The aim of the program is the academic preparation of health care professionals, originating from medical schools or allied health institutions, toward an MS or PhD degree. Such degree will enable to enter a career in the University, or to engage in clinical or experimental scientific investigation, with emphasis on interdisciplinary work.

The postgraduate program is not intended for professional training, complementary education or technical skills. This is an academic initiative, sponsored by the Department of Gastroenterology and its divisions of Clinical Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Surgery of Digestive Disease, Coloproctology, Endoscopy, Clinical Nutrition, and Organ Transplantation.

The fusion of the clinical and surgical postgraduate programs of the Department of Gastroenterology was started in 2006, with the objective of benefitting from institutional facilities and resources. Such unification was approved by the Postgraduate Vice-Dean and the Postgraduate Chamber of the University of Sao Paulo in 2009, with the name of Postgraduate Program of Sciences in Gastroenterology, with MS and PhD tracks.

The federal educational rating organization CAPES has classified the Program as level 5 in the period 2011-2013, and again in the period starting in 2014, the same classification 5 was awarded.