A VISION FOR THE FUTURE: UPDATES TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Against the backdrop of so many transformational changes in GI and medicine, ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG and President-Elect Amy S Oxentenko, MD, FACG saw that the time was right to take on the challenge of re-visiting and re-vamping the College’s Strategic Plan to strengthen ACG’s role as the primary champion of the professional needs of GI clinicians To support their bold vision, Dr Leighton and Dr Oxentenko commissioned Costas H Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG, and Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG to cochair a Strategic Plan Work Group . Collaborating with many Trustees and other College leaders, the two oversaw a comprehensive review and evaluation of the College’s priorities, mission, and vision; assessed all major pillars of the organization; sought feedback; and invited many perspectives From this robust process emerged a consensus around a strong, clear vision for ACG’s future .
The strategic planning process was informed by findings from research among ACG members conducted by McKinley & Associates last summer and fall which included one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, in-person focus groups, and a member survey Building on the solid foundation of these detailed findings, Dr Leighton and Dr Oxentenko invited the Strategic Plan Work Group to envision innovative ways ACG can accelerate advances in key areas of patient care, education, research, advocacy, practice management, professional development, and clinician wellness that ultimately help members flourish in their professional roles and improve patients’ digestive health The plan is being unveiled at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia
ACG Board of Trustees, October 2023
Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG ACG President
Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG
Costas H Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG
LEADERSHIP
The College is grateful to those leaders who volunteer their considerable time, talents, and expertise to benefit the life of the College ACG’s strength and effectiveness are only possible thanks to the commitment of the ACG Officers and Trustees, the vibrant engagement of the ACG Board of Governors, and the significant contributions of so many leaders ACG recognizes with thanks all who serve on committees, as faculty for our educational programs, as editors and reviewers for our journals and publications, as representatives for ACG and GI across medicine, as advocates before legislators and policymakers, and all those who give freely of themselves as educators, champions, and role models
In honor of March CRC Awareness Month, the ACG Board of Trustees shows its dedication to colorectal cancer screening for average-risk individuals starting at age 45
The ACG Board of Governors shares their commitment to colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45
Thank You Outgoing Governors for Your Service to ACG
Alyn L Adrain, MD, FACG, R hode Island
Joseph C Anderson, MD, FACG, New Hampshire
Michael K Bay MD, FACG, New Mexico
David R Beswick, MD, FACG, Delaware
Dayna S Early, MD, FACG, Chair, Board of Governors
Harish K Gagneja, MD, FACG, Southern Texas
John Gancayco, MD, FACG, Military
Jorge A Gilbert, MD, FACG, South Dakota
Christine Y Hachem, MD, FACG, Missouri
Prasad Iyer, MD, FACG, Minnesota
Joyann A Kroser, MD, FACG, Eastern Pennsylvania
Mark R Lena, MD, FACG, Maine
Luis S Marsano, MD, FACG, Kentucky
Sharat C Misra, MD, FACG, United Kingdom
Peter L Moses, MD, FACG, Vermont
José M Nieto, DO, FACG, Northern Florida
Nikila C Ravindran, MD, FACG, Ontario Provinces
Alison Schneider, MD, FACG, Southern Florida
William B Silverman, MD, FACG, Iowa
Rakesh Vinayek, MD, FACG, Maryland
Jay N Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, Northern Texas
A COMMITMENT TO WELL-BEING OF ACG, GI PATIENTS, AND EACH OTHER
The signature theme for Dr Leighton’s ACG presidential year was a focus upon well-being that encompassed not only the organizational health of the College and the health of patients who benefit from our members’ knowledge and care, but also, importantly, the fundamental well-being of GI clinicians . During the year, Dr Leighton emphasized the importance of getting involved with ACG to grow community, build professional relationships, and cultivate a sense of joy and well-being by fostering a sense of meaning and purpose in the careers of ACG members
With Dr . Leighton’s encouragement, the ACG Professionalism Committee, under the leadership of Richard S . Bloomfeld, MD, FACG, launched ACG Wellness Central, an online clearinghouse of resources for ACG members (visit gi.org/wellness-central) Dr Leighton and his colleagues from Mayo Clinic Arizona contributed to a special issue of ACG MAGAZINE on well-being that featured powerful reflections and insights . Dr . Leighton and Dr . Bloomfeld together hosted a Virtual Grand Rounds session in January 2024, “Joy and Wellness in Gastroenterology ”
Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG, in Washington, DC, to represent the College at a rally organized by Fight Colorectal Cancer that featured the voices of CRC patients, survivors, and caregivers, March 2024
PUBLIC POLICY
ACG Advocacy Day: Advancing GI's Public Policy Priorities in Congress
Richard S Bloomfeld, MD, FACG, Chair, ACG Professionalism Committee
The top priorities in the public policy arena this year for the Board of Governors, the Legislative and Public Policy Council, and the National Affairs Network (NAAN) included fighting cuts to Medicare reimbursement, opposing burdens on patient access to treatment due to prior authorization and step therapy protocols, eliminating cost-sharing for colorectal cancer screening, and advocating for policies that reduce practice management and staffing challenges
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, more than 100 College leaders met with their U S Representatives and Senators Across more than 200 meetings, ACG’s tireless advocates expressed the continued challenges facing gastroenterology, while highlighting key legislative opportunities that would benefit GI patients and practices . The highlight of the day was the annual luncheon briefing, where seven Members of Congress offered a wide array of perspectives Collectively, they addressed the relevance of physician advocacy on Capitol Hill, and some shared their personal experiences with cancer and the importance of preventive screenings
ACG is grateful to U S Sen Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), an ACG Fellow and hepatologist, Rep Mark Green, MD (R-TN), Rep Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), Rep Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), Rep . Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Rep Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) for their time .
PUBLIC POLICY,
Above all, the focus of the 2024 ACG Advocacy Day was reminding each Member of Congress that they are essential in supporting physicians and protecting patient access from the many harmful forces at play – from insurers and their burdensome utilization management requirements to everdecreasing Medicare physician reimbursement The hope is the frustration ACG conveyed, as well as the legislative opportunities discussed, have laid the groundwork for meaningful progress
(Left) Sita S Chokhavatia, MD, MACG, Vice Chair, Board of Governors and Dayna S Early, MD, FACG, Chair, Board of Governors (Right) ACG Advocacy Day 2024 with the Board of Governors and Early Career Leadership Program of the ACG Institute
(Left) Dr Bara El-Kurdi, Dr Ngozi Enwerem, Dr Harish Gagneja, U S Rep Beth VanDuyne (R-TX), Dr George Cholankeril, Dr Jay Yepuri (Center) Dr Sudha Pandit, Dr Catherine Hudson, U .S Rep Troy Carter (D-LA), Dr Neelima Reddy, Dr. James Hobley (Right) U S Sen . Cory Booker (D-NJ) greets New Jersey’s own Dr Sita Chokhavatia and Dr Adam Elfant
(Left) Dr Samir A Shah, U S Rep Gabe Amo (D-RI), Dr Alyn Adrain (Center) ACG President Dr Jonathan Leighton with members of the Republican Doctors Caucus Rep Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Rep Greg Murphy (R-NC); Dr Louis Wilson, Chair of ACG’s Legislative & Public Policy Council (Right) Dr Daniel Pambianco, Dr Ronald Hsu, Dr Brennan Spiegel in the Hart Senate Office Building
PUBLIC POLICY,
Left) Dr José Martin, U S Rep John Rutherford (R-FL), Dr Alison Schneider, Dr José Nieto (Center) Dr Chamil Codipilly, Dr Pooja Singal, U S Sen Tina Smith (D-MN), Dr Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu (Right) Dr Louis Wilson, Dr Dayna Early, Dr Jonathan Leighton, Dr Costas Kefalas, Dr Pierre Hindy, ACG’s Brad Stillman
(
(Above) U S Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Dr . Lauren Feld
(Left) Dr Sergio Sánchez-Luna, ACG’s Vaidehi Gajjar-Mehta, Dr Elizabeth Paine, Dr Lauren Feld, Dr Trisha Pasricha, Dr Danny Issa (Center) Dr Louis Wilson, U S Rep Debbie Dingell (D-MI) U S Rep Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA) during a lunch briefing on Capitol Hill (Right) Dr Sudha Pandit, U S Sen Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Dr Neelima Reddy, and Dr Catherine Hudson
PUBLIC POLICY,
FDA Meeting at ACG Headquarters
On May 17, 2024, the ACG FDA-Related Matters Committee hosted three physician leaders from the FDA at the ACG's office in North Bethesda, Maryland They discussed the evolving challenges and opportunities in new drug approvals and clinical study design, as well as the joint ACGFDA Fellowship, which provides first- or second-year fellows valuable insight into the drug review and approval process ACG is grateful for the FDA's continued partnership and collaboration .
L to R: Erica Lyons, MD, Associate Director for Therapeutic Review, Division of Gastroenterology, OND, CDER; Amanda Cartee, MD, FACG, Vice Chair, FDA-Related Matters Committee; Eric Shah, MD, MBA, FACG, Chair, FDARelated Matters Committee; Jessica J Lee, MD, Division Director, Division of Gastroenterology, OND, CDER; Juli Tomaino, MD, Deputy Division Director, Division of Gastroenterology, OND, CDER; Renee Williams, MD, MHPE, FACG, ACG Trustee
Practice Management Work Retreat
On March 8-10, 2024, the ACG Practice Management Committee met in Arlington, Virginia, to develop the agenda for the annual Practice Management Summit and to create new resources for the Practice Management Toolbox that support GI practices The Committee is also focused on engaging new GI fellows, recently graduated gastroenterologists, and ACG members entering practice for the first time, with the broader goal of ensuring ACG remains the home for clinical GI
The ACG Practice Management Committee convened in March 2024 for a brainstorm session
New from the ACG Membership Committee in 2024, the Endoscopy Unit Orientation Manual is a thorough and informative volume written in clear and accessible language for the benefit of both clinical and non-clinical staff to provide a comprehensive understanding of GI endoscopy, procedures, equipment, processes, and the roles of team members Explore bit.ly/ACG-endo-unit-orientation-manual
EDUCATION
Scientific education, based on critical foundational knowledge and clinical skills, is essential for GI clinicians to deliver top quality patient care . Thanks to the leadership of Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, and the hard work of the ACG Educational Affairs Committee, the 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course in Philadelphia include clinically relevant didactic sessions, scientific presentations, and myriad opportunities for interaction with expert faculty and colleagues
ACG Virtual Grand Rounds
ACG Virtual Grand Rounds has generated more than 85,000 interactions with learners in more than 379 sessions since early March of 2020! This weekly webinar series provides opportunities for the GI community to access free clinical education at Noon and 8 pm Eastern Notable expert faculty cover clinical challenges in gastroenterology, hepatology, and endoscopy, while special ACG VGRs focus on ACG Clinical Guidelines and career development topics Learn more and explore future programs at gi.org/ACGVGR All past lectures become part of the ACG Education Universe online learning platform where they can be accessed with a free login
ACG VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS BY THE NUMBERS*
379
NUMBER OF SESSIONS TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERACTIONS 85,000 MORE THAN
MOST POPULAR TOPICS IN 2024:
of
FACG, and David T. Rubin, MD, FACG
Celiac Disease – What to Do After the Diagnosis is Made
Lucinda A. Harris, MD, FACG
ACG-ASGE “Best Practices” Course with ACG Endoscopy School
January 2024 Course Directors: Left to Right: Keith L Obstein, MD, MPH, FACG, FASGE (for ASGE); Vice Chair ACG Board of Governors Sita S Chokhavatia, MD, MACG, FASGE; ACG Chair Board of Governors, Dayna S Early, MD, FACG, FASGE; with ACG Educational Affairs Chair Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG
* As of 8/15
GUIDELINES COVERED IN 2024
• ACG Guideline: Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
• ACG Guidelines: Management of Acute Pancreatitis
• ACG Monograph on Microbiome Therapeutics (3-part series)
HIGHLIGHTS
• Community Outreach on Colorectal Cancer: Lessons & Pearls from ACG’s SCOPY Award Winners
• Joint ACG/AASLD Webinar – Fatty Liver: New Nomenclature, New Therapy Options
Abstract Reviewers Identify Best Clinical Science for ACG 2024 – The Educational Affairs Committee held its summer work session at ACG Headquarters in July 2024 Finding the best clinical science for oral papers, posters, and videos was the charge to the group from Chair Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG (teal jacket), with support from ACG staff members Meridith Phillips, MLfSc (maroon dress) and Kathleen Brozean (green shirt)
Positioning
Therapies in IBD: Highlighting the New ACG Crohn’s and UC Guidelines
Millie D. Long, MD, MPH,
A New Organ: The Mesentery and Mesenteric Disease Monjur Ahmed, MD, FACG
The College’s APP Committee has made a significant and meaningful contribution to the College’s educational resources for APPs by developing a robust suite of educational modules that aim to immerse APPs in essential knowledge for the care of patients with GI and liver disorders . Advanced modules in hepatology and IBD have been added to the colon, basics of IBD, GI bleeding, esophagus, pancreaticobiliary, stomach, small bowel, mixed subject area, functional disorders, hepatology, and GI in-patient modules To date, there have been over 37,700 views as of July 2024, up from 19,000 views as of July 2023, showing the demand for this educational content committee has worked hard to add pharmacology credits to the existing and new modules, satisfying a critical need for the APP audience excellent resource can be found at universe.gi.org/appmodule.asp
INSIDE THE JOURNALS
AJG Obesity Special Issue June 2024
In June, AJG published a special issue exploring obesity Co-Editors-in-Chief Jasmohan S . Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG, and Millie D . Long, MD, MPH, FACG, imagined the issue as a “crossroads between the multiple specialties involved in studying obesity pathogenesis ” They also recognize the evolving role of GI specialists as “hubs for obesity management” in an editorial that prefaces the issue
Guidelines
ACG Clinical Guidelines are developed through the College’s Practice Parameters Committee and published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology In 2024, there were four additions to the catalogue of evidencebased clinical recommendations from the College
• In January 2024, AJG published a new ACG Clinical Guideline on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease by Loretta L . Jophlin, MD, PhD; Ashwani K . Singal, MD, MS, FACG; Ramon Bataller, MD, PhD, FACG; Robert J Wong, MD, MS, FACG; Bryan G Sauer, MD, MSc, FACG; Norah A Terrault, MD, MPH, FACG; and Vijay H . Shah, MD, FACG .
• The management of acute pancreatitis is the focus of a new clinical guideline published in March 2024 by authors Scott Tenner, MD, MPH, JD, FACG; Santhi Swaroop Vege, MD, MACG; Sunil G Sheth, MD; Bryan Sauer, MD, MSci, FACG; Allison Yang, MD, MPH; Darwin L Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG; Rena H Yadlapati, MD, MHS, FACG; and Timothy B Gardner, MD, FACG
• Catherine Frenette, MD; Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, MD; Reena Salgia, MD; Robert J Wong, MD, MS, FACG; Bryan G Sauer, MD, MSc, FACG; and Anjana Pillai, MD, FACG, are the authors of the College’s July 2024 clinical guideline addressing the diagnosis and management of focal liver lesions .
• In September 2024, AJG published an updated guideline on treatment of Helicobacter pylori by William D Chey, MD, FACG; Colin W . Howden, MD, FACG; Steven F Moss, MD, FACG; Douglas R Morgan, MD, MPH, FACG; Katarina B Greer, MD, MSEpi; Shilpa Grover, MD, MPH; and Shailja C . Shah, MD, MPH
New ACG Guidelines Highlights
The College recently launched a series of ACG Guideline Highlights, which provide a quick visual summary of ACG Clinical Guidelines, distilling key points from the guidelines to update clinicians on the latest recommendations These visual summaries are developed by UC Irvine GI fellow Erica Duh, MD in collaboration with the guideline authors and are available online and printed quarterly in ACG
Millie D Long, MD, MPH, FACG, AJG Co-EIC
Jasmohan S Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG, AJG Co-EIC
INSIDE THE JOURNALS, continued
A call for manuscripts generated significant submissions for an AJG Special Issue on Inflammation in Digestive Diseases planned for January 2025
New Book Series: ACG Guide to the Guidelines
This AJG call for papers seeks to explore patientcentered research of the digestive system focusing on patient reported outcomes (PROs) such as symptoms and health-related quality of life The submission deadline is December 1, 2024
New ACG Monograph on Microbiome Therapeutics
AJG introduced a curated collection of articles highlighting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology in June 2024
Seven chapters cover the latest scientific insights into the microbiome, featuring concise, clinically relevant summaries with an emphasis on the rapidly evolving therapeutic armamentarium Editors: Neil H . Stollman, MD, FACG, and Colleen R . Kelly, MD, FACG .
Read: bit.ly/ajg-microbiome-monograph
The new ACG Guide to the Guidelines series by Brennan M R Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG, and Hetal A Karsan, MD, FACG, puts into context the recommendations presented in ACG Practice Guidelines by using a vignette-based approach to facilitate understanding and application of these guidelines through real-life scenarios encountered in clinical medicine
C Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG, CTG
Editor-in-Chief
CTG: Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology
Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Brian Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG, Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (CTG) is a double-blind peerreviewed, open access, online journal dedicated to innovative clinical work in GI, pancreatology, and hepatology CTG also welcomes hypothesisgenerating studies, methods papers, and translational research with clear applications to human physiological processes or diseases involving the gastrointestinal system The CTG Associate Editors are Yasmin G Hernandez-Barco, MD; John Kim, MD; David Levinthal, MD, PhD; Eugenia Shmidt, MD, FACG; Ashwani K . Singal, MD, MS, FACG; and Jennifer M . Weiss, MD, MS (Left) CTG published a special issue on AI in GI in October 2023 (Right) New Look for CTG cover
Brian
Neil H Stollman, MD, FACG Colleen R Kelly, MD, FACG
Co-authors Brennan M R Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG, and Hetal A Karsan, MD, FACG, with Volume 1 of the “ACG Guide to the Guidelines” series
INSIDE THE JOURNALS, continued
2023-2024 was a great year for ACG Case Reports Journal podcasts
ACG Case Reports Journal
The 2023-2024 Co-Editors-in-Chief of ACG Case Reports Journal (ACGCRJ) were Khushboo Gala, MBBS, of Mayo Clinic Rochester, and Vibhu Chittajallu, MD, of Case Western Reserve/University Hospitals Cleveland Under their able leadership, the journal flourished . They inaugurated a “Reviewer of the Month” recognition program and revivified the “Inside the Case” podcast with episodes each month
Evidence-Based Gastroenterology: An ACG Publication
A significant development for EBGI in 2023-2024 is advertising sponsorships from Ardelyx and AbbVie which allow the publication to come out from behind a login firewall on the gi org website and become more accessible to a larger audience and more easily shared via social media This had been a high priority of Editorin-Chief Philip S Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG The EBGI editorial board is ably supported by energetic and creative contributions of the EBGI Social Media Ambassadors, co-chaired by Noor A Syed, MD and Romy Chamoun, MD
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS
March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month puts the spotlight on prevention and brings attention to the importance of quality screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) . ACG’s goal is to inspire, uplift, and celebrate our members in their efforts to increase visibility of CRC prevention while providing educational resources, tools, messaging, and graphics to support their efforts with patients and in their communities For 2024, the College’s CRC Month celebration featured advocacy, music, physical activity, patient education, and kicked off with an invitation to the larger GI community to show their true colors by wearing blue – the signature hue of CRC awareness – for “Dress in Blue Day” on Friday, March 4, 2024
Tune It Up Concert for Colorectal Cancer Awareness
An evening of musical inspiration marked the end of CRC Month when Benjamin H . Levy, MD, III, of the ACG Public Relations Committee organized a virtual concert featuring artists from a wide array of musical genres who donated their time and performances . ACG’s Tune It Up Virtual Concert to Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer included performers such as Lisa Loeb, Rufus Wainwright, violinist Hilary Hahn, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Knights Chamber Orchestra, and many more! You can listen to a recording of this impressive program at gi.org/concert
Philip S Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG
Romy Chamoun, MD Noor S Syed, MD
Khushboo Gala, MBBS Vibhu Chittajallu, MD
Benjamin H Levy, III, MD
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS,
ACG Supports Fight CRC’s United in Blue Installation
On March 12, 2024, in Washington, DC, on the National Mall, ACG President Jonathan A . Leighton, MD, FACG, represented the College at the “United in Blue” rally and installation organized by the advocacy group Fight Colorectal Cancer ACG is proud to be part of a coalition of organizations standing with CRC patients, survivors, and caregivers who gathered to visit with legislators and bring attention to CRC, the trends in young-onset disease, and to demand that the U S Congress prioritize CRC research and screening
A dramatic installation of 27,400 blue flags near the U .S . Capitol was a powerful visual representation of those younger than 50 who will be diagnosed with CRC in 2030 unless we do more to educate, screen, and raise awareness
Celebrating Diversity in GI
ACG continues to celebrate the spirit of inclusion, representation, and community that is at the center of the life of the College Growing out of the #DiversityinGI social media campaign launched in April 2019 by the ACG Public Relations Committee in collaboration with the ACG Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is an event that has become a yearly tradition, the #DiversityinGI Virtual 5K The virtual event started during COVID-19, but happily now features in-person morning fun runs at the Annual Scientific Meeting The event is a great way to rally ACG’s members, their families, staff, and GI fellows-in-training for healthy activity, community building, and positive social media engagement and continues to build momentum, celebrate diversity, and raise funds Proceeds from corporate sponsorships for this event help support stipends for medical students who participate in the ACG DEI Committee’s Summer Scholars Program for those from groups under-represented in medicine
New in 2023, the DEI Committee introduced a special Pride Night Reception that welcomed all attendees at the Vancouver ACG Meeting but put the focus on the LGBTQIA+ community in the GI profession .
ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG, (second row, third from left) with CRC advocates who addressed the United in Blue rally in Washington, DC .
