic fellowships in upper GI

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10+ years of specialist training post-registration; established consultant-level experience preferred for senior posts.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrable track-record of independent endoscopic activity (EGD ± ERCP/EUS) with logged procedure numbers and outcomes.
  • Experience leading MDTs, service development projects, audits and quality improvement initiatives.
  • Publication record or active participation in clinical research and trials in upper GI disease.
  • Teaching experience and contribution to postgraduate medical education or credentialing programs.
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