2021 The Distinguished Mentorship and Teaching Award (cont.)
Satish S. C. Rao, MD, PhD, FACG Professor Satish S. C. Rao, MD, PhD, FRCP (LON), AGAF, FACG, is the J. Harold Harrison, MD, Distinguished University Chair in Gastroenterology and Founding Director, Digestive Health Center and Clinical Research Center, and tenured Professor of Medicine and Director, Neurogastroenterology/Motility at Augusta University. He received his MD from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, India; his PhD from the University of Sheffield, UK; and Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) in London, UK. He completed his internal medicine training at several academic centers in the UK and clinical research fellowships in gastroenterology at the Universities of Sheffield and Liverpool, UK. He is past President of the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. His research interests in neurogastroenterology/motility have focused on gaining mechanistic insights, developing novel diagnostic tools, and pioneering innovative treatments for constipation, dyssynergic defecation, fecal incontinence, IBS, food intolerance, gas, bloating and small intestinal bacterial and fungal overgrowth (SIBO/SIFO), and visceral pain. Having identified dyssynergic defecation, a problem that affects one third of constipated patients, he pioneered its remedy, biofeedback therapy, as well as other novel treatments, including sensory adaptation training for rectal hypersensitivity. His innovations include several novel tests: translumbosacral anorectal magnetic stimulation for pelvic floor neuropathy, esophageal balloon distention for chest pain, fructose and fructan breath tests, and assessment of bi-directional gut and brain interactions in humans. His latest invention, translumbosacral neuromodulation therapy (TNT), is revolutionizing treatment for fecal incontinence. He has been awarded 4 patents. Dr. Rao is a National Institutes of Health-funded principal investigator for over 20 years and currently holds NIH UO-1 and RO-1 grants. Dr. Rao has edited 10 books, including Clinical and Basic Neurogastroenterology & Motility (2020) with 50 percent of chapters written by his mentees. He has published over 500 peerreviewed articles with 24,000 citations, an H index of 88 and i10 index of 240. An astute clinician, Dr. Rao has been selected as one of the “Best Doctors in America” for over 25 years. He has mentored over 100 post-doctoral fellows, graduate research assistants, and physicians from across the world, many of whom are leaders and professors in their own countries and directors of Neurogastroenterology/Motility. Thirty-three of his mentees have received national/international research awards – a testament to his dedication as a distinguished mentor. He has been invited as visiting professor to lecture in over 150 medical schools and 40 national/international societies in 36 countries, including live demonstrations of motility procedures. His meritorious research and academic contributions have been recognized by national and international awards including the ACG Auxiliary Research Award and ACG Presidential Poster Awards. He is a brilliant role model and sought-after educator who has been awarded the ACG Edgar Achkar Visiting Professorship, AGA Distinguished Educator Award, and Medical College of Georgia Mentoring Excellence Award. Dr. Rao is one of a rare breed of academicians who has excelled as an internationally renowned researcher, distinguished educator, outstanding physician and a superb academic role model and mentor.
22 | 2020–2021 ACG AWARDS & LEADERSHIP