#DiversityinGI Morning Fun Run, ACG 2023 Vancouver, BC, with ACG Public Relations Committee Chair Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG, and Dana Lukin, MD, PhD, FACG (pictured front row center with the sign)
The College introduced a Pride Reception at ACG 2023 in Vancouver
Sophie M Balzora, MD, FACG; Outgoing Chair, ACG Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Austin L Chiang, MD, MPH, FACG; Folasade P May, MD, PhD, MPhil; and Daniel J Pambianco, MD, FACG, at ACG Pride Reception in 2023
PATIENT VOICE & PATIENT EDUCATION
Patient Education One-Pagers
ACG actively finds ways to put the experience of patients with GI and liver disease at the center of the life of the College, by exploring patient-centered care, celebrating patient perspectives, and publishing concise, elegant patient education “one-pagers” in ACG MAGAZINE . This year ACG supported and amplified the work of patient advocates and includes a patient voice at the Annual Scientific Meeting Actress Marcia Cross shared her experience as an anal cancer survivor, patient advocate, and co-founder of the HPV Alliance as the keynote speaker for the Emily Couric Memorial Lecture at ACG 2023 in Vancouver
(Left) Actress and anal cancer survivor Marcia Cross shares her experience with the underdiagnosed disease in a transcript of her 2023 Emily Couric Memorial Lecture (Right) Katie A Dunleavy, MB, BCh, BAO, Editor of ACG MAGAZINE’s Trainee Hub section, wrote a profile of CRC survivor and patient advocate Allison Rosen in the Spring 2024 issue
ACG MAGAZINE continues to publish a series of one-page patient education handouts that can also be downloaded from gi.org/patients . These overviews are presented in accessible language and a clear, elegant format with links and QR codes for patients to learn more and access more detailed patient information online New in 2023 and 2024 are a one-pager on the College’s new clinical guideline on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (Loretta Jophlin, MD, PhD; Ashwani K Singal, MD, MS, FACG; and Vijay H . Shah, MD, FACG), and a one-pager on Barrett’s Esophagus developed by the ACG Patient Care Committee under the leadership of Scott L Gabbard, MD, FACG, drawing on the clinical foundation of ACG’s 2022 guidelines on the diagnosis and management of Barrett’s esophagus (Shaheen, et al )
ACG INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
Neena S . Abraham, MD,
MS
(Epid),
MACG Director, ACG Institute for Clinical Research & Education
Many of the most impactful and meaningful initiatives within the College are fostered through the ACG Institute for Clinical Research and Education Through its Center for Leadership, Ethics & Equity, the ACG Institute supports rich opportunities for ACG members to develop clinician-leadership at all career stages The Edgar Achkar Visiting Professorships strengthen educational experiences for GI trainees and the Visiting Scholars in Equity, Diversity & Ethical Care create awareness around the issues and challenges related to delivering equitable care, respecting diversity, and instilling ethical decision making
Institute in Focus 2024-2025” reports on myriad activities and accomplishments while sharing key program deadlines and upcoming highlights
In 2024, the Institute awarded $2,710,801 to support outstanding clinical research in gastroenterology . Overall, since 1994, over $31 9 million in awards have funded 745 investigators .
ACG INSTITUTE,
2024 Junior Faculty Development Awardees
Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH
Massachusetts General Hospital
Jennifer M . Kolb, MD, MS
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Jorge D Machicado, MD, MPH University of Michigan
Wegermann, MD Duke University
2024 ACG Established Investigator Bridge Funding Awards
Renumathy Dhanasekaran, MD, PhD Stanford University
Lovekirat Singh Dhaliwal, MD
Emory University School of Medicine
2024 ACG Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award
Jin Ge, MD, MBA
University of California, San Francisco
Randy Longman, MD, PhD Weill Cornell Medicine
2024 ACG/ASGE Epidemiologic Research Award in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Kara
ACG INSTITUTE,
Arising Leaders: Early Career Leadership Program
The 2023-2024 cohort of the Early Career Leadership Program (ECLP) of the ACG Institute for Clinical Research & Education gathered with the ACG Board of Governors for Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on Thursday, April 18, 2024
The group stayed in DC for a didactic session on April 19th highlighted by inspiring talks by ACG Trustee Patrick E Young, MD, FACG, and ACG Governor for the District of Columbia Aline Charabaty, MD, FACG The ECLP program directors are Allon Kahn, MD, FACG, and Elizabeth R Paine, MD, FACG, both of whom are alumni of the Institute’s Young Physician Leadership Scholars Program which evolved into ECLP. Dr . Paine coordinated the ECLP Washington, DC, program with a drop-in by ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG
Clinical Research Leadership Program
In March 2024, the Clinical Research Leadership Program, an offering of the Institute’s Center for Leadership, Ethics & Equity, convened funded GI clinician investigators to enhance their skills and inspire them to grow and maintain success as research leaders
Course Directors Neena S . Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG (Director of the ACG Institute), and Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG, organized a daylong program covering practical topics on operations, strategy, and financial success, as well as core leadership skills Faculty, who are themselves clinical investigator leaders, included William D Chey, MD, FACG; Brennan M R Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG; and Nicholas J Shaheen, MD, MPH, MACG, former Director of the ACG Institute .
Early Career Leadership Program The 2023-2024 ECLP cohort met in Washington, DC, under the leadership of Elizabeth R Paine, MD, FACG (purple dress, center) and were joined by ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG (center)
The ACG Institute’s Clinical Research Leadership Program in March 2024
As part of the ACG Institute Edgar Achkar Visiting Professorship, Sonali Paul, MD, FACG, was a Visiting Scholar in Diversity, Equity & Ethical Care at NYU Langone Health Left to Right: Saikiran M Kilaru, MD; Sophie M Balzora, MD, FACG; Dr Paul; Renee L Williams, MD, MHPE, FACG; and Mark B Pochapin, MD, FACG
TRAINEES & TRAINING COMMITTEE
ACG prioritizes programs for GI fellows during their training to reach them with opportunities to learn, network, sharpen their clinical and research skills, and help them flourish Standout educational programs include ACG Virtual Grand Rounds: Career Edition, the North American Conference of GI Fellows (NACGF), and well as programs such as IBD 101 for first-year fellows co-sponsored by ACG and NYU Langone Health The ACG Second-Year Fellows Course offers a select group of 125 trainees nominated by their programs an all-expenses paid trip to a high impact program that features hands-on endoscopy training
New Chief Fellows Course
The Chief Fellows Course was envisioned by the Training Committee as an engaging and motivating experience for trainees at the cusp of their careers . The program helps chief fellows understand the basics of ACGME rules and policies and prepare for the complicated role of serving as a chief fellow at their institutions . There are opportunities to network, engage in small group learning, role-play, discuss challenging situations candidly with co-chief fellows and faculty moderators, and receive feedback
GI
Jeopardy & EndoTitans
Two of the most fun, engaging, and competitive programs for trainees pit them against each other for trophies and bragging rights The undisputed jewel in the crown is GI Jeopardy, ACG’s favorite quiz show Each year the spirit of competition comes alive with a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat game that matches the wits of five teams of brave trainees before a live audience . Not to be outdone, the stakes are also high for competitors in ACG’s EndoTitans Hands-On Challenge who test their knowledge and technical abilities in a competition that culminates in a live skills challenge in the ACG Endoscopy School Hands-On Learning Center
And the winner is… the University of Iowa team! Ahmed A . Elkafrawy, MD, and Estefania M Flores, MD, won the intense GI Jeopardy competition at ACG 2023 by more than 1,000 points past the second-place team Well done!
NACGF
ACG has sponsored The North American Conference of GI Fellows (NACGF) since 1990 . The strengths of this conference include its small size, and the opportunity for GI fellows to present their research to colleagues in a less pressured environment than at national meetings, while also receiving coaching on presentation skills from experienced faculty .
Congratulations to the 2024 NACGF Distinguished Achievement Awardees, Ramzi Hassouneh, DO; Catherine Mezzacappa, MD; and Raseen Tariq, MBBS . These fellows presented at the conference in March and were scored highly by the faculty on their presentation skills including confidence while presenting, clear and concise slides, and ample time allowance for Q&A from the audience . The winning presenters received a $1,000 travel stipend to attend ACG 2024 in Philadelphia, PA
(Left) 2023 Endo Titans Competitors (Right) 2023 GI Jeopardy Champions Ahmed A Elkafrawy, MD, and Estefania M . Flores, MD .
Chief Fellows Course Faculty Front Row Left to Right: Xiao Jing (Iris) Wang, MD; Farah Monzur, MD, FACG; Adam C Ehrlich, MD, MPH, FACG; Holly S Greenwald, MD Back Row Left to Right: Joseph Mizrahi, MD; Jill K J Gaidos, MD, FACG; Brijen J Shah, MD; Christina M Surawicz, MD, MACG; Mark B Pochapin, MD, FACG; and Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG
NACGF 2024 faculty and attendees on March 10, 2024
Ramzi Hassouneh, DO Catherine Mezzacappa, MD Raseen Tariq, MBBS
EXPANDING THE PIPELINE OF FUTURE TALENT
Summer Scholars
The Summer Scholars Program is an initiative of the ACG Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion that pairs medical students from groups underrepresented in medicine with mentors for a research project and provides a stipend of $5,000 The Committee believes that a formalized mentorship and clinical research program is one pipeline to increase representation of underrepresented groups in medicine in academic gastroenterology careers . The program is an 8- to 10-week structured clinical research experience for medical students in the U S . who are paired with research mentors sharing similar clinical research interests in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology At the end of the program, the students must submit a progress report and an abstract to a local, regional, or national conference
KUDOS & FUN
The Beacons Rock the ACG Family
Yes, it’s true The College has an official rock band comprised of current and former members of the Board of Trustees . In January 2024 at the Best Practices Course in Las Vegas, the band invited guitarist Thomas A Ullman, MD, FACG, and cellist Benjamin H Levy, III, MD, to sit in for guitarist and vocalist Daniel J Pambianco, MD, FACG . The name of the band is a tribute to the bright light of the ACG family for many in GI during the darkest days of the pandemic when the group started to play together over Zoom They later found their groove in person during informal jam sessions The Beacons have contributed performances to ACG’s “Tune It Up: A Concert to Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer” (in 2023, The Beatles’ “With A Little Help from My Friends” and in 2024, U2’s “One ”)
(Top) Left to Right: Harish K Gagneja, MD, MACG, photobombs band practice with The Beacons: Patrick E . Young, MD, FACG; Costas H . Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG; John R Saltzman, MD, FACG; Special Guest Thomas A Ullman, MD, FACG; and Samir A Shah, MD, FACG (missing Daniel J . Pambianco, MD, FACG) . (Bottom) In January, cellist Dr . Ben Levy sat in with The Beacons: Dr Costas Kefalas, Dr Patrick Young, Dr John Saltzman, Dr Samir Shah; along with Special Guest Dr Tom Ullman
Mentor: Christopher Vélez, MD Massachusetts General Hospital
Mentor: Lavanya Viswanathan, MD, MS, FACP, FACG MD Anderson
Mentor: Eric D Shah, MD, MBA, FACG University of Michigan
Chioma Stephanie Owo UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine
Marquise Soto Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Alexandra Goad University of Louisville School of Medicine
KUDOS & FUN,
ACG Endoscopy School is in Session!
This photo should rightfully be placed in the Education category, but the fit is perfect for ACG Fun & Kudos Congratulations to the faculty of the January 2024 ACG Endoscopy School in Las Vegas who are clearly living their best lives while sharing their endoscopic expertise during didactic sessions and hands-on workshops
Walking the Talk for CRC Awareness
ACG 2024 Endoscopy School Faculty January 2024 Left to Right: Lauren G Khanna, MD, MS; Ahmed Saeed, MD; José M Nieto, DO, FACG; Jodie A Barkin, MD, FACG; Prasad G Iyer, MD, MSc, FACG; Sean Bhalla, MD; Harish K Gagneja, MD, FACG; Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG; Vladimir M Kushnir MD, FACG; Shivangi T Kothari, MD, FACG; Elizabeth R Paine, MD, FACG; Rabia A de Latour, MD . (Missing: Linda S Lee, MD, FACG; Ashley L . Faulx, MD, FACG; and Mohammad A Al-Haddad, MD, MSc, FACG – but they are fun too )
ACG PR Committee Chair Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG, and ACG Vice President of Communications, Anne-Louise Bateman Oliphant, MPP, in Washington, DC, on Saturday, March 12, 2024 . They kindled the spirit of CRC Awareness despite the inclement weather, helping with the Fight CRC installation of 27,400 blue flags on the National Mall and coordinating a team of volunteers from the DC area
(Left) Dr Reezwana Chowdhury and Ms AnneLouise Oliphant (Right) Standing up for GI patients and supporting 200+ Hill visits by 100+ ACG members, the College’s Policy, Communications, and ACG Institute teams in action at ACG Advocacy Day on April 18, 2024 Left to Right: Bradley C Stillman, JD; Anne-Louise B Oliphant, MPP; Vaidehi Gajjar-Mehta, MPH, MBA-HAC; Katie Artigliere; Becky Abel, MEd; Gregory Kantor, MPH; Brad Conway, JD
KUDOS & FUN,
Left) Leadership visits ACG headquarters and admires “Hamilton Café Left to Right: ACG Institute Director Neena S Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG; ACG President Jonathan A . Leighton, MD, FACG; and ACG Past President David A . Greenwald, MD, FACG, at ACG headquarters admiring signage designating the staff kitchen as the “Hamilton Café” in honor of legendary ACG staff member Robert H Hamilton (1921-2012) (Right) Leaders visit ACG’s North Bethesda Headquarters in May Back Row: Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG; ACG Executive Director Bradley C Stillman, JD; Hetal A Karsan, MD, FACG; Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG; Dayna S Early, MD, FACG; Renee L Williams, MD, MHPE, FACG; Patrick E . Young, MD, FACG; Bryan G Sauer, MD, MSc (Clin Res), FACG; Richard S Bloomfeld, MD, FACG; Front Row: Marisabel Valdez, MD, FACG; Sunanda V Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG; Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG; Harish K Gagneja, MD, MACG; ACG Deputy Executive Director Maria T Susano
Fostering Connection & Well-being
In honor of Dr Jonathan Leighton’s presidential year and his emphasis on collegiality and well-being, here is a photo from ACG Board of Trustees’ group hike at its meeting in June The Board’s discussions and decisions are always inspired by time together during their three meetings each year The October Board meeting takes place at the Annual Scientific Meeting while the Board’s January meeting coincides with the Best Practices Course in alternate years The June Board meeting includes spouses and families, the opportunity to engage with senior staff, and the chance to connect on personal and professional levels in ways that build trust and camaraderie and strengthen the Board’s commitment to each other and to the organizational health of the College .
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ACG Board of Trustees with friends and families, June 2024
KUDOS & FUN,
Kudos: Spotlight Award for Outstanding ACG Educational Programming
ACG’s partner Cadmium supports the process of abstract submission for the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and the meeting app, along with managing faculty for the College’s postgraduate education programs . The College’s Education department, led by Vice President of Research & Learning Meridith Phillips, MLfSc, was recognized for the outstanding competence of their operations and their commitment to highest standards of meetings and education Meridith accepted an award from Cadmium on behalf of ACG at their Spark Conference on July 24, 2024
Kudos: Scholarly Publishing by ACG Journals Team
ACG staff members Claire Neumann, Neen LeMaster, and Morgan Huntt published a scholarly article in CSE Science Editor, a publication of the Council of Science Editors . Their study, “Weighing the Cost: Open Access Article Publishing Charges, Waivers, and Society Membership,” examined the relationship between waiving open access publishing charges for members and the number of publications submitted to ACG Case Reports Journal by ACG members They previously presented this paper as a poster at the 2023 Council of Science Editors annual meeting in Toronto, ON, Canada
ACG Editorial Team Left to Right: Morgan Huntt, Claire Neumann and Neen LeMaster
Cadmium Spotlight Award Left to Right: Megan McGowen (Cadmium VP); John Pierson (Cadmium CEO); Michelle Crispino (American Society for Nutrition Senior Director, Knowledge Initiatives); Meridith Phillips (ACG Vice President, Research and Learning); Vicky Thompson (Cadmium CRO)
LECTURESHIPS
2024 J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecturer
Michelle A. Anderson, MD, MSc
Exploring New Frontiers: Innovations Shaping the Future of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Michelle A Anderson, MD, MSc, is Associate Professor and Senior Associate Consultant at Mayo Clinic Arizona . Her research and clinical career are focused on gastrointestinal disease with a specific concentration on pancreatic diseases including chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer . Using advanced endoscopy techniques including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, she cares for the full spectrum of benign and malignant pancreatic disorders Dr Anderson successfully completed an NIH-sponsored study centered on the discovery and validation of minimally invasive clinical biomarkers for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
The J . Edward Berk Distinguished Lecturer, formerly known as the Stuart Lecturer, is a person prominent in gastroenterology or a related area . This individual is nominated by the President and the appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees This lectureship was established in recognition of the significant contributions made by J Edward Berk, MD, MACG, to clinical gastroenterology during his long and distinguished clinical and academic career . A nationally and internationally renowned physician and teacher, Dr Berk also served as ACG President from 1975-1976
On a national level, Dr . Anderson is an active member of the ASGE Governing Board and currently serves as the Secretary-Elect She is the Co-Director of the ASGE EUS Diagnostic Course Dr Anderson speaks regularly on topics of biliary and pancreatic diseases and teaches advanced endoscopic techniques nationally and internationally In the arena of chronic pancreatitis, Dr . Anderson led the development of national guidelines in the care of patients with painful chronic pancreatitis Additional work in this field includes the publication of three peer-reviewed papers focused on pain, chronic pancreatitis and EUS, including two which involved a multi-center prospective cohort study of patients with chronic pancreatitis
Leonard L. Berry, PhD, MBA
Kindness-Influenced Trust and Healing
Leonard L . Berry, PhD, MBA, is University Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Regents Professor, and holds the M B Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University He is also a Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence As a Visiting Scientist at Mayo Clinic in 2001-2002, he conducted an in-depth research study of healthcare service, the basis for his book, Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic (2008) He also has done in-residence field research at Gundersen Health System, ThedaCare, and Bellin Health System, all in Wisconsin, and at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan Dr Berry is a Senior Fellow of the Boston-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement, studying service improvement in cancer care, and is an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark
Professor Berry has published 13 books including: Discovering the Soul of Service, On Great Service, Marketing Services: Competing Through Quality, and Delivering Quality Service He is the author of numerous academic articles and an invited lecturer throughout the world
Professor Berry’s teaching and research contributions have been widely recognized with honors that include the Sheth Gold Medal, the American Marketing Association (AMA) William Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award, the Paul D . Converse Award, the AMA/McGraw-Hill/Irwin Distinguished Marketing Educator Award, the AMA Career Contributions to Services Marketing Award, and the Academy of Marketing Science Outstanding Marketing Educator Award He is a Fellow of both the American Marketing Association and the Academy of Marketing Science In 2024, he received Texas A&M’s Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award He also has received the University’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and the Distinguished Achievement Award in Research
Dr Berry is the most frequently cited author in the Texas A&M University System . He is a former national president of the American Marketing Association
2024 Emily Couric Memorial Lecturer
The Emily Couric Memorial Lecture was developed by the ACG, the Virginia Gastroenterogical Society (VGS) and the Old Dominion Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (ODSGNA) to honor Virginia State Senator Emily Couric, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in October of 2001 . Senator Couric was a strong advocate for healthcare issues, particularly in her instrumental work to pass the nation’s first legislation mandating health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening The Emily Couric Lecturer is someone prominent in the field of GI cancer related topics . This individual is nominated by the President following consultation with the VGS and the appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees
2024 David Y. Graham Lecturer
David E. Fleischer, MD, FACG
Africa – Opportunities for You and for the ACG
David E Fleischer, MD, FACG, is currently a staff physician at Mayo Clinic Arizona and a Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine He did his residency at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital/Case Western Reserve University and at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand He completed his GI Fellowship at Harbor General UCLA
Dr Fleischer served in the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia He was on the staff at the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Georgetown University (where he was a Professor of Medicine), and Mayo Clinic Arizona (where he served as Chair of the Division of Gastroenterology until 2006) He is a member of ASGE (for which he served as President), AGA, and ACG He is also an honorary member of the Swiss Gastroenterology Society and Italian Gastroenterology Society
The David Y. Graham Lecturer is a distinguished individual in the field of gastroenterology The presenter is chosen by the President and is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees . This named lectureship was established in 2004 in recognition of the many contributions to clinical gastroenterology by David Y. Graham, MD, MACG The lectureship was made possible through a donation by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co ., Ltd ., and Meretek Diagnostics, Inc Dr Graham gave the inaugural presentation .
Dr Fleischer has been given the Schindler Award by the ASGE, its highest honor and he has been an invited lecturer for the society He is a Master in the American College of Physicians, and he served as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in the United States Senate He has published more than 250 original articles and edited several books He has lectured throughout the United States and internationally and has spoken on all seven continents, most recently in Antarctica His main interests are innovations in endoscopy, esophageal cancer, and Barrett's esophagus . He has been involved in projects for screening, prevention, and treatment of esophageal cancer in China, Iran, South Africa, and Kenya
Dr Fleischer is married to Karen Samuel, and they have three children— Ruben, Lucas, and Mara He enjoys golf, hiking, hat collecting, writing low doggerel poetry, making scrapbooks, playing ladder golf, and both country and western music
Christine A. Sinsky, MD
Creating a Manageable Cockpit for Physicians
Christine Sinsky, MD, is Vice President of Professional Satisfaction at the American Medical Association A general internist, she practiced at Medical Associates Clinic in Dubuque, Iowa for 32 years Dr Sinsky is a former Director for the American Board of Internal Medicine and a former Chair of the ABIM Foundation Board of Trustees . She currently serves on the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being
Dr Sinsky leads initiatives at the American Medical Association to improve opportunities for joy, purpose and meaning in work for physicians and their teams . Publications on “The Quadruple Aim,” “Joy in Practice,” “Texting while Doctoring,” and “Creating a Manageable Cockpit for Clinicians” have contributed to the national conversation She has also contributed to research regarding the prevalence, drivers and solutions to burnout among physicians and to resources for individual physicians and for health systems to improve practice efficiency and organizational culture
2024 David Sun Lecturer
The David Sun Lectureship in Postgraduate Education was established by Mrs Sun in memory of her husband Dr Sun died at the peak of his career He was an outstanding gastroenterologist and investigator . The speaker, with a distinguished background in gastroenterology or an allied field, is chosen by the President and Course Directors of the Postgraduate Program subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees .
2024 The American Journal of Gastroenterology Lecture
Naga P. Chalasani, MD, FACG
Drug-Induced Liver Injury as an Example for Leveraging Networks for Clinical Research
Naga P Chalasani, MD, FACG, is currently the David W Crabb Professor of Medicine and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health . He previously served as the Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (20072020) and interim Chair of the Department of Medicine (2020-2021) at IU School of Medicine . He received his MBBS from Kakatiya Medical College (1981-1987) and completed his internal medicine residency (1991-1994) and Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship (19941997) at Emory University in Atlanta
Dr Chalasani's research is focused on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and drug induced liver injury (DILI), two highly significant public health problems His research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1999 He is a founding principal investigator of the NIDDK-funded NASH CRN and is the PI for the HIV NASH CRN He was the lead author for the practice guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by multiple societies (AASLD, ACG, and AGA) in 2012 which was updated in 2022 by the AASLD He is the founding PI for the NIDDK-funded Drug Induced Liver Injury Network and is the lead author for the ACG Practice Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Drug Induced Liver Injury
The American Journal of Gastroenterology lecture was established in 2003 to provide a forum for the Editors of the College’s flagship scientific publication to select a key scientific topic for debate or discussion based on their evaluation of key controversies in clinical gastroenterology .
Dr . Chalasani has published over 600 papers including 400 original papers, 3 practice guidelines, 52 book chapters/review articles, 35 editorials/commentaries, 21 symposium proceedings, and more than 700 abstracts (Google Scholar H-index 111, i10 index 411 with ~ 63,260 citations) During his research career, he has received over $60 million of extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health and other sponsors He is an elected member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), and the American Association of Physicians (AAP) He is a former member of the ACG Board of Trustees
2024 Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award
Mark B. Pochapin, MD, FACG
Mark B . Pochapin, MD, FACG, is the Sholtz-Leeds Professor of Gastroenterology; Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health
Dr . Pochapin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College . He completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine .
In his clinical and research efforts, Dr Pochapin has been dedicated to the prevention, early detection, and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and to quality in endoscopy Dr Pochapin was one of the first to use linear EUS with FNA in New York and helped establish its use as a procedure in the assessment of pancreatic lesions Moreover, for over 25 years, Dr Pochapin has been a leader in the national effort to increase colorectal cancer screening and promote quality in endoscopy He has served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC); held leadership positions with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) and New York Citywide Coalition for Colon Cancer Control (C5); and worked nationally and internationally through media outreach and collaborations to raise public awareness
The Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award, formerly the ACG Clinical Achievement Award, is presented to not more than one Member/Fellow of the College in any year and is made in recognition of distinguished contributions to clinical gastroenterology over a significant period of time . Specific criteria include, in addition to a career of distinguished clinical practice of gastroenterology, contributions in patient care, clinical science, clinical education, technological innovation, and public and community service .
Throughout his career, Dr Pochapin has been committed to teaching the next generation of physicians As an educator, Dr Pochapin has received over 30 teaching awards, including the Physician of the Year Award, Humanism in Medicine Award, and twice the Elliot Hochstein Teaching Award, the distinguished honor given at Weill Cornell Medical College by vote of the graduating class He is also dedicated to public health education, and currently hosts two alternating weekly US national radio broadcasts called "Chiefs Rounds" and “Medicine Grand Rounds” on SiriusXM Doctor Radio, connecting the public with leaders in science and medicine .
Dr . Pochapin is perhaps most of all esteemed for his role as master clinician and leader in medicine Among the honors he has received in recognition of his contributions are the 2019 Master Clinician Award and 2021 Clinical Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, from NYU Langone Health; 2022 Special Alumni Achievement Award by Weill Cornell Medicine for “notable achievements in medicine that significantly advance healthcare and medical science;” and 2022 HEALIO Lifetime Disruptor Award in Gastroenterology, by vote of his peers nationally
Dr . Pochapin has been a longtime active member of the American College of Gastroenterology, serving as President of the College in 2019-2020 and playing a key role in the development and launch of its Young Physician Leadership Scholars Program . For his leadership and service as President during the COVID pandemic in 2020, the College presented him with the “Beacon Award for Outstanding Leadership in Extraordinary Times ”
Asad A. Choudhry, MBBS
Asad Ali Choudhry, MBBS, MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edin), graduated from the prestigious King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan He proceeded to the UK immediately after completing his house job in pursuit of specialist training In 1998, he moved back to his hometown of Gujranwala, where he has served as a renowned gastroenterologist ever since
In the early years of his practice, Hepatitis C was highly prevalent, creating havoc and affecting almost every family in parts of Gujranwala Trained specialists were few and far between and generally beyond the reach of the under-resourced majority Recognizing the dire need for affordable care, Dr . Choudhry joined the Gujranwala Liver Foundation (GLF) in 2006 GLF introduced a “subsidy and facility” model with free treatment for those who cannot afford subsidized treatment Under his leadership, the foundation helped train doctors and nurses to manage Hepatitis in local communities The center boasted up to 60% SVR with interferon in a region with limited resources .
In 2017, Dr Choudhry founded PARSA Trust with the help of friends and philanthropists, driven by a vision of a Hepatitis-free Pakistan . PARSA Trust has collaborated with Project ECHO to launch a hugely successful Hepatitis ECHO for primary care physicians; it is now the first SuperHub representing the ECHO movement in Pakistan PARSA Trust aims to scale the community model of free and subsidized treatment of Hepatitis to a larger population regionally and to build capacity in the shape of ECHO Hepatitis clinics in primary care across Pakistan You can find Dr Choudhry every Friday at PARSA Trust Liver Clinic and devoting most of his evenings to coordinating outreach efforts with the Project ECHO team .
Today, besides having practiced Gastroenterology for over two decades, Dr Choudhry serves as the Vice-Chairman of PARSA Trust, Director of PARSA ECHO Pakistan, President of Pakistan Society of Hepatology, Board member of The Health Foundation Karachi, and member of the Technical Advisory Group for National Hepatitis Elimination Program He has also authored dozens of scientific posters and papers, especially on Hepatitis Elimination
In his spare time, Dr Choudhry loves reading, watching sports and movies, and spending time with his wife, Noshi, whom he has been married to since 1995, and their four lovely children: Rabiah, Arham, Hafsa, and Haris
2024 Community Service Award
The Community Service Award is bestowed upon an ACG Member who has initiated or has been involved in volunteer programs or has provided extensive volunteer service posttraining The service must have been performed on a completely voluntary basis and not for the completion of training or position requirements Such service may include but is not limited to the following: community education programs (e g , colon cancer awareness); working in free clinics; mentoring advocacy groups or local government committees; teaching in underserved schools related to health education; and political work on committees for comprehensive health insurance or other issues .
2024 Distinguished Mentorship and Teaching Award
The Distinguished Mentorship and Teaching Award recognizes an ACG Member who has provided meaningful and sustained contributions to trainees/colleagues in gastroenterology Such contributions could include mentorship or teaching to help develop the mentees’: (1) overall scientific growth and career or life planning; (2) practice of high-level clinical gastroenterology; (3) skills to perform high quality clinical research; (4) skills to present and publish results of clinical research, or quality improvement; (5) involvement in professional society, healthcare organization or leadership development . In 2024, this award is being given to the following three individuals .
Jean-Paul Achkar, MD, FACG
Jean-Paul (JP) Achkar, MD, FACG, has had a longstanding commitment to education and mentorship during his 26year tenure at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and as part of his involvement with the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
He has served as the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director at the Cleveland Clinic for 18 years and is currently the longest serving program director at the institution During that time, Dr . Achkar has helped teach and mentor close to 100 GI fellows who have graduated from the program and have been successful in their own careers . He has also worked with and taught many internal medicine residents and medical students . He has been recognized with several teaching awards including being selected multiple times each for Gastroenterology Teacher of the Year and Senior Fellows Mentorship Awards Dr Achkar has also brought his passion for education and research to his work with ACG He served on and chaired both the ACG Educational Affairs Committee (2001-2010) and the ACG Research Committee (2011-2018) He has worked to help define quality metrics for inflammatory bowel disease as part of the GIQuIC IBD subcommittee which he has chaired for the past 2 years He also Co-Chairs the ACG-Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation IBD Circle with Dr . Sunanda V. Kane, an online platform for discussion and teaching of challenging cases and interesting topics . In addition, he has served on the ACG Board of Trustees from 2018 – 2024 .
David A. Johnson, MD, MACG
David A Johnson, MD, MACG, FASGE, MACP, is Professor of Medicine/Chief of GI at Eastern VA Medical School (EVMS) He has published extensively contributing over 700 articles/chapters/invited reviews and edited/co-edited 7 books His focus has been GERD, GI microbiome, sleep disorders and CRC screening He more recently edited the books Gut Microbiome: New Understanding and Translational Opportunities for Disease (2015) and Esophageal Disease and the Role of the Microbiome (2023) He co-directs the ongoing 2020 VA Catalyst grant on prebiotic treatment of microbial GERD effects
Dr Johnson served 3 terms as Trustee for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and served in each elected officer position including President (2006-2007) He has also served the College as Governor for Virginia, Chair Quality Council Task Force, member Awards, Educational Affairs, Publications, Credentials, Constitution and Bylaws (Chair), and Nominating (Chair) Committees . Additionally, he was on the executive committee and Treasurer of the ACG/ASGE GIQuIC and the executive committee of the GI Political Action Committee (GIPAC) He co-chaired the ACG North American Conference of GI Fellows meeting for 17 years (1991-2008) and was co-director for the ACG Annual Postgraduate Course in 1994 He co-founded the National Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee and co-chaired that committee for 10 years . From 2000-2018, he served on the GI Multi-Society CRC Screening Task Force and ACG guidelines committee for CRC screening and has co-authored these screening national guidelines and other ongoing national guideline publications from 2000-present (17 total) .
Lawrence R. Schiller, MD, MACG
Lawrence R Schiller, MD, MACG, was born in Philadelphia and attended Pennsylvania State University and Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia He completed his Internal Medicine training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and then served as Chief Resident there . He spent the next two years in Belgium as a Major in the U .S Army Medical Corps, where he was decorated with the US Army Commendation Medal . Dr Schiller then moved to Texas for training in Gastroenterology at Southwestern Medical School and the Dallas VA Medical Center . He stayed on the faculty at the Medical School and was an attending physician at the Dallas VA Hospital for five years .
He moved to Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas in 1985 to continue research activities with Dr John Fordtran, and has been there ever since, lately as an Attending Physician and Chairman of the Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Protection at Baylor Scott & White Health Dr Schiller has published 110 papers and 73 book chapters dealing with gastric physiology, intestinal transport, diarrheal diseases and motility disorders He was involved with patient care until his retirement in 2016 as a founding partner of Digestive Health Associates of Texas, at one time one of the largest single-specialty private gastroenterology practices in America
Since his retirement from direct patient care, he has continued to be involved in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows as Clinical Professor in the Department of Medical Education at Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Dallas Campus He served as Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas for 24 years and trained 38 fellows who have gone on to successful careers . Dr . Schiller has won three fellow teaching awards at UT Southwestern and Baylor, and the prestigious Ralph Thompsett Award for Excellence in Medical Education at Baylor . He has been elected to fellowship in the American College of Physicians and mastership in the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) . He has served as President of the Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy and President of the ACG .
Dr Johnson has always prided himself and prioritized being an educator ACG named lectures delivered include: Emily Couric (2013), AJG (2009), Berk Fise (2016), David Sun (2018) and David Graham Major ACG awards: Master (2013), Berk/Fise (2013), William D Carey Governors (2015) and Samuel Weiss (2021) Additional awards include: 2022 ACP Community Education Award, 2019 ACP Master, 2012 National Institutes of Health “Great Teacher” (first non-NIH GI physician), 2016 AGA “Distinguished Educator”, Virginia GI Society “Master of Gastroenterology” (2001) and “Presidential Award” (2000), EVMS Distinguished Internal Medicine Faculty (1999), Dean’s Outstanding Faculty (2010) and the Distinguished Community Faculty Awards (2022)
He served on the American Board of Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology) Board of Examiners (2012-2017) and was reappointed to the Maintenance of Certification ABIM Board 2020-2021 He is the past co-editor of Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders, Journal Medicine and section editor for The American Journal of Gastroenterology He is the past co-editor of the ACG Education Universe (2009-2015), GI section editor (2000-present) for Medscape Gastroenterology, Medscape GI Viewpoints, and Medscape GI Consultant Corner, and was the esophageal section editor for Journal Watch Gastroenterology (New England Journal of Medicine) (2000-2018) .
Dr Johnson directed the first CRC trial on colonoscopy (1988), and led with VA State Senator Emily Couric, to put through the historic first legislation to mandate CRC colonoscopy screening as the preferred standard This set the model for other states which followed with similar legislation mandating CRC screening He has always prioritized and valued mentoring 3-5 students/trainees per year over his 40+ year career as well as many established peers
2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Sonali Paul, MD, FACG
Sonali Paul, MD, FACG, is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Chicago . She obtained her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and advanced fellowships in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology at Tufts and MGH respectively She joined the University of Chicago in 2016 and has worked at the grass roots level to promote diversity and health care equity in the workplace, not just for patients but also for colleagues .
While establishing her academic and clinical niches in metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease and obesity medicine as a transplant hepatologist, Dr Paul has been working on her other passion to promote health care equity, particularly in the LGBTQI+ population She has increased awareness on health disparities in the LGBTQI+ population in the realms of gastroenterology, hepatology, and liver transplantation through national presentations and publications .
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award recognizes an ACG Member whose work in the areas of clinical practice, research, teaching and/or leadership has demonstrated an emerging or sustained commitment to the values of diversity, health equity, and inclusion These efforts are demonstrated by the awardee’s significant contributions to promote diversity, inclusion, and/or cultural competency including, but not limited to, the development of educational programs or curricula, community engagement initiatives, research, or promotion of pathways or programs to support individuals from racial, ethnic, and/or gender groups that are under-represented in medicine . Such endeavors may be through mentorship, sponsorship or cultivation of partnerships that advance the diversity, equity, or inclusion within medicine .
Dr Paul is currently Associate Vice-Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the University of Chicago's Department of Medicine and Associate Program Director in the Internal Medicine Residency Program In these roles, Dr Paul continues to lead efforts to support the Internal Medicine Inclusion and Diversity curriculum, recruit and retain diverse residents and faculty, promote an inclusive environment, and foster engagement within the Southside Chicago patients and community . She is also a previous member of the AASLD and AGA diversity committees and has served on ACG’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee since 2021
Dr Paul is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Rainbows in Gastro, a newly formed non-profit organization that brings LGBTQI+ medical trainees and physicians together This organization is guided by the mission statement of CHARM: community, healing, advocacy, research, mentorship Dr Paul has been recognized for her work through various awards She was the recipient of the University of Chicago’s Department of Medicine’s 2022 Diversity Award, 2023 ACG’s Edgar Achkar Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity, and Ethical Care and was awarded the 2023 Rising Disruptive Innovator at the 5th Annual Healio Disruptive Innovator Awards Dr Paul is also the upcoming chair of the ACG’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee
Arif A. Nawaz, MD, FACG
Arif Nawaz, MD, FACG, is a graduate of the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan and completed his GI training at the State University of New York, Stony Brook He is board certified in Gastroenterology Since his return to Pakistan in 2000, he has worked at the FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan in various capacities including Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Associate Dean
Dr Nawaz is an active member of various GI societies in Pakistan Since 2021 he has served as the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Governor for Pakistan . During this period, he has effectively advocated for his constituency on several issues including membership, dues rationalization as well as challenges of access to meetings His efforts have led to enhanced cooperation between ACG and the GI societies of Pakistan As a result of his efforts, ACG now regularly sends speakers to the major GI meetings of Pakistan . As a result of the increased exposure of ACG to the GI community of Pakistan, the number of ACG International members from this country has nearly doubled over his tenure
As a member of the ACG International Relations Committee and cochair of the international attendee reception subcommittee, he has been instrumental in planning several new activities for our international members In recognition of his services, he has received several awards including the ACG Board of Governors distinguished service award and the Pakistan Society of Hepatology Distinguished Service Award He hopes to continue to enhance cooperation between the ACG and the GI community of Pakistan to create unprecedented professional growth opportunities for his constituency .
2024 International Leadership Award
The International Leadership Award is given to an ACG Member in recognition of outstanding and substantial contributions to gastroenterology, to the College and to the international gastroenterology community Substantial contributions internationally may include, but are not limited to, the training of individuals from other countries who have gone on to become leaders in gastroenterology in their community, leadership in international organizations that has resulted in improvement in the care of patients, and participation in humanitarian efforts . Nominations are solicited and reviewed by the Awards Committee with input from the International Affairs Committee and the Board of Governors The recipient must be approved by the ACG Board of Trustees . The award will be given when appropriate at the ACG Annual Meeting and may not necessarily be given annually
2024 Master of the American College of Gastroenterology Recipients
As a result of their recognized stature and achievement in clinical gastroenterology and/or teaching, and because of their contributions to the College in service, leadership, and education, the following individuals have been recommended by the Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees for designation as Master
Carol A. Burke, MD, MACG
Carol A . Burke, MD, MACG, FACP, FASGE, AGAF, is a past president of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and a past president of the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer She is former Vice-Chair of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland She holds joint appointments in the Taussig Cancer Center and Department of Colorectal Surgery . She leads the section of Polyposis in the Sanford R Weiss MD Center for Hereditary Colorectal Neoplasia and is the Program Director of the Carol A . Burke, MD - Sheetz Family Endowed Fellowship in Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Syndromes . Her clinical expertise is in the management and GI cancer risk mitigation of patients in the general population as well as those with hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes
Dr Burke’s research career has focused on the prevention of GI neoplasia including the discovery and use of chemoprevention and has been funded through the NCI, NIH, USDA, and industry She has authored over 270 manuscripts including guidelines, is a visiting professor and an invited speaker at national and international conferences
She is the humble recipient of the Cleveland Clinic “George W Crile Founders Professional Staff Award for Research” which recognizes a professional staff member who demonstrates outstanding dedication to research throughout their career and recognizes an individual’s body of human subject research, and the ACG Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award which recognizes distinguished contributions to gastroenterology over a significant period of time including patient care, clinical science and education
Dr . Burke is the ACG representative to the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guideline task force on Familial/Genetic High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, and a graduate of the Intensive Course in Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment through the City of Hope Division of Clinical Cancer Genomics She is past associate editor for The American Journal of Gastroenterology, and reviewer for many journals including Lancet, BMJ, Gut, Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and PLOS ONE, to name a few
Andrew D. Feld, MD, JD, MACG
Andrew D Feld, MD, JD, MACG, is part of the Washington Permanente Medical Group and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington He is a graduate of Harvard University and Emory University School of Medicine and admitted to the AOA Honorary Medical Society . He attended the University of Washington for both internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship, where he worked with the endoscopic research group (led by Drs . Cy Rubin and Fred Silverstein) which developed an ulcer model, and prototypes of heater probe, monopolar probe and bipolar probe Later, while still working as Chief of the Gastroenterology Clinic at Group Health Cooperative, he attended and graduated from the University of Washington Law School Upon graduation, he passed the Washington State Bar exam, and was admitted to the Washington State Bar
Dr Feld has served two terms as ACG Governor for Washington State, has been a past Chair and longtime member of the ACG Professionalism Committee and past Chair of the ACG Constitution and Bylaws Committee . He also received fellowship status in ASGE and AGA He has been elected to serve as the At Large Representative for the Executive Council of the Health Law Committee of the Washington State Bar (the first MD, JD in that role) and his primary focus in this is on collaboration between physicians and health law attorneys
Dr Feld has a unique niche, as one of the few practicing gastroenterologists who is also a licensed attorney . Much of his professional gastroenterology society work has focused on using insights gleaned from his medical practice and dual degrees to inform gastroenterologists about legal issues and risk management in gastroenterology He often lectures to our national professional societies, has published extensively on related topics, and participated in crafting legal aspects of some professional white papers These have included white papers on Social Networking, Transportation Barriers preventing needed endoscopic procedures, and Multi- Society Endoscopic Sedation curricula .
He was fortunate to work with Ann Zauber, PhD, and Sidney J Winawer, MD, MACG, on the Steering Committee of the National Colonoscopy Study, which investigated screening for colon cancer .
Dr Feld has also been involved for many decades in research activities on functional gastrointestinal disorders with the Behavioral Medicine Research Group at the University of Washington, under the direction of Rona L Levy, MSW, PhD, MPH . Dr . Levy, who is also Chair of the psychosocial chapter of the Rome Committee, is Dr Feld’s life partner, and parent with him to three daughters, two of whom are physicians, and one an attorney . So those apples did not fall far from this tree! Finally, Dr Feld notes he is gratified to see research and leadership development, in areas including ethics and law by of one of these daughters, a University of Massachusetts Medical Center Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology/Transplant Hepatology, Lauren D Feld, MD, whom he also credits with markedly improving his PowerPoint presentations ever since she was 8 years old!
2024 Master of the American College of Gastroenterology Recipients (cont.)
Harish K. Gagneja, MD, MACG
Harish Gagneja, MD, MACG, is Chief Medical Officer at Austin Gastroenterology . He serves as Chair of the South TX Clinical Governance Board and member of Physician Executive Board for GI Alliance Before joining Austin Gastroenterology in 2004, Dr . Gagneja was Assistant Professor of Medicine and Co-director of the GI fellowship program at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, where he was also a lead interventional endoscopist . He has published multiple abstracts, manuscripts, and book chapters, and has also presented at many national meetings
Since 2017, Dr Gagneja has served as the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Governor for Southern Texas and in 2019 received the Junior Governors Award He has also served on the ACG Credentials Committee, Educational Affairs Committee and Practice Management Committee and was the Practice Management Course Co-Director in 2019 and 2020
He is a proud member of regional and national professional societies including Travis County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, ACG, American Gastroenterology Association, American Society of GI Endoscopy, and Texas Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, where he has served as President from 2014-2016 He was President of American Association of Gastroenterologist of Indian Origin (AAGIO) from 2022-2024 .
Since 2018, Austin Monthly has recognized Dr Gagneja as a Top Doctor, an annual recognition of the best physicians in the Austin area as chosen by their peers . In 2022, Dr . Gagneja was awarded the Marcel Patterson - Robert Nelson Award (highest honor of the society) by the Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy for his outstanding contributions to the field of gastroenterology He has been voted to the Texas Super Doctors list yearly since 2012 He taught medical students and residents at the Dell Medical School at UT Austin and was voted Consultant of the Year 2003/2004 .
Dr Gagneja provides cutting edge care in a patient-centered environment He is an expert communicator and is known for his ability to break down the complex world of medical jargon into simple terms that his patients can easily understand, and for working with his patients to create a personalized treatment plan to achieve their health goals Dr Gagneja has a keen interest in evaluating newer endoscopy/GI technologies and incorporating them in his practice to help take care of his patients, and frequently presents these emerging technologies at national meetings He also has a special interest in screening colonoscopies and the prevention of colorectal cancer; Barrett’s esophagus; non-surgical resection of large/complex polyps avoiding expensive surgeries and its associated short term and long-term complications; IBD; office-based and hospital-based hemorrhoid treatment avoiding painful surgery; and practice management issues
When he is not busy taking care of his patients, he enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, watching sports, playing golf and pickle ball, spending time with his family and enjoying fine food coupled with wine He is a foodie and has traveled extensively sometimes just to enjoy fine food at famed Michelin starred restaurants
Lucinda A. Harris, MS, MD, MACG
Lucinda A Harris, MS, MD, MACG, is a Professor of Medicine, Mayo School of Medicine and Consultant, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale At Mayo she served as Co-Director of the Motility Group and led a patient support group for IBS She is a current member of the GI fellowship committee and serves as the Department of Education coordinator for gastroenterology, supervising visiting GI fellows and medical students She has actively been involved in mentoring medical students, residents and fellows over the years .
Dr Harris’s interest in medicine started at a young age and it was an honorable mention from the Westinghouse Science Talent Search for her high school project on “The Electrical Communication Patterns of the Black Ghost Knifefish” that led to an invitation to apply to Barnard College She was accepted and majored in Biochemistry and then went on to get a Master’s degree in Community Health and later an MD from the University of Connecticut
She completed her internship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and was influenced to appreciate GI by her Chairman at the time, Dr . Robert Glickman, as well as Dr Peter Green . She did her gastroenterology fellowship at The New York Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University and tried her hand at bench research in fatty acid uptake From that experience she learned that she much preferred human patients to lab rats . She remained on staff there in an academic practice until 2004, when she decided that she wanted to develop her interests further in Motility and IBS and was enticed to join Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale by Dr David Fleischer and Dr Kevin Olden She also continued her practice in celiac disease and credits Dr Jonathan Leighton with inviting her to learn to read small bowel video capsules
Dr Harris is active in the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and has served on the FDA Related Matters, Research, and Women in GI Committees . She is also a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Internal Medicine She is a member of the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and most recently was appointed to the Rome V Committee - Patient Experience, Race, Gender, and Social Determinants of Health Her special clinical and research interests are in IBS, gastroparesis, chronic constipation, and pelvic floor disorders as well as celiac disease and autonomic disorders She has also written and lectured extensively on these topics .
Although she loved NYC, moving to Scottsdale provided a great opportunity to have her mom enjoy the beauty of Scottsdale in her last years . She also met her husband, the love of her life, Scott Helmkamp there in 2013 . They were married in 2015 and are the proud parents of a 4-year-old chocolate labrador, Danielle, named in honor of her dad Dr Harris and her husband enjoy entertaining and cooking for their friends (Scott is a grill master), as well as traveling all around the world .
2024 Master of the American College of Gastroenterology Recipients (cont.)
Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH, MACG
Sunanda (Susie) V . Kane, MD, MSPH, MACG, is a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota . Her career with the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) started when she was training in GI as a fellow and became an instant fan of the College when she participated in the North American Conference of GI Fellows . It was there that she met some long-time close friends including Dr . Neena S . Abraham . She was so engaged in that program that she became a faculty member and quickly rose to Chair She served on the Educational Affairs Committee and then became Chair of the Women in GI Committee After serving 6 years as an ACG Trustee, she was tasked to be the inaugural Chair of the ACG Quality Council She then was nominated to be an Officer of the College and served as President from 2018 – 2019
Dr Kane regularly attends ACG’s Annual Meetings and was a recipient of an ACG/Wyeth Gender-Based Research Award for her research She is a passionate teacher of peers, trainees and patients For the Annual Meeting she reviews abstracts, leads poster tours, moderates sessions, and speaks at the Postgraduate Course and at clinical symposia . She has been the Edgar Achkar Visiting Professor at several institutions over the years as well Her clinical expertise is in IBD and to this end she has helped develop the ACG IBD School with Dr . David T Rubin, is Co-Chair of IBD 101 under Dr Lisa Malter, and is the Co-Chair of the ACG-Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation IBD Circle with Dr Jean-Paul Achkar
Noting an opportunity in leadership development, Susie solicited funding to develop and teach at the Networking and Negotiation Skills Workshop, a program favorite Friday night at the Annual Meeting going on 16 years and run by the Women in GI Committee She has been a member of the ACG Mentoring program since its inception, served as an author on the "ACG Clinical Guideline: Preventive Care in Inflammatory Bowel Disease," and an Editor of the "ACG Monograph on GI Diseases and Endoscopy in Pregnancy and Postpartum Period " For her clinical excellence she was bestowed the honor of being awarded the Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award in 2022 .
Outside of the ACG she remains an active member of other medical societies including the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation She was the first female Associate Editor for Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics Amongst other leadership positions that she holds within Mayo Clinic is the Assistant Chair of Patient Experience within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Physician Chair of the Mayo Quality Academy Fellow Subcommittee, and recently named the Chief Patient Experience Officer for Mayo Clinic
Caroll D. Koscheski, MD, MACG
Caroll D Koscheski, MD, MACG, began his career in gastroenterology with a multispecialty group in Hickory, North Carolina in 1991 after completing his GI fellowship at LSU New Orleans . After a few years in the group practice, he and his fellow gastroenterologist, Dr John Meier, started their own private practice, Gastroenterology Associates of Hickory, North Carolina They served the four-county area of western North Carolina providing general GI care for the community
As the practice grew, they were able to receive CON approval for a two room ASC which quickly grew to a third suite
The practice has continued to grow and now includes 10 physicians along with NP and PA providers to meet the increased demand He served on medical staff positions of both hospitals in Hickory, serving eventually as Chief of Staff at Frye Regional Medical Center as well as leadership positions at Catawba Valley Regional Medical Center .
In 2008, he began involvement in advocacy efforts at the federal level at the urging of Dr William Cassidy, a former mentor who was newly elected as Representative in his district in Louisiana . Dr . Koscheski was elected the American College of Gastroenterology Governor for North Carolina in 2010 While on the Board of Governors (BOG) he served on the Nominating Committee, Membership Committee, and Credentials Committee as the BOG representative on these committees . He was recognized by the BOG as the Freshman Governor of the Year in 2010 . He was also the recipient of the William D Carey Award in 2018 Given his involvement in advocacy work on Capitol Hill he was a member of the National Affairs Committee and served as Chair of the committee from 2013-2015 He also served on the ACG Board of Trustees from 2015-2021 Dr Koscheski has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Digestive Diseases National Coalition (DDNC) and now serves as its President Other advocacy work at the state level has included involvement with leadership with the North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology and board membership on the North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Roundtable working to make screenings available for the underserved populations under the supervision of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Waqar A. Qureshi, MD, MACG
Waqar A Qureshi, MD, MACG, is a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas Following medical school graduation from the University of London’s Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, he completed a residency in OB/GYN in the UK prior to immigrating to the US where he pursued a fellowship in gastroenterology .
Although he started as an advanced endoscopist, it became clear to him that managing anorectal disease was not part of most GI fellowship training in the US Most anorectal disease does not require surgery, and there is little reason for gastroenterologists not to diagnose and treat these conditions The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) has had a major impact in bringing about awareness and opportunities for hands-on training in anorectal disease
Dr Qureshi has made anorectal disease management his raison d'être and written a textbook, peer-reviewed articles, and guidelines for patients including pregnant ones . Anorectal disease management is now increasing being taught in fellowship programs in the US .
He has served on the ACG Educational Affairs Committee and Practice Parameters Committee and is a frequent faculty member at ACG’s HandsOn Endoscopy Workshops .
In his free time Dr Qureshi plays the drums in a music band, fishes, and is a keen photographer
2024 NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence
Christie L. Morrison, NP
Christie L Morrison, NP, is a Board Certified Adult Advanced Practice Nurse and Lead APP at Oshi Health, a digital digestive health practice She strives to improve the lives of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions through a multidisciplinary approach She has worked in various roles as a GI advanced practice provider, including inpatient, outpatient clinic, and telehealth since 2015
Mrs . Morrison is currently an active member of the Texas Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, where she serves on its APP and membership committees She is also a member of several GI societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Gastroenterology & Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers She collaborates with industry partners and GI colleagues to enhance education and engagement for APPs working in gastroenterology
Mrs . Morrison is particularly passionate about enhancing the treatment and quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel disease She completed an advanced practice provider preceptorship sponsored by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and volunteers in her local chapter, organizing and participating in patient education conferences
The NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence recognizes a distinguished nurse practitioner or physician assistant who is an ACG APP Member and has shown long-standing contributions to advancing clinical practice in the field of gastroenterology (GI) and hepatology These efforts are demonstrated by the awardee’s substantial contributions in GI in the areas of practice expertise, leadership, mentoring, and collaborative activities that have an impact at the state, regional, national or international level In 2023, this award is being given to the following two individuals
Mary S. Vetter, ANP-BC
Mary S . Vetter, ANP-BC, is a Senior Nurse Practitioner at the University of Rochester (UR) Medical Center (URMC) She graduated from the Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Rochester in 2007, after 22 years as a Registered Nurse
Ms Vetter began her career as an Advanced Practice Provider in the Solid Organ Transplant program at UR, with a focus on liver transplant, live liver donation and hepatology . In 2013, she transitioned to a nontransplant hepatology and gastroenterology role with a focus in pancreaticobiliary She has interests in education, mentoring, research, and APP professional development, has multiple publications and case studies, and has presented at various conferences
Ms Vetter served as the first Chair of the American College of Gastroenterology Advanced Practice Providers Committee from 2018-2022 She is passionate about working for APPs in gastroenterology . Most recently, she has co-authored an ACG Practice Management Toolbox article about incorporating Advanced Practice Providers into GI practice .
Andrea E. Wagner, CNP
Andrea E . Wagner, CNP, is a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota Her clinical focus and interests include esophageal disorders, including Barrett’s esophagus, achalasia, and eosinophilic esophagitis
Ms Wagner has been dedicated to education throughout her career as a clinical preceptor for the Mayo Clinic Nurse
Practitioner and Physician Assistant Clinical rotations, co-Director for the Mayo Clinic Physician Assistant Board Review Course, and co-founder of the Mayo Clinic enterprise wide GIH APP Education Day . She collaborated with the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in the creation and establishment of the Mayo Clinic Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship program . She has served as the program director since the inception . Ms Wagner has participated on institutional education initiatives including the formation of NP/PA Quality Standards for all Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences NP/PA Fellowship Programs . She serves on her Division’s Education Committee and has lectured both locally and nationally As a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, she was nominated to participate on the AGA’s Education and Training Committee She appreciates that educating future clinicians has a far-reaching impact on more patients than could ever be seen by one clinician alone
2024 Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award
The intent of the Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award is to recognize a distinguished nurse practitioner or physician assistant who has shown long-standing contributions to educating and mentoring NPs/PAs in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology (GIH) . The candidate has made meaningful contributions in teaching by demonstrating mentorship, preceptorship, curricula development, and/or other activities that have an impact in educating and developing future NPs/PAs in the field of GIH This award will be given for the first time in 2024 .
2024 Samuel S. Weiss Award
Irving M. Pike, MD, MACG
Irving M Pike, MD, MACG, is a graduate of Emory University, and received his medical school education at the Medical College of Georgia His postgraduate training was completed in Dallas, Texas, at the University of Texas Southwestern Health Science Center, Parkland Hospital and Dallas VA Medical Center, Internal Medicine Residency (1981), and Gastroenterology Fellowship (1983) Following his training he entered private practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia
While practicing in Virginia Beach, Dr Pike helped the community of gastroenterologists form Gastrointestinal and Liver Specialists of Tidewater, PLLC, a practice of over 40 physicians and providers He served as a community faculty member for the Eastern Virginia Medical School Dr Pike served as Chief of Staff of Sentara Bayside Hospital and President of the Virginia Beach Medical Society In 1986, his practice introduced office-based endoscopy to the Commonwealth of Virginia which is now the predominant form of ambulatory endoscopy in Virginia .
Dr Pike has served on the ACG’s Practice Management Committee, Archives Committee, Credentials Committee, Finance and Budget Committee, and Nominating Committee . He was chair of the Practice Management Committee, Finance and Budget Committee, and Nominating Committee He served as Co-Chair of the 2005 ACG/ASGE Task Force for the Development of Quality Indicators for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and again as Co-Chair of the Task Force in 2015 for the update of these indicators In 2007, Dr Pike started a grass roots Benchmarking Advisory Committee which became the prototype for the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC), a gastroenterology quality registry (2010) which has grown to become a resource for establishing important national quality metrics in gastroenterology and a source for important clinical research while being a tool to support the improvement of performance by the over 4,700 gastroenterologists utilizing the registry He served as GIQuIC’s first President (2009-2017)
The Samuel S . Weiss Award was established as a service award in commemoration of the founding father of the ACG, Samuel S Weiss, whose efforts and initiative resulted in the establishment of the College in 1932 It is presented periodically, and not necessarily annually, to a Fellow of the College in recognition of outstanding career service to the American College of Gastroenterology . Nominations are solicited and reviewed by the Awards Committee and the recipients must be approved by the ACG Board of Trustees .
Dr Pike has been a presenter at many regional and ACG Annual Scientific Meetings . He is honored to have presented the Emily Couric Memorial Lecture (2015) He has been the author of numerous GI quality articles as well as articles and chapters related to practice management . Dr . Pike served 3 terms as Trustee for the College and served in each elected officer position, including President 2017-2018 Dr Pike currently serves as ACG Trustee for Administrative Affairs
During his time practicing in Virginia Beach Dr Pike began working in administrative part-time roles for Sentara Health Care, eventually serving as Vice President of Medical Affairs for the hospital where he was practicing In 2012, Dr Pike moved to Alamo, California, to accept the role of John Muir Health’s first Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer Dr Pike retired from this role in the summer of 2021 He currently is Co-Director of the University of California San Francisco Network Physician Leadership Academy . He and Randy, his wife of 51 years, continue to reside in Alamo near their adult children and their spouses, and their 4 grandchildren
2024 ACG Governors’ Awards
The following three awards, presented for the first time in 1996, are given by the Board of Governors in recognition of outstanding service and commitment to the Board and to the College .
2024 Junior Governor’s Award
Kunjali Padhya, MD, FACG
Kunjali T Padhya, MD, FACG, is currently serving as the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Governor for Washington state She is the Medical Director of Endoscopy at Providence Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington Dr . Padhya completed medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP), an internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan, and a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas Her clinical interests include quality in endoscopy and optimizing the use of the electronic health record
Dr Padhya currently serves on the ACG Credentials Committee and as an abstract and poster reviewer for the Annual Scientific Meeting She enjoys participating in the annual ACG Governors Fly-In and working to advance the College’s platforms with local, state, and national leaders
The ACG Junior Governor’s Award is given to an ACG Governor in the first term of service . Nominees demonstrate a clear commitment of service to the Board of Governors and show potential for future growth within the organization . Awardees have demonstrated service on ad hoc committees, national affairs, local and state legislative efforts, recruitment, correspondence with constituents, participation in regional meetings, speakers bureau or other special projects
Dr . Padhya is on the Board of the Pacific Northwest Gastroenterology Society and co-director of several educational courses around the region She enjoys Pilates, indoor cycling, paddleboarding, and cooking She is looking forward to serving ACG in many more capacities in the future
2024 ACG Governors’ Awards (cont.)
2024 Senior Governor’s Award
Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG
Ronald K . Hsu, MD, FACG, is a Clinical Professor at the University of California Davis School of Medicine He serves as the American College of Gastroenterology Governor for Northern California, Regional Councilor for the Board of Governors, and the US Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, United Kingdom . After graduating from the University of Wales College of Medicine, UK, he obtained his Gastroenterology and Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, where he served as the Director of Endoscopy for the GI Fellowship Program and is the current Medical Director of the Sutter Roseville Endoscopy Center
The ACG Senior Governor’s Award is given to an ACG Governor in the second or third term of service Awardees have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Board of Governors in various areas such as service on ad hoc committees, national affairs, local and state legislative efforts, recruitment, correspondence with constituents, participation in regional meetings, speakers bureau or other special projects
As ACG Governor, Ron initiated the Bridging Medicine and Music – Colon Cancer Awareness outreach program during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, a project that brought together professionals and community members His collaboration with Angelo Moreno, Davis Senior High School Director of Orchestras, was endorsed by world-class violinist Rachel Barton Pine In 2024, Ron performed with Trans-Siberian Orchestra original string master Mark Wood at the ACG CRC Outreach and Rock & Roll Concert, a program supported by the Davis Joint Unified School District Music Program Multiple ACG experts participated, and 350 young musicians performed for a live audience of over a thousand at a concert live-streamed to ACG members
Dr Hsu's dedication is highlighted at the annual ACG DC Fly-in Advocacy Day and his work with esteemed advocacy groups, including the California Colorectal Cancer Coalition, Fight Colon Cancer, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network . Together, they hosted the first Light the Capitol Blue Colorectal Cancer Awareness Rally at the California State Capitol in 2023 In 2024, California legislation proposed the joint resolution SCR109: Declaration of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month .
Dr Hsu spearheads the inaugural joint ACG, Scottish Society of Gastroenterology, and Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh Symposium—Gastroenterology: A Global Perspective to be held in Scotland in November 2024 He promoted ACG’s mission in education, research, and advocacy at the Northern California Society for Clinical Gastroenterology annual conference and meetings with Northern California GI groups Ron has been the program director of the annual Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Professional IBD Symposium in Northern California since its inception in 2020 and directed the ACG Hands-on Workshop (HOW) in Endoscopy at five regional postgraduate courses He is the HOW Program co-director at the Annual Scientific Meeting in 2024 He has served on the Patient Care Committee, Educational Affairs Committee, Self-Assessment Test sub-section editor, abstract and poster reviewer, Practice Management Committee, Legislative and Public Policy Council, Membership Committee, and International Relations Committee
In 2024, Dr Hsu received numerous accolades and recognitions, including the Walter Trudeau Excellence in Teaching Award, the Dean's Award for Excellence in Team Inclusion from the UC Davis School of Medicine, the ACG Community Service Award in 2023, and has received the ACG SCOPY Award for nine consecutive years
March E. Seabrook, MD, FACG
March Seabrook, MD, FACG, has been an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) for over three decades . During this time, he has had the privilege of serving in multiple positions within the organization He served as the Governor of South Carolina from 2006-2012 and was recognized with both the Freshman Governor and Senior Governor Awards He is a past member of the Nominating Committee and Public Relations Committee and has served as Chairman of the National Affairs Committee . He is currently a member of the Legislative and Public Policy Council and the Delegate from the ACG to the American Medical Association (AMA)
Dr Seabrook completed his undergraduate education at Wofford College and then graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine After completing his internal medicine and gastroenterology training in 1991, he became a founding member of Consultants in Gastroenterology in West Columbia, South Carolina The practice has grown to be one of the largest in the state and is committed to continued organic growth and maintaining its independent nature His son is now a physician in the practice
Early in his career, Dr . Seabrook developed a passion for colorectal cancer screening and prevention after his best friend’s father died of the disease . Working with the University of South Carolina's Center for Colorectal Cancer Research, he was instrumental in developing a statewide screening program for the uninsured This collaboration has been recognized nationally for its outreach and results . He credits the gastroenterologists from around the state who continue to participate in this vital program He was recognized with an ACG SCOPY Award and the ACG Community Service Award for these efforts
Dr Seabrook helped to develop the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association in 2000 and was its first President This organization continues to grow and expand He has also served as the President of the South Carolina Medical Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Physicians Foundation
2024 William D. Carey Award
Dr . William D . Carey was elected Governor for Northern Ohio in 1987 and served as Chairman of the Board of Governors from 1988-1990 . He has served the College as Treasurer and Trustee, and has chaired numerous College Committees . Dr Carey is the first Chairman of the Board of Governors to be elected as President of the American College of Gastroenterology (1993) In honor of his years of distinguished service and because of the example he has set for other Governors an award will be given in his name
This award is reserved for an exceptional individual who has served the Board and the College with distinction . Nominees must show clear demonstration of outstanding contributions to the College such as service within leadership positions, participation in educational efforts, committee service or participation in research related activities . Governors serving their final term or those emeritus Governors who have completed service will be eligible to receive the award Nominees must have a strong history of meritorious service to the Board of Governors .
