MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

AN OUTLOOK

OF GRATITUDE

DEAR COLLEAGUES:

Everyone who attended our Annual Scientific Meeting would agree with me regarding the energy and quality of the meeting and the simple joy of being and learning together. My profound thanks to our talented ACG staff, Board of Trustees, Postgraduate Course co-directors Dr. Millie Long and Dr. David Hass, Educational Affairs Chair Dr. Brooks Cash, committees and speakers for pulling off a live/hybrid meeting with our cherished values of camaraderie, connection and collaboration.

This year’s named lectures were phenomenal and I was grateful to all the invited speakers. Dr. Jerome Waye gave the David Sun Lecture, taking us on a captivating journey through the beginnings of endoscopy and polypectomy to the modern era and, finally, his predictions for the future. Dr. David Greenwald, in his Presidential Address, highlighted the work of the College focusing on the exciting launch of The Center for Leadership, Ethics & Equity under the auspices of the ACG Institute. Later, he shared a recorded interview with former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden focusing on COVID-19, colon cancer prevention and health care in the U.S. and globally. Dr. Amy Oxentenko gave The American Journal of Gastroenterology Lecture on Critical Mass Theory and highlighted women pioneers in medicine. She offered practical advice on allyship to accelerate progress, pinpointing the need for sponsorship and not just mentorship. Dr. Darrell Gray gave the Emily Couric Memorial Lecture on health care disparities in colorectal cancer including incidence, mortality, and age of diagnosis with all these issues being magnified by social drivers of health. He then provided strategies to address these disparities with a focus on building trust, partnerships and proactive policy changes. Dr. William Chey gave the J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecture on megatrends in GI, explaining how technology with platforms like GI OnDEMAND (free to ACG members) can extend our reach to provide patients with tertiary resources such as cognitive behavioral therapy, genetic counseling and specialized nutritional consultation. Finally, Dr. Marla Dubinsky gave the David Graham Lecture, reviewing ongoing transformative studies examining the microbiome, genetics, environmental factors and serologies to predict and prevent IBD.

After the meeting, I returned to Providence, RI, where the leaves were already shades of yellow, orange and red. November is special to me for many reasons including Diwali in India and Thanksgiving in the U.S. As an Indian American, I wanted to share some reflections on both.

In Rochester, NY, where I grew up, we always marked November with a Diwali observance in our community and our Indian immigrant version of Thanksgiving. Diwali or “Deepavali” (a Sanskrit word meaning “rows of lighted lamps”) is a Hindu festival marking the new year and is celebrated around the world. Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali glorifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Though celebrated in different ways, common elements including getting together with family/friends in brand new clothes, gift giving, colorful decorations including lights and a rangoli (a decorative, geometric pattern created on the outside entrance of a home), prayers, lighting lamps and wishing everyone peace, joy, health and prosperity in the new year. Given all we have been through, I find this message of hope celebrating light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance particularly meaningful.

Thanksgiving to me has always been the four F’s: Family, Friends, Food and Football. As Americans, we have so much to be thankful for: I am for the support of family/friends/colleagues, the blessings of living in America, the ability to help others as a physician and the research leading to effective vaccines to prevent/mitigate COVID-19. As a result, I am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with extended family. Our Thanksgiving meal is vegetarian Gujarati food (kadhi, bhaat, dhokla, puri, undhiyu) with a few twists like cranberry chutney, pecan, apple and blueberry pies with ice cream, and watching football—a mix of Indian and American culture.

I am grateful for my eyesight: last December, I had a spontaneous retinal detachment and was fortunate to get great medical care and have my vision restored so that I can continue to practice endoscopy and gastroenterology. Being a patient can be frightening and reminds us of the incredible trust our patients place in us. I remember the astute advice of Dr. Francis Peabody, “The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.” My outlook is different as a result: I get to (instead of have to) do another case or help another patient or see another consult. We often take things for granted until taken away or somehow compromised. So, my simple message is don’t take things for granted and express your gratitude to your loved ones, colleagues and to yourself. I wish you and your families a joyous Diwali, Thanksgiving and health, peace, and success in the coming year.

“So, my simple message is don’t take things for granted and express your gratitude to your loved ones, colleagues and to yourself. I wish you and your families a joyous Diwali, Thanksgiving and health, peace, and success in the coming year.”

—Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG