The Bolivian-Japanese Gastroenterology Institute (IGBJ) established the WGO Training Center with the mission to carry out yearly courses designed to complement and improve specialists’ training in gastroenterology, as acquired in their home countries. The course program is defined in conjunction by the WGO Education and Training Committee, the Bolivian Society of Gastroenterology (SBG) and the IGBJ, according to regional needs in training and an ethical approach to patient care.
The academic program includes basic sciences relevant to gastroenterology, as well as the latest concepts of gastrointestinal disease, with emphasis in diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, given through formal lectures and interactive seminars.
Practical instruction in endoscopy, radiology, echography, echoendoscopy, TAC, motility studies, etc. are provided through interactive programs, as well as live patient demonstrations.
A. Main Objective
B. Specific Objectives
The training center is located in the Bolivian-Japanese Gastroenterology Institute in La Paz, which is situated in a University General Hospital. The following department units are located in the hospital:
Department of Gastroenterology
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology
ICU
Clinical Laboratory
Pathology Laboratory
Advanced endoscopy training. Four grants are awarded per year. The requirements for the grants are as followed:
International training. Thirty grants are awarded for international courses. The Requirements are as followed:
The advanced endoscopy course consists of 4 months of practical training in advanced procedures. It includes:
La Paz Training Center has three Endoscopy rooms full equipped with Olympus and Pentax towers.
Center Directors: Dr. Miguel Villa-Gomez and Dr. Guido Villa-Gomez
Instituto de Gastroenterologia Boliviano - Japones
Castilla Postal 8578
La Paz, Bolivia
E-mail: migue_vg@hotmail.com and villagomezroig@gmail.com
Phone: 591 606 722 24 and 591 715 227 47
Website: www.lapaztrainingcenter.org, Requirements Revised Nov. 2023
For more comprehensive information on the La Paz Training Center, including the trainee application process, course offerings, and other details, please refer to the downloadable pdf:
> La Paz Training Center Information Packet ()
June 2023, September 2023, December 2023, March 2024, June 2024, September 2024
The WGO would like to give special thanks to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Bolivian-Japanese Institute of Gastroenterology (IGBJ), Asociación Interamericana de Gastroenterología (AIGE), The Canadian Gastroenterology Association (CGA), Sociedad Española de Gastroenterología (AEG), The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and Olympus Japan and Latin America for their support and sponsorship of the WGO La Paz Training Center.