2024 ACG International GI Training Grant Awards
2024 International GI Training Grant Recipient
Coşkun Özer Demirtaş, MD Instanbul, Turkey
Dr Coşkun Demirtaş from Turkey is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at Marmara University School of Medicine, in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and will be furthering his research career in the area of portal hypertension (PH), in the context of his area of expertise, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
He will train at Yale University Liver Center under the direction of Dr . Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao for 3 months His main clinical goal is to observe and gain clinical knowledge and experience in critical diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies with the aim of improving patient care and research in his home center for patients with HCC at the different stages of cirrhosis and PH He hopes to fill the clinical gaps in the field of PH and HCC and combine with scientific research to turn his unit into a globally recognized center
The ACG and the International Relations Committee are pleased to announce the recipient of the International GI Training Grant This program, initiated in 1995, provides partial financial support to physicians outside the United States and Canada to receive clinical or clinical research training or education in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in selected medical training centers in North America . Two grants of $12,000 and $15,000 have been awarded this year
Kerry-Ann Penn-Brown, MD Mona, Jamaica
Dr Kerry-Ann Penn-Brown from Jamaica is currently a 2nd year gastroenterology fellow at the Hospital of the West Indies and will be completing a 6-month clinical rotation in the U S as part of her fellowship
She will train at Massachusetts General Hospital under the direction of Dr . Akwi Asombang for 6 months She has found that working in an academic institution has fostered a love of mentoring and guiding junior staff along their academic journey Exposure to gastroenterology in a first world setting will allow her to broaden her knowledge of other conditions which she wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to in her training program in Jamaica This will not only impact her future patients but also the students and residents in internal medicine with whom she interacts .
Dora Huang, MD New York, New York
Dr Dora Huang from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New York, New York, will study at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), in Rwanda under the direction of Dr Steve Bensen for a three-week annual collaborative effort between GI Rising Inc ., a large International team of GI, fellows, nurses and trainees, and the Rwandan Society of Endoscopy and Rwandan Ministry of Health
The ACG grant will directly support her goal of working with under-resourced communities Working with these institutions – and setting up GI care models and service locations – is an important part of comprehensive medical care This is what she’d ultimately like to address – to consider the role of gastroenterology in low resource settings, through partnerships with academic communities or organizations . Through this grant, she hopes to learn about the development of cost-aware and sustainable endoscopy and associated GI programs – and to bring this capacity to areas within the United States
Shria Kumar, MD, MSCE Miami, Florida
Dr . Shria Kumar is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine She is a clinical researcher and advanced endoscopist with a particular focus on the prevention and early detection of gastric and colorectal cancers Her ultimate career goal is to lead a “dry lab” focused on measuring risk, identifying optimal screening and surveillance strategies, and assessing the utility of these strategies in real-world settings
The 3-week training with the Clinical Effectiveness Research group at the University of Oslo in Norway under the direction of Drs . Michael Bretthauer and Mette Kalager, will focus on two key areas – quantifying cancer risk and measuring effectiveness of screening programs The Oslo center offers a unique one-stop shop for clinical effectiveness research studies, from development to implementation, with a focus on GI cancers with an eye towards ensuring screening strategies truly reduce cancer burden Dr Kumar’s goals are (1) to develop an “early-onset colorectal cancer” cohort within the Veterans’ Health Administration, where she holds a research appointment, using learned methods; and (2) to complete and publish a meta-analysis, in conjunction with the Oslo team which will form the basis of a US-guided strategy going forward .
2024 North American International GI Training Grant Recipient
The ACG and the International Relations Committee are pleased to announce the recipient of the North American International GI Training Grant . This program provides partial financial support to U S and Canadian GI fellows in training or GI physicians who have completed their training within the last 5 years, to receive clinical or clinical research training or education in Gastroenterology and Hepatology outside of North America Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited gastroenterology fellowship program or be a GI physician who completed their training within the last 5 years, and must also be citizens of the United States or Canada . Two grants of $6,500 and $5,000 have been awarded this year
2024 Abstract Awards
OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AWARDS
These awardees are selected from among all abstracts submitted, with one winner in each category, excluding Clinical Vignettes/Case Reports, Endoscopy Video Forum and Pediatric GI The award recipients are selected by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Biliary/Pancreas Category
Performance of a Novel Artificial Intelligence System for Detection of Solid Pancreatic Mass Lesions at Real-Time Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Ji Young Bang, MD, MPH1, Adrian Saftoiu, MD2, Jayapal Ramesh, MD1, Anca Udristoiu, PhD3, Lucian Gruionu, PhD3, Elena Codruta Gheorghe, MD2, Gabriel Gruionu, PhD4, Udaykumar Navaneethan, MD1, Robert Hawes, MD1, Shyam Varadarajulu, MD1; 1Orlando Health, Digestive Health Institute, Orlando, FL; 2Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila din Bucuresti, Bucharest, Bucuresti, Romania; 3Universitatea din Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania; 4Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Colon Category
Higher Nighttime Colonic Activity Measured by Wireless Patches Linked to Patient Reported Bowel Movement Satisfaction
Brian E Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG1, David J Cangemi, MD1, Joseph Accurso, BS, MD1, Lindsay Axelrod, MS2, Steve Axelrod, PhD2, Anand Navalgund, PhD2; 1Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL; 2G-Tech Medical, Mountain View, CA
Colorectal Cancer Prevention Category
Endoscopist Aggregated Hot Snare Polypectomy Rate Is Associated With Increased Risk of Colonoscopy Adverse Events
Seth Crockett, MD1, Jennifer Holub, MA, MPH2, Audrey H Calderwood, MD, MS3, Rajesh N . Keswani, MD, MS4; 1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; 2GI Quality Improvement Consortium, Ltd , Bethesda, MD; 3Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; 4Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Esophagus Category
Heartburn Frequency and Symptom Improvement Rates of Treated Episodes when Switching From Daily to On-Demand Vonoprazan Treatment for NonErosive Reflux Disease
Ronnie Fass, MD, MACG1, Joan W Chen, MD, MS2, Joel J Heidelbaugh, MD, FACG3, Anish Patel, DO4, Reena V Chokshi, MD5, Thomas Harris, BSc, PharmD6, Hillary Graham, MS6, Eckhard Leifke, MD6, David Armstrong, MA, MBBCh7; 1MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; 2University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 3University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI; 4Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX; 5Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; 6Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Buffalo Grove, IL; 7McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Functional Bowel Disease Category
Comparative Effectiveness of Biofeedback and Dextranomer/Hyaluronate
Injection for Treatment of Fecal Incontinence: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Adil Bharucha, MBBS, MD1, Satish S C Rao, MD, PhD2, William Whitehead, PhD3, Isuzu Meyer, MD, MSPH4, William D Chey, MD, FACG5, Jan Busby-Whitehead, MD6, Marie Gantz, PhD7, Heidi Chua, MD1, Stacy Menees, MD8, William Perry, MBChB, MPH1, Holly E Richter, PhD, MD9, Amaanti Sridhar, MSc7, Jennifer Wu, MD3, Lawrence Szarka, MD1, Frank Hamilton, MD10; 1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 2Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA; 3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; 4University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL; 5University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 6UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; 7RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC; 8Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI; 9University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; 10National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
General Endoscopy Category
Recycling in Ambulatory Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Single Center Experience
Immanuel K Ho, MD, FACG1, Mary Coniglio,2, Carolyn Simeonides, RN2, Daniel V Carr, MSN, RN3, Karen Rodriguez,2, Frederick A Nunes, MD1; 1Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 2University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA; 3Penn Medicine, Marlton, NJ
GI Bleeding Category
Diagnosis of GI Tract Cancers in New Onset Iron Deficiency Anemia in a National Retrospective Cohort (2005-2019)
Andrew J Read, MD, MS1, Hardeep Singh, MD, MPH2, Sarah L Krein, PhD, RN1, Grace Y Chen, MD, PhD1, Amit G Singal, MD, MS3, Jennifer Burns, MHS4, Kennedy Dubose, MPH4, Van Tony, MS4, Sameer D . Saini, MD, MS1, Akbar Waljee, MD, MS1; 1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; 2Baylor College of Medicine / Michael E DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX; 3University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX; 4Ann Arbor VA, Ann Arbor, MI
IBD Category
Correlation and Assessment of Small Bowel Lesions Using Cross-Sectional Imaging Techniques vs Small Intestinal Contrast UltraSonography in Known Crohn’s Disease (CACTUS-CD Trial): A Paired, Validating Study (NCT06125678)
Partha Pal, MD, Mohammed Abdul Mateen, , Kanapuram Pooja, PharmD, Uday Kumar Marri, MD, Rajesh Gupta, MD, DM, Manu Tandan, MD, DM, D Nageshwar Reddy, MD, DM, FACG; Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Interventional Endoscopy Category
Endoscopic Ultrasound Functionality for a Standard Upper Endoscope: Initial U.S. Experience
Seth Gross, MD1, Rebecca I Siegel, 1, Stuart Akerman, MD2, Isaac Raijman, MD3, Ruel Garcia, MD4, Marco Paez, MD5, Brian Lim, MD6; 1NYU Langone Health, New York, NY; 2Digestive Health Associates of Texas, Dallas, TX; 3Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Houston, TX; 4Genesis Healthcare, Los Gatos, CA; 5United Medical Doctors, Riverside, CA; 6United Medical Doctors, Irvine, CA
Liver Category
Rifaximin Monotherapy Is More Effective Than Lactulose Monotherapy for Reducing the Risk of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE) Recurrence and All-Cause Mortality: An Analysis of Two Randomized Trials
Jasmohan S Bajaj, MD1, Robert S Rahimi, MD2, Christopher Allen, MS3, Zeev Heimanson, PharmD3, Robert J Israel, MD3, Kris V Kowdley, MD, FACG4; 1Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, VA; 2Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX; 3Salix Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, NJ; 4Liver Institute Northwest, Seattle, WA
Practice Management Category
A Standardized, Specialty-Specific Note Template Improves Inpatient Evaluation and Management Coding Capture
Joshua L Hudson, MD, MSc1, Rachel Knight, BA2, Shifali Arora, MD1; 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; 2University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC
Small Intestine Category
Achieving Organoleptic Acceptability with Elemental Formula: A Prospective Single-Blind Comparative Study
Ali Rezaie, MD1, Bianca W Chang, MD2, Krystyna Houser,3, Ava Hosseini, MPH1, Daniel H Brimberry, PhD2, Mohamad Rashid, MD1, Ruchi Mathur, MD1, Sepideh Mehravar, MD1, Yin Chan, MD2, Gabriela Leite, PhD1, Walter Morales,1, Maritza Sanchez,1, Coka Yip, NP2, Stacy Weitsman, MS1, Cristina M Fajardo, MSc1, Ignacio Rivera,1, Jiajing Wang, PhD4, Gillian M Barlow, PhD1, Jason Nasser, MD2, Amrit K Kamboj, MD2, Jane Lim, MD2, Christine L Scarcello, MS, RD2, Mark Pimentel, MD1; 1Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA; 2Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; 3mBiota, Santa Monica, CA; 4Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, San Jose, CA
Stomach Category
Addressing an Emerging Clinical Need: Nasal Metoclopramide's Impact on Diabetic Gastroparesis in Patients Taking GLP-1 Agonists
David C Kunkel, MD1, Richard W McCallum, MD2, Christopher Quesenberry, BSc3, Mostafa Shokoohi, PhD4, Paul Spin, PhD4, Michael Cline, DO5; 1University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA; 2Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, El Paso, TX; 3Evoke Pharma, Phoenix, AZ; 4Eversana, Burlington, ON, Canada; 5Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
OUTSTANDING RESEARCH BY FELLOWS-IN-TRAINING AWARDS
These awards are presented to a fellow-in-training on the basis of all abstracts submitted, with one winner in each category, excluding Clinical Vignettes/Case Reports, Endoscopy Video Forum and Pediatric GI The award recipients are selected by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Biliary/Pancreas Category
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Drug-Naive Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Khaled Alsabbagh Alchirazi, MD1, Ahmed El Telbany, MD, MPH2, Michelle Baliss, DO3, Muaz Alsabbagh, MD4, Wissam Kiwan, MD5, Mohammad Bilal, MD6; 1Aurora Healthcare, Brookfield, WI; 2University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; 3SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, St . Louis, MO; 4Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; 5Saint Louis University, St . Louis, MO; 6University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
2024 Abstract Awards (cont.)
Colon Category
Risk of Bleeding After Colorectal Endoscopic Mucosal Resection in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the US Collaborative Network
Azizullah Beran, MD1, Khaled Elfert, MD2, Mouhand F H Mohamed, MD, MSc3, Douglas Rex, MD1, Indira Bhavsar-Burke, MD, MHPE4, John Guardiola, MD1; 1Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; 2West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; 3Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 4University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Colorectal Cancer Prevention Category
Comparative Outcomes of Pancreatic, Colon, and Liver Cancers in GLP-1 RA
Treated Patients: A Retrospective Analysis
Mahmoud Nassar, MD, PhD, MSc, MPA1, Hazem Abosheaishaa, MD2, Anthony Martinez, MD3; 1Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; 2Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens, NY; 3University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Esophagus Category
Safety of Esophageal Dilation Procedures in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy: A US Collaborative Network Cohort Study
Khaled Elfert, MD1, Abdellatif Ismail, MD2, Mohammed Abusuliman, MD3, Hazem Abosheaishaa, MD4, Mahmoud Nassar, MD, PhD, MSc, MPA5, Ahmed E . Salem, MBBCh6, Khalid Aloum, MD7, Sherif E Elhanafi, MD8; 1West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; 2University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; 3Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI; 4Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens, NY; 5Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; 6Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY; 7St Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY; 8Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX
Functional Bowel Disease Category
Global Insights: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Are Linked to Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders
Mengdan Xie, MD1, Yan Sun, MD1, Gengqing Song, MD, PhD2; 1Case Western Reserve University / MetroHealth, Cleveland, OH; 2Metrohealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
General Endoscopy Category
Positive Provocative Testing and Symptom Evaluation for Objective Detection of Upper Extremity Repetitive Use Injuries Among Endoscopists
Daryl Ramai, MD, MPH, Msc1, Gregory Toy, MD2, Elizabeth Cardell, PhD2, Jamie Leatham, 2, Natalie Mudrow, MSc2, Kathryn Byrne, MD2, John Fang, MD2; 1University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT; 2University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
GI Bleeding Category
Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Post-PCI Patients on Antiplatelet Therapy and the Predictive Value of the PRECISE-DAPT Score
Jesus A Guzman, MD, Kahtan Fadah, MD, Kavita Gupta, MD, Vishwajeet Singh, PhD, Alok Dwivedi, PhD, Debabrata Mukherjee, MD, Kazue Okajima, MD, Sherif E . Elhanafi, MD, Marc Zuckerman, MD; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX
IBD Category
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Is Associated With Better Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients over 60 Years Old: A US PropensityMatched Study
Osama Hamid, MD1, Shaikhoon S . Mohammed, MD2, Mohanad Awadalla, MD3, Faris Hammad, MD4, Miguel D Regueiro, MD5; 1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; 2Emory Clinic/Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA; 3Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; 4Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Westlake, OH; 5Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Interventional Endoscopy Category
Efficacy and Cost Savings With Diclofenac Suppository for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center
Robin Wilson, MD, Peter Fields, MD, Curtis Haas, PharmD, Vivek Kaul, MD, Asad Ullah, MD, Truptesh Kothari, MD, Ahmed Dirweesh, MD, Tanya Bruckel, MD, Myla Strawderman, MS, Shivangi Kothari, MD; University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
Liver Category
Disparities in the Decision to Evaluate for Liver Transplant in Patients Referred With Underlying Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD)
Rafael Ornelas, MD, Julia Hamilton, MD, Ellen Clark, MD, Scott Naugler, MD; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Obesity Category
Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Their Association With Obesity Phenotypes: A Prospective Single-Center Registry
Eugene Nwankwo, MD1, Diego Anazco, MD1, Sima Fansa, MD1, Maria Espinosa,2, Maria D Hurtado, MD, PhD3, Andres Acosta, MD, PhD1; 1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; 2Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN; 3Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, MN
Practice Management Category
A Head-to-Head Randomized Controlled Trial of Electronic Medical Record
Text Messages vs Phone Call Reminders for Fecal Calprotectin Testing
Matthew Schliep, MD1, David Connor Wise, MD1, Joselyne Tessa Tonleu, BA2, Kimberli Bowen, BS2, Esteban Figueroa, MD3; 1University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA; 2University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA; 3UVA Health, Charlottesville, VA
Small Intestine Category
Quality Improvement Initiative Improves Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates in Adult Patients with Celiac Disease
Development and External Validation of a Machine Learning-Based Gastric Cancer Prediction Model using Electronic Health Record Data
Sarah Wehbe, MD1, Sayf Al-deen Said, MD, MPH1, Carol Rouphael, MD2, John McMichael, MS1, Michelle Kang Kim, MD, PhD1; 1Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; 2Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
ACG APP OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AWARD
This award is selected from among all abstracts submitted in any category by a certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant and is presented to one recipient The award recipient is chosen by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Time Is of the Essence: An Analysis of IBD Advanced Therapy Initiation in a Large Community Practice
Amy Stewart, NP1, Erica R Cohen, MD2, Kristin M . Attiogbe, NP2, Jennifer Lang, NP2, Jessica Gandhi, PA-C2, Elizabeth Thomas, NP2; 1Capital Digestive Care, Washington, DC; 2Capital Digestive Care, Chevy Chase, MD
ACG AUXILIARY AWARDS
These three awards are presented by the Auxiliary and selected from among all abstracts submitted by fellows-in-training The award recipients are selected by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee .
Compliance Rate of Discharging Post Variceal Bleed Patients on NonSelective Beta Blocker: A Quality Improvement Project
Haider Ghazanfar, MD1, Sameer Kandhi, MD1, Franklin Sosa, MD1, Ali Ghazanfar, MBBS2, Harish Patel, MD1; 1BronxCare Health System, Bronx, NY; 2Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Development and Validation of a Mortality Risk Score for Acute Pancreatitis Patients in the ICU
Hassam Ali, MD1, Vishali Moond, MD2, Fnu vikash, MD3, Dushyant S . Dahiya, MD4, Manesh Kumar Gangwani, MD5, Waqas Rasheed, MD6, Amir Sohail, MD7, Umar Hayat, MD8, Mona A Ali, MD9, Pratik Patel, MD10, Syed Muhammad Ali Najafi, MBBS11, Fouad Jaber, MD12, Douglas Adler, MD13; 1East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC; 2Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ; 3Saint Peter's University Hospital/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ; 4The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS; 5University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; 6University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; 7NYU Langone Health, Long Island, NY; 8Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA; 9Mansoura University, Mansoura, Ad Daqahliyah, Egypt; 10Mather Hospital/Hofstra University Zucker School of Medicine, Port Jefferson, NY; 11Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; 12University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO; 13Center for Advanced Therapeutic (CATE), Centura Health, Porter Adventist Hospital, Peak Gastroenterology, Denver, CO
GLP-1 Agonists Use Is Associated With Lower Use of PPI and Do Not Worsen Outcomes in Patients With GERD: A National Database Analysis
Luis M Nieto, MD1, Sharon Narvaez, MD2, Pedro Palacios-Argueta, MD3, Do Han Kim, MD4, Donghyun Ko, MD5, Saurabh Chawla, MD1, Kenneth Vega, MD, FACG6, Laura Davisson, MD7; 1Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; 2Universidad de Guayaquil, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; 3Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL; 4Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; 5Yale-New Haven Health/Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT; 6Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA; 7West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
ACG CASE REPORTS JOURNAL AWARDS
These two awards are selected from among all abstracts submitted in the Clinical Vignettes/Case Reports category as determined by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Fellow-in-Training Recipient
A Case of Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection for a Known Colon Adenocarcinoma in a Patient With Decompensated Cirrhosis Shyam C Vedantam, DO1, Nicole Ferrante, MD2, Shria Kumar, MD, MSCE1, Sean Bhalla, MD1; 1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; 2University of Miami, Miami, FL
Physician (non-trainee) Recipient
Liver Transplantation After Successful Downstaging of Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Marked AFP Elevation Using Interventional Immuno-oncology
Shiva Kumar, MD, MHA; Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2024 Abstract Awards (cont.)
