In this episode of The Interventional Endoscopist, host Mankanwal Sachdev sits down with Dr. Dan Marino, a GI fellow at NYU and future advanced endoscopy fellow, to unpack the real-world pathway to a fourth-year advanced endoscopy fellowship.

Dan shares his journey from New Jersey soccer goalie to medical student, resident, fellow and ultimately interventional endoscopy fellow. He discussed how early mentorship, showing up in the endoscopy suite, and consistently doing excellent work shaped his trajectory.

Together, they walk through how to think about competitiveness, building a portfolio (clinical performance, procedural exposure, research, and leadership), and how to strategically approach the ASGE Advanced Endoscopy Match—from choosing programs and asking for letters to understanding program culture, case volumes, and general GI expectations.

They also dive into wellness, boundaries, and the “human side” of a very long training road, including protecting physical health, finding community, and keeping hobbies alive. Dan closes with concrete advice for residents and fellows: be present, do excellent work, say yes early in your career, and leverage mentors who genuinely want to see you succeed. This is a practical, candid roadmap for anyone seriously considering a career in advanced endoscopy.

https://www.asge.org/home/education-meetings/training-trainees/advanced-endoscopy-fellowship-(aef)