ACG/RADHIKA SRINIVASAN GENDER-BASED RESEARCH AWARD
This award, presented in conjunction with the ACG Women in Gastroenterology Committee, is named in memory of Radhika Srinivasan, MD, MACG It is selected from among all abstracts submitted and given to the abstract that best identifies gender-based differences in gastrointestinal diseases as determined by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Impact of Sex on Liver Transplant Waitlist and Post-Transplant Outcome by Disease Etiology
Chencheng Xie, MD1, Sajid Jalil, MD2, Mohamed A Elfeki, MD1, Mohanad Awadalla, MD3, Abdellatif Ismail, MD4, Prabha Bhandari, MD5, Shaikhoon Mohammed, MD6, Robert Wong, MD, MS, FACG7, Zobair Younossi, MD, MPH, FACG8, Winston Dunn, MD9, Ashwani Singal, MD, MS, FACG5; 1University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD; 2Stanford University School of Medicine, San Jose, CA; 3Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; 4University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; 5University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; 6Macon Medical Group PC, Atlanta, GA; 7Stanford/VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA; 8The Global NASH Council, Washington, DC; 9University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
ACG GOVERNORS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL RESEARCH
The ACG Board of Governors presents five awards chosen from among all abstracts submitted The award recipients are selected by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Fellow-in-Training Recipients
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of MoviPrep vs GoLYTELY for Bowel Preparation in Hospitalized Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Karen Xiao, MD1, Fatima Khan, MD1, Richard Link, MD2, Armando DominguezDiaz, MD2, Prince Ameyaw, MD2, Valerie Assalone, BSN2, Mimoza Nasufi, BSPH2, Michelle Hughes, MD1, Caroline Loeser, MD2, Kenneth Hung, MD, MPH1, Darrick Li, MD, PhD3; 1Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; 2Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT; 3Yale School of Medicine / Connecticut GI, New London, CT
Safety and Efficacy of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Branch Duct-Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms: A Single Arm Clinical Trial
Vanisha Patel, MD1, Zarine K Shah, MD1, Phil Hart, MD1, Stacey Culp, PhD2, Hamza Shah, MD1, Raj Shah, MD1, Jordan Burlen, MD1, Peter J Lee, MD1, Georgios Papachristou, MD, PhD1, Somashekar G Krishna, MD1; 1The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH; 2Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Physician (non-trainee) Recipients
Efficacy of Mirikizumab by Baseline Disease Location in Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease: Results of the Phase 3 VIVID-1 Study
Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, FACG1, Peter Bossuyt,2, Marc Ferrante, MD, PhD3, Britta Siegmund, MD4, Frederick Durand,5, Deborah A Fisher, MD, MHS6, Nathan Morris,5, Guanglei Yu,5, Sonja M Bragg, BS, MPH5, Aline Charabaty, MD7; 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; 2Imelda GI Clinical Research Center, Imelda General Hospital, Bonheiden, Antwerpen, Belgium; 3University Hospitals, Leuven, VlaamsBrabant, Belgium; 4Med für Gastroenterologie, Infektiologie, Rheumatologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, HumboldtUniversität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm, Berlin, Germany; 5Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN; 6Eli Lilly and Company, Raleigh, NC; 7Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) With Bezlotoxumab Was Not Better Than FMT Alone in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients and Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Jessica R . Allegretti, MD, MPH, FACG1, Jordan Axelrad, MD, MPH2, Rahul S . Dalal, MD, MPH3, Heidy Cabral, BS, MS3, Alexander Carlin, BS3, Jenna Marcus, BA4, Colleen R Kelly, MD, FACG4, Ari Grinspan, MD5, Monika Fischer, MD, MS6; 1Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 2NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY; 3Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA; 4Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 5Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; 6Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Study
Tarek Odah, MD, Asrita Vattikonda, MD, Mark Stark, MD, Bhaumik Brahmbhatt, MD, Frank J Lukens, MD, Dilhana S . Badurdeen, MD, Jana G . Hashash, MD, MSc, Francis A . Farraye, MD, MSc; Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
ACG HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH AWARD
This award, supported by the ACG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, is selected from among all abstracts submitted, and is given to the best abstract that details identification of and/or interventions centered on health equity issues or health care-based disparities in gastrointestinal diseases The award recipient is chosen by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Non-English Primary Language Linked to Increased Complications and Reduced Transplant Rates in Cirrhosis Patients: Insights From PopulationBased Multi-Network Analysis
Khaled Alsabbagh Alchirazi, MD1, Ahmed El Telbany, MD, MPH2, MohamadNoor Abu-Hammour, MD3, Nour Azzouz, MD4, Motasem Alkhayyat, MD4, Naim Alkhouri, MD5; 1Aurora Healthcare, Brookfield, WI; 2University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; 3Cleveland Clinic Fairview, Cleveland, OH; 4Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; 5Arizona Liver Health, Phoenix, AZ
ACG INTERNATIONAL AWARD
This award is selected from among all abstracts submitted in any category and is presented to one recipient The primary author may not be based in or be a citizen of the U S or Canada and all work must have been performed outside the U S and Canada The award recipient is chosen by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Artificial Intelligence-Driven Endoscopic Ultrasound for Detection and Differentiation of Pleomorphic Pancreatic Lesions: A Transatlantic Study Francisco Mendes, MD1, Miguel Mascarenhas, MD, PhD1, Jessica Widmer, MD2, Mariano Gonz lez-Haba, MD3, Tamas Gonda, MD4, Belen Agudo, MD3, Tiago Ribeiro, MD1, Miguel Martins, MD1, Maria joão Almeida, MD5, Antonio Pinto da Costa, MD6, Yousef Fazel, MD2, Marcos Eduardo Lera dos Santos, MD, PhD7, Eduardo Horneaux de Moura, MD, PhD7, Alexandre Bestetti, MD7, Filipe Vilas Boas, MD, PhD5, Pedro Moutinho Ribeiro, MD, PhD5, Susana Lopes, MD, PhD, FACG1, Joana Fernandes, BSc8, João Ferreira, PhD8, Guilherme Macedo, MD, PhD, FACG1; 1Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Porto, Portugal; 2NYU Langone Health, New York, NY; 3Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Madrid, Spain; 4New York University Langone Health, New York, NY; 5Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Porto, Portugal; 6Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Madrid, Spain; 7Hospital das Cl¡nicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 8Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Porto, Portugal
ACG LAWLOR RESIDENT AWARD
The Lawlor Resident Award is presented annually in memory of the late Edward Lawlor, an executive of SmithKline & French, who had a distinguished career of outstanding contributions to the ACG and the gastroenterology community at large The recipient is selected on the basis of abstracts submitted by residents-in-training The recipient is chosen by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee
Comparative Outcomes Based on the Duration of Vasoconstrictors After Endoscopic Variceal Ligation in Acute Variceal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Studies
Sushrut Ingawale, MD, MBBS1, Ankita Singh, DM, MD, MBBS2, Sourav Panda, MBBS2, Suprabhat Giri, DM, MD, MBBS3; 1Quinnipiac University Frank H Netter MD School of Medicine / St Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT; 2Seth Gordhandas Sundardas Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 3Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India
ACG INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS
These three travel grants are given to the best abstracts submitted by international authors from countries classified by the World Bank as Lower to Lower-Middle Income (LLMI) as determined by the ACG Educational Affairs Committee Authors must not be based in or be a citizen of the U S or Canada and all work must have been performed outside the U S and Canada The goal of these grants is to encourage research in gastroenterology in LLMI countries and inspire researchers to present their research at the ACG Annual Meeting The International Travel Grants are supported by the ACG International Relations Committee .
A Rare Cause of Colo-Colonic Intussusceptions: Colonic Schwannoma
Saumya Ahluwalia, MBBS, Srishti Ahluwalia, MBBS, Ramit Mahajan, MBBS, MD, DM, Aminder Singh, MBBS, MD; Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Correlation and Assessment of Small Bowel Lesions Using Cross-Sectional Imaging Techniques vs Small Intestinal Contrast Ultrasonography in Known Crohn’s Disease (CACTUS-CD Trial): A Paired, Validating Study (NCT06125678)
Partha Pal, MD, Mohammed Abdul Mateen, Kanapuram Pooja, PharmD, Uday Kumar Marri, MD, Rajesh Gupta, MD, DM, Manu Tandan, MD, DM, D Nageshwar Reddy, MD, DM, FACG; Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Very Low Rate of Post-Colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer in Individuals at Average-Risk for Colorectal Cancer
Ala I Sharara, MD, FACG, Christian Sadaka, MD, Saleem Halablab, MD, Mohamad Ali Ibrahim, MD, Ayman Tawil, MD, Zakaria El Kouzi, MD; American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2023–2024
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY BOARD OF TRUSTEES is responsible for managing the affairs of the College This includes overseeing all business required to carry out the objectives of the College, including election of Fellows and Members of the College, oversight of all publications and meetings as well as other programs and resources . As part of these responsibilities, the Board of Trustees obtains regular reports from and approves of the work of each Committee The Board of Trustees includes the officers of the College as well as 10 Trustees elected from among the membership There are also several ex officio members of the Board of Trustees, including the Director of the ACG Institute for Clinical Research and Education, Editors-in-Chief of The American Journal of Gastroenterology, and a designated Trustee for Administrative Affairs Additionally, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Governors serve on the Board of Trustees
This College is fully engaged in building on its core competencies of clinical education and practice management support in recognition of the changing GI landscape as well as the growing challenges faced by clinical medicine and society at large . The cuts in reimbursement, especially under the Medicare program, and the challenges and interference in practice by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers cry out for concerted action and the College is deeply engaged in these efforts Opportunities to improve clinician wellness is part of our efforts to meet the ever-changing needs of our broad and diverse membership as we work to minimize the current and coming workforce challenges in medicine . We are proud to continue and enhance our most popular programs and resources while taking steps to further embrace technology to develop new programs and further expand collaboration both in person and virtually . Meeting the needs of all our members with broad programming such as the hybrid Annual Meeting and Postgraduate Course and regional programs with day long “schools” focused on IBD, functional GI, endoscopy and others, combined with targeted programs for membership groups such as Fellows-in-Training and Advanced Practice Providers, remain the hallmarks of the College These represent important opportunities to gather with one another, learn from one another, and enjoy the collegiality that is a hallmark of our organization
This key operating philosophy of the College to “meet members where they are” shows up throughout our organization, with our Board of Governors representing the membership at the state and local level but is also reflected in the type of education and other resources we produce and provide for members and patients alike .
The Board of Trustees represents a diverse geographical and subspecialty group as well as a wide variety of practice settings This diversity has allowed the Board of Trustees to provide key guidance and direction for developing and continuing the strong, scientific clinical foundation supported by practical tools for practice management that have been employed throughout this year notwithstanding the challenges faced by our members This, combined with a focused mission and vision of the organization that concentrates exclusively on the needs of GI clinicians and their practices, has led to the College being the professional home for a record number of members this year
The College has spent over a year engaging with the membership and our partners in industry to gather data and guide the update of our strategic plan that will guide the next few years of our organization This process has shown both that the foundation is strong, and the future is bright for the College
President
Jonathan A. Leighton, MD, FACG Scottsdale, AZ
Immediate Past President
Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG Charlottesville, VA
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG Ridgewood, NJ
Trustee
Jill K. J. Gaidos, MD, FACG New Haven, CT
Trustee
Neil H. Stollman, MD, FACG Oakland, CA
President-Elect
Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG Rochester, MN
Past President
Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG Providence, RI
Co-Editor, AJG
Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG Richmond, VA
Trustee
Seth A. Gross, MD, FACG New York, NY
Trustee
Renee L. Williams, MD, MHPE, FACG New York, NY
Vice President
William D. Chey, MD, FACG Ann Arbor, MI
Trustee for Administrative Affairs
Irving M. Pike, MD, MACG Alamo, CA
Co-Editor, AJG
Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, FACG Chapel Hill, NC
Trustee
David J. Hass, MD, FACG Hamden, CT
Trustee
Patrick E. Young, MD, FACG Bethesda, MD
Secretary
Nicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, MACG Chapel Hill, NC
Director, ACG Institute
Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG Scottsdale, AZ
Trustee
Jean-Paul Achkar, MD, FACG Cleveland, OH
James C. Hobley, MD, MSc, FACG Shreveport, LA
Treasurer
Costas H. Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG Akron, OH
Chair, Board of Governors
Dayna S. Early, MD, FACG St. Louis, MO
Brooks D. Cash, MD, FACG Houston, TX
Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG New York, NY
“Advancing
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
2023–2024
Visit the Legislative Action Center!
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY BOARD OF GOVERNORS serves as a two-way conduit between the College’s leadership and the membership at-large This helps the College make certain it is meeting the evolving needs of the membership, particularly on issues of public policy and practice management All Governors are elected by ACG members in their state/region, which span the United States and abroad .
ACG understands that GI practices are stretched and stressed, largely from forces out of their control Across 2023 and 2024, the Board of Governors concentrated its efforts on reminding policymakers that they are essential in supporting physicians and protecting patient access from the many harmful forces at play – from insurers and their burdensome utilization management requirements to ever-decreasing Medicare physician reimbursement .
At this year’s Advocacy Day in April, ACG Leaders met with Members of Congress to communicate the impact of these serious challenges on clinical GI and to champion the necessary legislative solutions . The key messages included:
Utilize ACG’s new Principles of Medicare Reform, which advance that reimbursement must keep pace with inflation, the budget neutrality provision is a leading cause of the annual temporary fixes, and that any quality reporting must be carefully implemented to accurately reflect practice burden and cost .
Support the Safe Step Act, a popular bipartisan bill that would require many employersponsored health plans to implement a clear and transparent process to request an exception to a step therapy protocol .
Ensure surveillance colonoscopy is correctly classified as a preventive service, by supporting report language about the colorectal cancer screening continuum in the annual HHS funding bill . ACG leadership is excited to share legislators heard our advocates and included this request, providing new direction to the agency!
The Board of Governors also recognizes that amid gridlock in Washington, D C ., state legislatures represent an emerging opportunity Beginning in 2024, the Governors tracked and advocated for state bills across the country that expand access to colorectal cancer screening and meaningfully reform prior authorization and step therapy
The College is grateful to the many leaders who continue to offer their time and support in the public policy arena, including Board of Governors Chair Dayna Early, MD, FACG, Vice Chair Sita Chokhavatia, MD, MACG, and Legislative & Public Policy Council Chair Louis Wilson, MD, FACG We would also like to thank the hundreds of ACG members who contacted their Members of Congress and state legislators – every voice matters!
Chair, Board of Governors
Dayna S. Early, MD, FACG St. Louis, MO
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG Ridgewood, NJ
U.S. Governors
Governor for Alabama
Mohamad A. Eloubeidi, MD, FACG
Governor for Alaska
Jeffrey W. Molloy, MD, FACG
Governor for Arizona Shabana F. Pasha, MD, FACG
Governor for Arkansas J. Craig Davis, MD, FACG
Governor for California – Northern Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG
Governor for California – Southern A Brennan M. Spiegel, MD, FACG
Governor for California – Southern B Fouad J. Moawad, MD, FACG
Governor for Colorado John S. Goff, MD, FACG
Governor for Connecticut Rohit Singhania, MD, MS, FACG
Governor for Delaware David R. Beswick, MD, FACG
Governor for District of Columbia
Aline Charabaty, MD, FACG
Governor for Florida – Northern Jose M. Nieto, DO, FACG
Governor for Florida – Southern Alison Schneider, MD, FACG
Governor for Georgia Hetal A. Karsan, MD, FACG
Governor for Hawaii Shilpa Jain, MD, FACG
Governor for Idaho
Raquel Croitoru, MD, FACG
Governor for Illinois
Darren M. Brenner, MD, FACG
Governor for Indiana Mohammad Al-Haddad, MD, MSc, FACG
Governor for Iowa William B. Silverman, MD, FACG
Governor for Kansas Mojtaba S. Olyaee, MD, FACG
Governor for Kentucky
Luis S. Marsano, MD, FACG
Governor for Louisiana Neelima G. Reddy, MD, FACG
Governor for Maine Mark R. Lena, MD, FACG
Governor for Maryland Rakesh Vinayek, MD, FACG
Governor for Massachusetts Braden Kuo, MD, FACG
Board of Governors (cont.)
Governor for Michigan
Shanti L. Eswaran, MD, FACG
Governor for Military John Gancayco, MD, FACG
Governor for Minnesota Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu, MD, FACG
Governor for Mississippi Vonda G. Reeves, MD, MBA, FACG
Governor for Missouri Christine Y. Hachem, MD, FACG
Governor for Montana
Andrew B. Gentry, MD, FACG
Governor for Nebraska Derrick D. Eichele, MD, FACG
Governor for Nevada Amy N. Stratton, DO, FACG
Governor for New Hampshire Joseph C. Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG
Governor for New Jersey – Northern Fritz François, MD, MSc, FACG
Governor for New Jersey – Southern
Adam B. Elfant, MD, FACG
Governor for New Mexico Michael K. Bay, MD, FACG
Governor for New York – Brooklyn Pierre Hindy, MD, FACG
Governor for New York – Long Island Frank G. Gress, MD, MACG
Governor for New York – Manhattan Bruce E. Sands, MD, FACG
Governor for New York – Northern Shivangi T. Kothari, MD, FACG
Governor for New York – Southern Thomas A. Ullman, MD, FACG
Governor for North Carolina Thomas M. Swantkowski, MD, FACG
Governor for North Dakota John T. Bassett, MD, FACG
Governor for Ohio – Northern Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG
Governor for Ohio – Southern Andrew B. Chun, MD, FACG
Governor for Oklahoma Pooja Singhal, MD, FACG
Governor for Oregon Donald F. Lum, MD, FACG
Governor for Pennsylvania – Eastern Joyann A. Kroser, MD, FACG
Governor for Pennsylvania – Western Ralph D. McKibbin, MD, FACG
Governor for Puerto Rico
Jose R. Martin, MD, FACG
Governor for Rhode Island Alyn L. Adrain, MD, FACG
Governor for South Carolina Brenda J. Hoffman, MD, FACG
Governor for South Dakota Jorge A. Gilbert, MD, FACG
Governor for Tennessee Rathi Narayan, MD, FACG
Canadian Governors
International Governors
Governor
Governor for Atlantic Provinces Steven E. Gruchy, MD, FACG
Governor for Ontario
Nikila C. Ravindran, MD, FACG
Governor for Western Provinces Yvette Leung, MD, FACG
Governor for Washington
Kunjali Padhya, MD, FACG
Governor for West Virginia
Justin T. Kupec, MD, FACG
Governor for Wisconsin Deepak V. Gopal, MD, FACG
Governor for Texas – Northern Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG
Governor for Texas – Southern Harish K. Gagneja, MD, FACG
Governor for Utah Ann D. Flynn, MD, FACG
Governor for Vermont Peter L. Moses, MD, FACG
Governor for Virginia Neeral L. Shah, MD, FACG
Governor for Brazil
Wilson R. Catapani, MD, FACG
Governor for Central America
Marisabel Valdez, MD, FACG
Governor for India
Seshadri Chandrasekar, MD, FACG
Governor for Italy
Edoardo G. Giannini, MD, PhD, FACG
Governor for Japan Akihito Nagahara, MD, PhD, FACG
Governor for Mexico
Oscar T. Teramoto-Matsubara, MD, FACG
Governor for Pakistan
Arif A. Nawaz, MD, FACG
Governor for Portugal
Guilherme G. Macedo, MD, PhD, MACG
for United Kingdom
Sharat C. Misra, MD, FACG
Governor for West Indies
Mike O. Mills, MD, FACG
THE ACG INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION promotes the College's commitment to clinical research and physician and patient education
The ACG Institute's record to date is a source of pride, particularly its significant and expanding support of young clinical investigators
THE ACG INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION & RESEARCH
THE ACG INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
The ACG Institute has grown since its introduction in 1994, both in terms of the breadth of its investment in clinical GI investigators and the scope of its activities, which now include leadership development and education for physicians and patients .
The success of the ACG Institute is due, in large part, to the commitment and support of the ACG Institute Board of Directors, the ACG Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, and all the members who have participated in and continue to be part of, the Institute's work .
Learn more about the Institute’s programs and commitment to learning, leadership, and clinical research in the Institute in Focus – a booklet showcasing the programs and important deadlines for the Institute's various offerings .
Clinical Research Awards
The ACG Institute awarded over $2 7 million in funding for clinical research and will support the 2024 ACG Clinical Research awards for the following categories:
Junior Faculty Development Award ($450,000 total / $150,000 per year)
Established Investigator Bridge Funding Award ($300,000 total / $150,000 per year)
ACG/ASGE Epidemiologic Award in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ($50,000 / 1- or 2-year)
Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award ($75,000 / $50k year-one, $25k year-two based on progress)
Clinical Research Award ($50,000 / 1-year)
Pilot Research Award ($15,000 / 1-year)
Resident Clinical Research Award ($10,000 / 1-year / plus travel to ACG 2024)
Medical Student Research Award ($5,000 / 6-10 weeks / plus travel to ACG 2024)
The ACG Institute Center for Leadership, Ethics and Equity (The LE&E Center)
The LE&E Center addresses the contemporary need for leadership training, equitable delivery of care, and ethically based decision-making with a suite of training programs and activities to provide transformational tools and experiences to GI clinicians The programs under the LE&E Center include:
NEW for 2025! ACG Leadership YOU
The ACG Institute and LE&E Center support four distinct leadership programs, under Leadership YOU – each program is tailored to a distinct career stage, and Leadership YOU provides an opportunity for all four leadership program cohorts to network and engage in shared learning sessions, in addition to cohort-specific professional development, during one weekend .
Emerging Leadership Program (3rd and 4th year of GI fellowship training)
Early Career Leadership Program (1-5 years post-fellowship completion)
Advanced Leadership Program (10-20 years post-fellowship completion)
Clinical Research Leadership Program (clinical investigators with recent funding, 2-15 years post-fellowship completion)
Additional LE&E Center Programs:
Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award
Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity & Ethical Care
Scholarships for High School Students through the Prescriptions for Success: Careers in Medicine High School Visit
The LE&E Center Emerging Leadership Program
The LE&E Center Emerging Leadership Program provides leadership training for fellows-in-training who are U S -based ACG member physicians (in their 3rd and 4th year of GI fellowship training) to explore their leadership potential This program will reach fellows-in-training to develop, build, and maintain success as future leaders . Participants are immersed in coursework covering the skills needed as they look ahead to their career post-fellowship and begin to take on more leadership roles . The program includes a mix of lectures, Q&A, breakout sessions, role-playing exercises, and networking
2024 ACG Emerging Leadership Program Participants & Faculty
The ACG Institute for Clinical Research & Education (cont.)
The LE&E Center Early Career Leadership Program
The LE&E Center Early Career Leadership Program develops future leaders in clinical gastroenterology by providing leadership and policy training to early-career U .S .-based ACG member physicians (1-5 years post-fellowship completion) These physicians have completed one full year of practice after their terminal GI or hepatology fellowship and are in their first five years of clinical practice . This immersive program of leadership training covers topics including impactful networking, emotional intelligence, negotiation, group dynamics, and team building
The LE&E Center Advanced Leadership Program
The LE&E Center Advanced Leadership Program aims to develop a cohesive group of peer leaders who will serve as problem-solving consultants for each other and the College This program offers mid-career U S -based ACG member physicians (10-20 years post-fellowship completion) the opportunity to deepen comprehensive leadership skill, through lectures, panels, break-out sessions, and networking opportunities
The LE&E Center Clinical Research Leadership Program
The LE&E Center Clinical Research Leadership Program provides leadership training for early to mid-career clinical investigators who are U .S .-based ACG member physicians (between 2-15 years out of fellowship training) with active or recent ACG or other funding (non-trainee, non-fellow) as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator The program will help train clinical investigators as scientific leaders, team managers, financial stewards of research dollars, and mentors . This unique interactive program will provide funded ACG clinician investigators with the skill set to start, grow, and successfully maintain an independent research program
2024 ACG Clinical Research Leadership Program Participants & Faculty
2023 ACG Advanced Leadership Program Participants & Faculty
2023 / 2024 ACG Early Career Leadership Program Participants & Faculty
Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award
The ACG Institute is proud to announce that the Health Equity Research Award is now re-named in honor of the life and legacy of Leonidas H Berry, MD, MACG The College and the ACG Institute recognize his contributions to gastroenterology, and tireless efforts to end discrimination in medicine and medical schools The Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award supports targeted research up to $75,000 ($50,000 year-one, $25,000 year-two, based on progress) to produce actionable science that will translate to reducing health and/or healthcare disparities, thereby promoting health equity
ACG Edgar Achkar Visiting Professorships and Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity & Ethical Care
This program, which honors former ACG Institute Director Edgar Achkar, MD, MACG, enables GI fellowship programs to host high-quality visiting professors to enhance the training program by providing lectures, small group discussions, and one-on-one visits with trainees and faculty Additionally, this program allows community gastroenterologists to learn from an expert through an evening event or medical grand rounds .
The Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity & Ethical Care is an initiative of the LE&E Center which provides speakers focusing on issues and challenges of delivering equitable care, respecting diversity, and instilling ethical decision-making in addition to gastroenterology/hepatology topics . This year, the LE&E Center supported six ACG Visiting Scholars in Equity, Diversity, and Ethical Care
Scholarships for High School Students
The LE&E Center supports scholarships to local high school students interested in the field of medicine, supporting the pipeline of future healthcare providers The high school students are invited to apply after participating in the ACG DEI Committee’s Prescriptions in Success: High School visit, which is held in conjunction with the ACG Annual Meeting at a local high school
Satish S C Rao, MD, PhD, FACG, visits the fellows at Creighton University
Rachel Issaka, MD served as the Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity, and Ethical Care at University of South Florida
The ACG Institute for Clinical Research & Education (cont.)
Supporting the Work of the Institute - The G.U.T. Fund
The Fund Grows, Uplifts & Transforms clinical GI.
The G U T Fund is the ongoing fundraising campaign of the ACG Institute that makes possible innovative Institute programs such as the ACG Visiting Scholar in Equity, Diversity, and Ethical Care, Junior Faculty Development Awards, the Emerging Leadership Program, the Early Career Leadership Program, the Advanced Leadership Development Program, the Clinical Research Leadership Program, and much more
The G U T Fund is supported by the ACG community, individual gifts, and industry contributions Thousands of ACG members and supporters annually make philanthropic gifts that take the programs of the ACG Institute from GOOD to GREAT . Donors may make annual contributions or multi-year gifts to meet their philanthropic goals Testamentary gifts and planned gifts are encouraged to guarantee the work of the ACG Institute far into the future and for ACG members to leave a lasting legacy of their life's work
Additional Programs
To learn more about the ACG Institute's programs or to support the work of the Institute through the G U T fund, please visit: www.gi.org/acg-institute to read the Institute in Focus booklet available online
ACG Institute 2023-2024 Board of Directors
The 2023-2024 LE&E Center Advisory Board
Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG Director, ACG Institute
Uchenna A. Agbim, MD
Sophie M. Balzora, MD, FACG
Eric Esrailian, MD, MPH, FACG
Mark B. Pochapin, MD, FACG
Lisa L. Strate, MD, MPH, FACG
Bradley C. Stillman, Esq. ACG Executive Director
Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG Director, ACG Institute
Timothy B. Gardner, MD, MS, FACG Chair, ACG Research Committee
Linda Anh B. Nguyen, MD, FACG
Mark W. Russo, MD, MPH, FACG
Rena H. Yadlapati, MD, MSHS, FACG
Bradley C. Stillman, Esq. ACG Executive Director
ACG'S COMMITTEES
THE ACG INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION & RESEARCH
THE COMMITTEES OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY are where most of the “real” work of the College takes place day to day Many of the most important and impactful policy decisions and new and ongoing projects and initiatives approved by the Board of Trustees begin with ideas generated and developed by various College committees . Indeed, the College leadership has often said that the committees are the lifeblood of ACG
In 1985, the College already had 18 different committees with over 100 members serving on them . By contrast, in 2024 the College has 24 separate committees, many of which have a number of subcommittees to handle the expanding workload for these critical pieces of our organization Today, there are nearly 900 members serving on committees . This level of engagement and participation provides a critical source of growth, strength, and leadership for the College . As the number of members in the organization has grown and the scope of activities has expanded exponentially, it is the committees that have been the engine driving this growth and making membership in the College ever more valuable and meaningful for our members and their patients .
We invite you to take some time to review the incredible work and accomplishments of the ACG committees which is being done on your behalf as a member of the College . The committee membership has been selected for the next year and work is already underway However, if you see something that sparks your interest for further engagement with your College, please visit the Committee section of the ACG website and fill out the online Join A Committee Form Committee appointments are made each summer and new terms start in October .
ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Monica R . Nandwani, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, Chair
Sarah M Enslin, PA-C, Vice Chair
Mikhail A Alper, PA
Mallory Anderson, FNP
Carol M . Antequera, PA-C
Amanda W Charlton, NP
Ricketta H . Clark, DNP
Taylor L Compton, DNP, APRN-FNP
Allison J D'Angelo, PA
Anthony Derencius, PA-C
Kathleen A Ferrell, PA
Timothy Gebhart, FNP-C
Janet L . Gripshover, CRNP
Candice Hallmon, NP
Liza Hillel, NP
OBJECTIVES
Victoria M B Howard, PA
Rhonda D Jankovich, NP
Lenore Lamanna, ANP
Sophia Lichenstein-Hill, DNP
Victoria S Louwagie, DMSc, MS, PA-C
Karen K Luken, NP
Keisa M Lynch, DNP, APRN, FNP
Sharon R . Magalona, NP
Gabriella McCarty, NP
Nicole Mitchell, NP
Rebecca S Mooney, CRNP
Kimberly D Orleck, PA-C
Sarah F. Osorio, NP
Sarah C Patel, PA
Karen P Perls, PA
1 . Develop and provide relevant educational and professional resources for GI and Hepatology APPs .
2 Identify challenges in APP practice, share ideas, define best practices and create solutions that enhance delivery of services for patients
3 Increase APP awareness of and engagement with the College
4 Provide a forum for APPs who practice in gastroenterology and hepatology to connect and network
4 Promote optimization of the role of APPs to enhance GI practice capacity and efficiency
COMMITTEE REPORT
The ACG Advanced Practice Providers Committee was established by the ACG Board of Trustees in 2018 . The Committee was initially comprised of a group of ten members By 2024, it has expanded to 45 members from diverse practice backgrounds and locations The Committee also has 5 subcommittees: Education, Awards, Mentorship (new), Practice Management, and Social Media & Member Engagement If you are an APP ACG member and would like to join the APP Committee beginning in the fall of 2026, you can find more information on the ACG website: gi.org/about/committees
Education Subcommittee
ACG APP
GI
Training Series: Introduction to GI Modules
The primary goal of the Committee is to provide education and resources to advanced practice providers to further advance knowledge and best practices in gastroenterology and hepatology
The Committee, in conjunction with the Educational Affairs Committee and the Education Universe editors, has developed an online GI
Jannine Purcell, CNP
Alfred T. Reyno, PA
Meggin Sabatino, FNP
Jamie D Sanchez, RN, MSN, FNP-C
Shayla A Schoenoff, PA
Amy K Seale, FNP
Kristina F Skarbinski, FNP
Heather L . Smith, NP
Sarah A Stainko, FNP-C
Amy L Stewart, FNP-C
Jason J . Thomas, PA
Hilary R Ugras, NP
Mary S Vetter, ANP
Lisa Zimmerman, PA-C
education series for APPs This curriculum is a series of modules that covers both organ systems and disease states in gastroenterology and hepatology It is geared towards APPs new to practice or new to GI/Hepatology A total of 11 APP modules encompassing 92 lectures have been created and published in content areas including: colon, esophagus, functional, GI bleeding, hepatology, advanced hepatology, IBD, advanced IBD, inpatient, mixed subject area, pancreaticobiliary, small bowel, and stomach These modules are presented by APP and physician content experts and provide a total of 44 .5 CME credits Users can obtain CME credits by answering questions at the conclusion of each presentation Content presentations are 15 – 30 minutes in length so users can easily complete each lecture The modules are available for viewing on the ACG Education Universe: universe.gi.org/appmodule. asp and have been viewed over 37,700 times as of July 2024 The APP Education Subcommittee has conducted a review of the existing modules which will enable users to earn a total of 3 75 Pharmacology CE credits for applicable modules The APP GI Training Series can be readily integrated into an APP orientation program, used for adjunctive learning for GI/Hepatology practices, or to obtain continuing education credit required to meet certification requirements These modules will be periodically reviewed and updated to remain relevant and consistent with current guidelines and best practices
NEW! – Advanced APP Curriculum: IBD and Hepatology
Stage two of the online curriculum development was launched in October and includes two advanced education modules geared for the experienced APP — one in IBD and one in hepatology These two modules have a total of 13 lectures and each module provides 2 5 CME credits and 5 (IBD) or 1 (hepatology) Pharmacology CE credit The modules are available for viewing on the ACG Education Universe: universe.gi.org/appmodule.
Monica R. Nandwani, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Advanced Practice Providers Committee (cont.)
NEW! – APP Scholarship Program
ACG understands that Advanced Practice Providers receive limited CME funding which may be a barrier to them attending the ACG Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course . That’s why the College created the APP Scholarship Program which provides a limited number of scholarships in the form of a stipend of up to $2,000 for APPs to attend the Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course . All recipients of the APP Scholarship Program must be an ACG member in good standing, a nationally certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant through their respective accrediting organizations, and currently practicing within GIH with a minimum of 1 year of experience in GI and/or hepatology The 2024 recipients are: Carol Antequera, DMSc, PA-C, Tiffany Becker, CNP, Antonia Maninang, NP, Jennifer Maston, ARNP, and Emilee Nepokroeff, PA .
Awards Subcommittee
NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence
The NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence was developed in 2022
The APP Awards Subcommittee reviews nominations and forwards recommendations to the ACG Awards Committee for one community and one academic practice recipient This award represents an opportunity to recognize an NP or PA who is a member of the College and has shown long standing contributions to advancing clinical practice, professional growth, and patient care
This year’s recipients are Christie L Morrison, NP (community practice) and Mary S Vetter, ANP (academic practice)
NEW! – Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award
The Committee is excited to announce this new award which recognizes a distinguished nurse practitioner or physician assistant who has shown longstanding contributions to educating and mentoring NPs/PAs in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology The recipient will have made meaningful contributions in teaching by demonstrating mentorship, preceptorship, curricula development and/or other activities that have an impact in educating and developing future NPs/PAs in the field of GIH
The inaugural recipient of the Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award is Andrea E Wagner, NP
We encourage all ACG members to nominate an outstanding NP or PA for next year’s awards Additional details for the nomination guidelines for both awards can be found on the ACG website: gi.org/about/awards/award-nomination-guidelines
NEW! – APP Abstract Award
The APP Awards Subcommittee, in conjunction with the Educational Affairs Committee has created a new APP Abstract Award One award of $1,000 will be given to the primary author of the best abstract submitted by a certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant
The inaugural recipient of the APP Abstract Award is Amy Stewart, NP Stop by the exhibit hall in Philadelphia to view her abstract: “Time is of the Essence: An Analysis of IBD Advanced Therapy Initiation in a Large Community Practice”
NEW! – Mentorship Subcommittee
The newly formed mentorship subcommittee aims to assess the mentorship needs of novice GIH APPs or those seeking professional growth The primary objective is to establish connections between mentors and mentees through peer networking that extends beyond their individual institutions . Mentorship can play a role in facilitating top-of-licensure practice, promoting career satisfaction, and ensuring the dissemination of up-to-date information for quality patient care
Practice Management Subcommittee
The goals of the Practice Management Subcommittee are to provide APP members with information relevant to practice operations, quality, safety, coding, and reimbursement
Toolbox Article
In 2023, the Practice Management Subcommittee published a Toolbox Article on the topic of “Incorporating Advanced Practice Providers into GI Practice: Enhancing GI Care " A follow-up article entitled “Optimizing the Role of the APP in GI” will soon be published . The Toolbox Articles can be viewed on the ACG website: gi.org/practice-management/toolbox/.
Social Media and Member Engagement Subcommittee
The goals of the APP Social Media Subcommittee are to increase awareness of ACG resources and topics pertaining to APPs via various social media platforms, increase APP engagement, and create a venue to connect APPs with colleagues nationally and internationally The subcommittee has created two online groups — the ACG GI APP Group on Facebook and the Advanced Practice Providers Working in Gastroenterology and Hepatology on LinkedIn If you are an ACG APP member interested in joining the conversation with your colleagues via either group, please use the QR codes below:
Facebook Group: LinkedIn Group:
Other Projects
1 . APP Committee representatives participated in the ACG 2024 Annual Meeting Planning Subcommittee meeting in January 2024
2 ACG APP Resource Center: This is found under the membership tab on the main ACG website: gi.org/advanced-practiceproviders
ARCHIVES COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Kenneth R . DeVault, MD, MACG, Chair
Robert E Kravetz, MD, MACG
Irving M Pike, MD, MACG
John W . Popp, Jr , MD, MACG
Rowen K Zetterman, MD, MACG
Kenneth R. DeVault, MD, MACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for gathering, assembling, maintaining and restoring records, photographs and historical memorabilia relating to past and present College activities, and organizing and displaying these materials periodically to the Membership, and compiling articles or monographs relating to the history of the College .
COMMITTEE REPORT
Update on current and ongoing activities:
Historical Exhibit at ACG Annual Meeting
An important initiative of the Archives Committee is the Historical Exhibit produced by ACG staff and displayed during the Annual Meeting For 2024, the exhibit will focus upon the new ACG Strategic Plan and how the plan builds upon historic successes of the College
Centennial Celebration Preparations
ACG’s centennial will take place in 2032 Early planning for this milestone has begun to include the gathering of historical documents, interviews, and events A Centennial video and accompanying publication are in the early conceptual stages
A Look Back: Reflections on Medical History & Artifacts from the Pages of The American Journal of Gastroenterology
The “A Look Back” article series appeared from 1999-2010 in the Red Journal, featuring the medical device collection with commentary by Robert E Kravetz, MD, MACG More recently, these same articles have been re-published regularly in the ACG MAGAZINE These items and more from Dr Kravetz’s collection are featured in a 200-page book authorized by the Board of Trustees, championed by the Archives Committee, and edited by Lawrence Schiller, MD, MACG The book (ISBN: 978-0-578-75242-6) will be available for Annual Meeting attendees to pick up for free in Philadelphia Additionally, eight (8) complimentary copies of the book have been sent to more than 200 GI fellowship programs throughout the United States
ACG Past Presidents’ Interviews and Oral Histories
For almost 30 years, video recordings of interviews with ACG Past Presidents have been collected and digitized These are being reviewed by members of the Archives Committee and inventoried . Additionally, the oral histories of noteworthy leaders will be taken through virtual interviews
ACG Member Recognition
Each year the American College of Gastroenterology recognizes physicians who are completing 25 and 50 years of membership with a pin and certificate In addition, members who advance to Fellowship in the College receive a copy of the 75th Anniversary Book .
ACG's Committees (cont.)
AWARDS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Francis A Farraye, MD, MSc, MACG, Chair
Jessica R Allegretti, MD, MPH, FACG
Kathy P. Bull-Henry, MD, MBA, FACG
Prabhleen Chahal, MD, FACG
Grace H Elta, MD, MACG
Fritz Francois, MD, FACG
Jorge L Herrera, MD, MACG
Whitfield L Knapple, MD, FACG
Shivangi T Kothari, MD, FACG
Baharak Moshiree, MD, MSc, FACG
Vonda G Reeves, MD, MBA, FACG
Christina M Surawicz, MD, MACG
Roy K . Wong, MD, MACG
Jay N Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for coordinating all awards presented by the College, including plaques or certificates of appreciation and consideration of new awards
OBJECTIVES
1 Comprehensive evaluation of award nominees
2 Review and Update the Awards section of ACG website
COMMITTEE REPORT
2024 Award Recipients
Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award
Mark B Pochapin, MD, FACG
Community Service Awards
Asad A Choudhry, MD
Distinguished Mentorship and Teaching Awards
Jean-Paul Achkar, MD, FACG
David A Johnson, MD, MACG
Lawrence R . Schiller, MD, MACG
Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award
Andrea E Wagner, CNP
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Sonali Paul, MD, FACG
International Leadership Award
Arif A Nawaz, MD, FACG
Master Awards
Carol A Burke, MD, MACG
Andrew D . Feld, MD, JD, MACG
Harish K Gagneja, MD, MACG
Lucinda A Harris, MD, MS, MACG
Sunanda V . Kane, MD, MSPH, MACG
Caroll D Koscheski, MD, MACG
Waqar A Qureshi, MD, MACG
NP/PA Awards for Clinical Excellence
Christie L Morrison, NP
Mary S Vetter, ANP-BC
Samuel S. Weiss Award
Irving M . Pike, MD, MACG
Francis A. Farraye, MD, MSc, MACG
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Michael K Bay, MD, FACG, Chair
Alyn L Adrain, MD, FACG
Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG
Joseph G Cheatham, MD, FACG
Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG
Michael K. Bay, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for reviewing the Constitution and Bylaws of the College and recommending changes or additions to the Board of Trustees and Membership .
OBJECTIVES
1 Monitor the programs, committees, and College activities, in order to incorporate any applicable changes or updates to the Bylaws
2 Make suggestions to the Board of Trustees as appropriate regarding changes or updates to the Bylaws
3 Promulgate changes to the Bylaws to the membership COMMITTEE REPORT
The Committee along with ACG staff worked with outside counsel to undertake a full review of the ACG Constitution and Bylaws to ensure they are up to date in terms of key elements of modern bylaws . Additionally, this review provided an opportunity to add two ad hoc committees (Advanced Practice Providers and Innovation and Technology Committees) to the list of standing committees; add the new membership category of Medical Student Member along with appropriate changes throughout; clean up some typos and/ or alphabetizing inconsistencies; and modernize language in places Lastly, a suggested addition to create a mechanism to effectuate changes in the unlikely event said changes could not wait until the next Annual Business Meeting or via a Special Meeting was incorporated This provision, which allows for a bylaws change to be brought forward and voted on without a meeting is not expected to be used often or perhaps ever, but is intended as a protection for an unanticipated and highly time sensitive issue As with a typical Annual Business Meeting,
the same number of participants is required to make a quorum and take action The number needed for a quorum would be raised from 20 to 30 FACG members so as to avoid a scenario whereby the Board of Trustees could take action to alter the bylaws on its own . Notice would be provided to the membership as well as a report of any action taken using this mechanism
These proposed changes to the ACG Constitution and Bylaws have been presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees and have been sent to the membership with the 2024 Notice of the Annual Business Meeting The membership will have the opportunity to vote on these changes at the Annual Business Meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Terrace Ballroom 2-3
The Bylaws are available for all members to review on the ACG website at webfiles.gi.org/docs/about/ACGBylaws.pdf
CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Hetal A Karsan, MD, FACG, Chair
Lea Ann Chen, MD, FACG
Meredith M Clary, MD
Christine Y Hachem, MD, FACG
Prasad G Iyer, MD, MSc, FACG
Jonathan S Levine, MD
Benjamin H Levy, III, MD
Brian D Liem, DO, FACG
James D Morris, MD, FACG
Kunjali Padhya, MD, FACG
Nicholas J . Shaheen, MD, MPH, MACG
Micheal S Tadros, MD, FACG
Sasha Taleban, MD, FACG
Julie Tobak, MD, FACG
Shivakumar Vignesh, MD, FACG
J Brendan Wiggins, MD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for reviewing all applications for Associate Membership, Advanced Practice Provider Membership, Resident/Trainee Membership, Membership, International Membership and Fellowship, and shall report its recommendations to the Board of Trustees at least twice annually
OBJECTIVES
1 Evaluate applications for membership to the College
2 Work with the Governors so that criteria for Advancement to Fellowship are clear and encourage them to review membership yearly and contact members who seem eminently qualified for advancement
3 Work with the Governors so that criteria for direct election to Fellowship are clear .
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Credentials Committee met in person in October 2022 and by Zoom meeting in January 2023, April 2023, and June 2023 . The Committee reviewed a total of 389 applications for Membership, Fellowship, and International Membership and made the following recommendations to the Board of Trustees:
• 4 candidates were elected directly to Fellowship
• 69 candidates were advanced to Fellowship
• 151 candidates were elected to Membership
• 165 candidates were elected to International Membership
The Chairman reviewed and approved 1,201 applications for Resident/ Trainee Membership and approved 668 applications for Associate and Advanced Practice Provider Membership from August 1, 2022-July 31, 2023
The total number added to the rolls by this report is therefore 2,189
The Committee will meet during the October Annual Meeting to consider additional applications for the period of June 2023 through October 2023
Hetal A. Karsan, MD, FACG
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Andrew M Moon, MD, MPH, FACG, Chair
Rashmi R . Advani, MD
Shubha Bhat, PharmD, MS
Abhishek Bhurwal, MD
Steven L . Brint, MD, FACG
Katie A Dunleavy, MD
Katie A Falloon, MD
Ronnie Fass, MD, MACG
Jill K J Gaidos, MD, FACG
Ahmet Gurakar, MD, FACG
Dmitriy Kedrin, MD
Keerthana Kesavarapu, DO
Trilokesh D Kidambi, MD
Eric Montminy, MD
Kira L Newman, MD, PhD
Dhruvil K . Radadiya, MD
Erik F . Rahimi, MD
Sanam D Razeghi, MD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall have primary responsibility for oversight and strategic direction of the College websites and member publications, and shall curate content from ACG’s official scientific journals
OBJECTIVES
1 . Advise the College staff on the general direction, and key objectives for scientific, member communications and online communities
2 Curate the content on the College’s Website and provide insight and user feedback
3 Serve as the Editorial Board for the ACG Magazine
4 Mentor the ACG Case Reports Journal Editorial Board
5 Identify appropriate communication channels
COMMITTEE REPORT
New Initiative: ACG Guidelines Highlights
Thanks to the work of second year GI trainee Dr Erica Duh of UC Irvine, the committee introduces a new initiative: “ACG Guideline Highlights ”
This series of graphic summaries of ACG clinical guidelines starts with essential take-aways from the recent Acute Pancreatitis Guideline (Tenner, et al February 2024) . Dr . Duh sought out service on the committee to pursue her interest in developing summary graphics of guidelines as a way to immerse herself in the clinical content and create useful resources for ACG members
Working with the Acute Pancreatitis guideline first author Dr Scott Tenner and with committee chair Dr Moon, Dr Duh and ACG Art Director Emily Garel developed a format and style for the summaries that can serve as a template for others in the series .
Brett W Sadowski, MD
Nizar H Senussi, MD
Rucha M Shah, MD
Ammu T Susheela, MD
Shifa Umar, MD
Muhammad N Yousaf, MD
Erica Duh, MD
Work on the next summary is underway by Dr . Duh on the recent ACG AlcoholAssociated Liver Disease guideline (Jophlin, et al January 2024) . These graphic summaries can be shared and distributed in many ways: in clinical education, as posters for display in fellow work rooms and other clinical spaces, in ACG MAGAZINE, on the ACG and AJG websites, and via social media from the Red Journal Twitter/X (@amjgastro)
Support and Mentorship for ACG Case Reports Journal Editorial Board
The committee helps support the GI fellows-in-training who serve on the ACG Case Reports Journal Editorial Board The 2023-2024 Co-Editors-inChief were Vibhu Chittajallu, MD, and Khushboo Gala, MBBS . Dr . Andrew Moon helped review the 19 applications for positions on the 2024-2025 board and assess 2 current board members seeking a second term Dr Moon reviewed and ranked all the applications, offered important insights on the candidates, and collaborated with ACGCRG editorial staff in the review process
Andrew M. Moon, MD, MPH, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Digital Communications and Publications Committee (cont.)
Evidence-Based Gastroenterology: An ACG Publication
The biggest development of the year for this publication is advertising sponsorships from Ardelyx and AbbVie which now allow the publication to come out from behind login firewall on the gi org website and become more accessible to a larger audience and shared easily via social media This had been a high priority of EIC Philip S Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG
Social Media for ACG’s Three Journals & EBGI: An ACG Publication
@AmJGastro Twitter/X Feed for The American Journal of Gastroenterology
@ACG_CTG Twitter/X Feed for Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology
@ACGCRJ Twitter/X Feed for ACG Case Reports Journal
@ACG_EBGI
Twitter/X Feed for Evidence-Based Gastroenterology
Since its launch in late September 2020, the @AmJGastro Twitter feed has grown to more than 12,500 followers as of August 2024, up from 9,435 followers as of September 2023 Active dialogue with authors who have been sharing links and comments on Red Journal papers and media coverage of ACG guidelines have in large part driven Twitter engagement for @AmJGastro .
The College routinely supports and amplifies the Red Journal’s social media presence by sharing @AmJGastro posts through its Twitter/X handle @AmCollegeGastro, which, with a goal of extending the reach and familiarizing the GI community with Red Journal science . The @AmCollegeGastro Twitter/X feed for ACG launched in August 2010 and has grown to more than 39,700 followers as of August 2024, up from 27,600 in September of 2023
@ACG_CTG – Twitter/X Feed for Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology
CTG launched a Twitter/X presence in May 2021 and has more than 1,050 followers as of August 2024, up from 900 followers as of September 2023 The open access nature of this publication is ideal for social media sharing and Editorin-Chief Brian C Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG is actively engaged in sharing articles The editors are committed to engaging via social media about key articles and interacting with authors
@ACGCRJ – Twitter/X Feed for ACG Case Reports Journal
The ACG Case Reports Journal Twitter/X feed which launched in late June, 2021 and now has more than 1,550 followers as of August 2024, up from 1,200 in September 2023
@ACG_EBGI – Twitter/X Feed for Evidence-Based GI: An ACG Publication
Launched in June 2023, EBGI has more than 2,380 followers as of August 2024, up from 1,488 in September of 2023
SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT FOR EBGI SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORS
An innovative and self-directed community of GI fellows and internal medicine residents has coalesced in support of Evidence-Based GI: An ACG Publication . This group is a consistent source of weekly social media content and an opportunity for leadership development, collaboration, and collegiality Initially launched by Dr Joseph Sleiman, the current co-chairs of the EBGI Social Media Ambassadors are Dr Romy Chamoun and Dr Noor Syed who oversee weekly social media
posts
each Wednesday These visually engaging posts include key insights from EBGI articles in the form of threads on X (formerly Twitter and this feature was known as a “Tweetorial ”)
The group did very creative and thoughtful work during March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month as part of their “EBGI vs . CRC” initiative The talents, energy, and creativity of the Social Media Ambassadors were in full force during March when they presented a consistent and well-conceived social media campaign including key insights from the CRC literature, a video about screening by Dr Anoushka Dua, an evening Virtual Grand rounds with survivors, advocates, and experts including Dr Aasma Shaukat and Dr Folasade May, as well as a fun and inspiring call to post 45 healthy meals to emphasize healthy lifestyle and CRC screening starting at age 45 They coined the rather long, but fun, hashtag #EatGoodFeelGoodxCRCAwareness
ACG MAGAZINE
ACG MAGAZINE is a glossy print quarterly publication offered as a signature benefit of ACG membership As of August 2024, ACG MAGAZNE has published 30 issues since its launch in early 2017 and featured original contributions by scores of ACG members The editorial team is always eager to hear from College members with story ideas and professional news
ACG MAGAZINE 2023-4: Well-Being Special Issue
This special issue features articles on the importance of creating a professional environment focused on well-being, the role of faith and spirituality in personal and professional lives, practical tips for establishing balance, and a look at how ACG members stay inspired to make exercise part of their routines The cover story is by ACG President Jonathan A Leighton and his Mayo colleagues Cynthia Stonnington, MD, and Mr Keith Jones Read: bit.ly/acg-mag-wellbeing
The Magazine published the transcript of Marcia Cross' presentation for the 2023 Emily Couric Memorial Lecture in Vancouver at ACG 2023 This cover story also features information about the HPV Cancers Alliance, a non-profit that Ms Cross founded with Lillian Kreppel Read: bit.ly/acg-magazine-spring-24
ACG MAGAZINE Issue 2024-2: The Exponential Impact of AI on Gastroenterology: The New Frontier of Digestive Health by Brennan M. R. Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG
Dr Spiegel offered to write a cover article for ACG MAGAZINE in which he reflects upon the implications of artificial intelligence for GI and medicine His thoughtful assessment raises critical questions, but he ultimately points to the importance of refining physicians' “capacity for genuine human interaction .” He writes, “The essence of medicine --comforting touch, clear communication, shared decision making, attention to the patient's broader social context --will rely on our wisdom honed over years of dedicated practice . AI will serve as a powerful ally, amplifying our capabilities in data analysis and knowledge application, but the core of our practice will ultimately depend on wisdom .” Read: bit.ly/acg-mag-summer-2024
ACG MAGAZINE 2024-3 Cover Story: Gut Reads
Plans are underway for a cover story of invited reviews by ACG members of books in the GI consumer health and nutrition category by GI authors There will also be reading list recommendations of leadership development books, as well as fun fiction picks for the busy gastroenterologist The book reviews include:
• Austin Chiang, MD, FACG, Gut: An Owner’s Guide (reviewer Scott Gabbard, MD, FACG)
• Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN and Megan Riehl, PsyD, Mind Your Gut: The Science-based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS (reviewer Darren Brenner, MD, FACG)
• James H Tabibian, MD, PhD, FACG, Digestive Problems Solved: A Patient's Guide to Expert Insights and Solutions (reviewer Katherine E Scholand, MD)
Katie Dunleavy, MB, BCh, BAO
Katie A. Dunleavy, MB, BCh, BAO, an Advanced IBD fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN is the current editor of the ACG MAGAZINE “Trainee Hub” section Through her significant contributions to the editorial process for the section, great sense for a story, willingness share about her experiences, and ability to ask great questions of her peers, she has made a tremendous impact on the interest, relevance, and meaning of the Magazine for fellows
Among the highlights of her tenure, Dr Dunleavy contributed an excellent account of her medical mission trip to Rwanda in Issue 2024-1, and an insightful profile of CRC survivor and patient advocate Allison Rosen to Issue 2024-2 . She wrote about her experience with the Alexander Technique for the special Well-being issue 2023-4 In 2023, her piece, “Teaching with the Patient Voice: Integrating Patient Advocates into GI Fellowship Training” was the cover story for Issue 2023-1 .
She wrote a thoughtful reflection on the North American Conference of GI Fellows in which she participated in 2023 as well as an article on research by busy clinicians inspired by Dr Patrick S . Kamath and his AJG Lecture in 2022 As a member of the Digital Communications & Publications Committee, she is active on social media, helping to extend the reach of the Trainee hub articles and the elevate the magazine generally
“GI Eye” Photo or Image
Since 2021, the “GI Eye” photography series has served as a showcase for ACG members who love photography The range of stunning images and thoughtful personal reflections has been such a meaningful addition to ACG MAGAZINE . A lesson from the series is that with newer cell phone cameras one does not need sophisticated equipment to take impressive photos – although many of the submissions are indeed from talented photographers in the GI community with great cameras and skills with Lightbox and Photoshop Everyone is welcome to submit images
Recent contributors include:
• George Ioannou, MD, MS, “Symphony in Blue and White,” Ayioi Anargyroi Chapel, Cavo Greco, Cyprus (2023-4)
• Patrick E Young, MD, FACG, “A Study in Blue,” Upper Joffre Lake and Matier Glacier, British Columbia, BC (2024-1)
• Alan Sloyer, MD, FACG, “Balloon Over Bagan,” Bagan, Myanmar (2024-2)
• Linda Anh Bui Nguyen, MD, FACG, “Perspectives: The Tuileries Gardens, Paris” (2023-3)
• Aline Charabaty, MD, FACG, “Contemplating Eternity, the Camel Way: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt” (2023-2)
• Amy N . Stratton, DO, FACG, “Harmony: Undersea Photos at Mikomoto Island, Japan” (2023-1)
Ways to Contribute to ACG MAGAZINE
ACG MAGAZINE seeks to identify contributors and story ideas which strengthen readers’ connection to the College and to their GI colleagues ACG MAGAZINE serves as a venue to showcase the expertise and insights of ACG volunteer leaders, including the ACG Governors and many ACG committees This demonstrates to readers the close connection their colleagues have with the College, the opportunity to contribute to ACG efforts, and how the College and the membership at large benefit from ACG member participation ACG MAGAZINE welcomes story suggestions from all College members on an ongoing basis: ACGMag@gi.org Read all issues of ACG MAGAZINE by visiting gi.org/ACGMagazine
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Digital Communications and Publications Committee (cont.)
ACG MAGAZINE Cross-Committee Collaborations
ACG committees are a rich source of articles of significant interest for ACG
MAGAZINE . Recent examples of articles developed through committees include:
Women in GI
• Conversations with Women in GI: Dr Gaidos and Dr . Bincy Abraham (2024-1)
• Conversations with Women in GI: Dr Jill Gaidos and Dr Sara Horst (2024-2)
Professionalism Committee
• “Wellness and Work-Life Integration: What Matters Most” The Well-being Special Issue (2023-4)
APP Committee and Practice Management Committee
• “Incorporating APPs into GI Practice: Enhancing GI Care,” Practice Management Toolbox, Mary Vetter, ANP, et al (2023-4)
International Relations Committee
• International Training Grant, Parth Pal, MD, DNB, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India to Allegheny Health Network (2024-4)
• North American International Training Grant, Yuying Luo, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to Maastricht University Medical Center (2024-3)
• International Training Grant, Kartik Natarajan, MBBS, Apollo Main Hospital Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to Mayo Clinic (2023-3)
• International Training Grant, Stella-Maris Chinma Egboh, MD, Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, Nigeria to Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center (2023-3)
• International Training Grant, Andrew M Moon, MD, MPH, FACG of UNC Chapel Hill to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (2023-4)
Patient Care Committee
• About Barrett’s Esophagus (2024-2) in collaboration with Milli Gupta, MD and Scott L Gabbard, MD, FACG (Chair)
Practice Parameters Committee Patient One-Pagers on ACG Guidelines
• Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) with first author Loretta Jophlin, PhD and co-author Ashwani Singal, MD, MS, FACG
• Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (2023) with co-first authors Lin Chang, MD, FACG and William D . Chey, MD, FACG
• Celiac Disease (2023) with first author Alberto Rubio-Tapia, MD
• Gastroparesis (2022) with first author Michael Camilleri, MD, MACG and Patient Care Committee Chair Scott L . Gabbard, MD, FACG
The flavorful contributions of recipes along with thoughtful reflections on the cultural and personal aspects of food and cooking are highlights of this second compilation volume of the magazine’s “Culinary Connections” series Dr Vani Paleti, Dr Christina Tennyson and Dr Alexander Perelman are the editors Their vision and many creative contributions bring this feature to life Explore: bit.ly/acg-foodies-2
ACG Blog
ACG Blog (gi.org/ACG-Blog) and the weekly “Know ACG Know GI ” email newsletter receive positive engagement and visibility among ACG members These serve as platforms to promote critical deadlines and administrative news and to feature content from AJG, CTG and the ACG Case Reports Journal, the Practice Management Toolbox, and the ACG Education Universe Video of the Week The ACG President also publishes views and updates via ACG Blog News surrounding topics like clinical research awards and colorectal cancer awareness activities, e g , SCOPY Awards and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, are also featured on the Blog
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Sophie M . Balzora, MD, FACG, Chair
Abdillahi M Abdinoor, MD
Suha Abushamma, MD
Tonya L . Adams, MD
Patricia Ajayi-Fox, MD
Somaya A M . Albhaisi, MD
Cassidy Alexandre, MD
Mohammad F Ali, MD, FACG
Mazer R . Ally, MD, FACG
Sumant Arora, MD
Fray M Arroyo-Mercado, MD
Sindhu Chadalawada, MD
Janice Cheong, MD
Lanla Conteh, MD
Kalpit H Devani, MD
Sujaata Dwadasi, MD
Corlan O Eboh, MD
Chukwunonso B Ezeani, MD
Erina N Foster, MD, FACG
Cassandra D Fritz, MD
Venu Gangireddy, MD
Samita Garg, MD
Lafaine Grant, MD
Damanpreet K . Grewal, MD
Vineet S Gudsoorkar, MD
Alexandra Guillaume, MD
Averill Guo, MD
Nour Hamade, MD
Dominique E Howard, MD, FACG
Daniel S Jamorabo, MD
Alyson M Johnson, MD
Olufemi Kassim, MD
Anas Khouri, MD
Gordon Kim, DO
Kondal R Kyanam Kabir Baig, MD, FACG
Adam C . Lessne, MD, FACG
Zubair A . Malik, MD
Jose R Martin, MD, FACG
Barani S . Mayilvaganan, MD, FACG
Matthew B McNeill, MD
Cecilia Minano, MD
Clive J Miranda, DO
Than Nguyen, DO
Luis Miguel Nieto, MD
Kenneth O . Obi, MD, FACG
Leybelis Padilla, MD, FACG
Krunal Patel, MD
Sonali Paul, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for heightening awareness of issues and strategies related to diversity, equity and inclusion by which the College can better serve the interests of all members and their patients The Committee will work collaboratively with other committees in providing input through a healthy equity lens on programming such as educational, research and community engagement activities conducted by the College This includes serving as an advisory group to the College on health disparity-related issues among racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups that the College can be a leader in addressing through programming for all members and patients The Committee will also promote and advocate for inclusive representation in College leadership and work with other committees to increase participation, visibility, and advancement of members from underrepresented backgrounds in College-related activities such as appointments as faculty of ACG educational programs
Stephanie D . Pointer, MD
Maricela Rangel-Garcia, MD
Vonda G Reeves, MD, MBA, FACG
Benjamin D Renelus, MD
Joseph W Rinaldi, MD
Nicolette J Rodriguez, MD
Giovanni A . Roldan, MD
Dalbir S Sandhu, MD, FACG
Priscila Santiago, MD
Abhishek Seth, MD, FACG
Yash R Shah, MD
Kevin Y Song, MD
Belen A Tesfaye, MD
Raj Jessica Thomas, DO
Nyree K Thorne, MD
Sophie Trujillo, DO
Shifa Umar, MD
Kenneth J Vega, MD, FACG
Christopher D . Velez, MD
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD
Christina P. Wang, MD
Bushra Zia, MD
OBJECTIVES
1 To heighten awareness of issues and strategies related to diversity, equity and inclusion by which the College can best serve the interests of all members and their patients
2 To work collaboratively with other committees in providing input through a healthy equity lens on programming such as educational, research and community engagement activities conducted by the College This includes serving as an advisory group to the College on health disparity-related issues among racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups that the College can be a leader in addressing through programming for all members and patients
3 To promote and advocate for inclusive representation in College leadership and work with other committees to increase participation, visibility, and advancement of members from underrepresented backgrounds in College-related activities such as appointments as faculty of ACG educational programs
4 To help educate students from minority populations and underserved groups about careers in medicine and gastroenterology, through outreach, mentorship and research opportunities
Sophie M. Balzora, MD, FACG
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (cont.)
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee continues to work harmoniously to fulfill its mission to inform the College about health care issues among diverse population groups through a variety of programs:
DEI URIM Awareness Months
The DEI URIM Awareness Months Co-Leads along with subcommittee members put together month-long, weekly spotlights highlighting individuals/organizations that have enriched the field of gastroenterology for the following:
• Black History Month: gi.org/2024/02/01/black-history-month-2024/
• Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: gi.org/2024/05/03/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritagemonth-2024/
• Pride Month: gi.org/2024/06/07/pride-month-2024/
The DEI Committee will be holding the inaugural “ACG URIM Luncheon: A Time to Shine – Underrepresented in Medicine” on Sunday, October 27, 2024, from 12:20 pm-1:35 pm, in Philadelphia during the Annual Meeting . The Committee looks forward to welcoming attendees to this exciting learning luncheon which will focus on a variety of career paths, mitigating and overcoming unique obstacles faced by URIMs and honing the art and skill of networking
Summer Scholars Program
The Summer Scholars Program is a formalized mentorship and clinical research program designed to help increase representation of underrepresented groups in medicine in academic gastroenterology careers The program is an 8 to 10-week structured clinical research experience for medical students in the U S from underrepresented racial/ethnic minority groups Three students are chosen from the pool of applicants, paired with research mentors who share similar clinical research interests in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology, and awarded a $5,000 stipend At the end of the program, the students are required to submit a progress report and an abstract to a local, regional, or national conference
The Summer Scholars Program subcommittee, led by Dr Somaya Albhaisi, selected the following recipients for the 2024 program:
• Alexandra Goad (University of Louisville); Mentor: Christopher D . Vélez, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
• Marquise Soto (UCLA); Mentor: Eric D Shah, MD, MBA, FACG (University of Michigan)
The Prescriptions for Success Program will be held at Central High School in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, October 29 . The ACG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Healthcare Scholarships will be awarded after the program and consists of an award of $1,000 for up to three students who are interested in higher education and a career focused on healthcare .
Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award (HERA)
The Committee partners with the ACG Institute’s LE&E Center on the Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award (HERA) . The 2024 recipient, Jin Ge, MD, MBA, of the University of California San Francisco, received a two-year award of $75,000 ($50k in year-one and $25k in year-two based on project progress) and will be researching “Applying Large Language Models-Driven Natural Language Processing to Better Understand the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Disparities in Liver Transplantation ” Applications for 2025 are due by December 2, 2024 .
DEI Virtual Grand Rounds
Dr Patricia Ajayi-Fox presented “We Can Do Better: Laying the Foundation for Understanding Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health” at an ACG Virtual Grand Rounds session on May 9, 2024, with Dr Renee Williams as the moderator
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, Chair
George G Abdelsayed, MD, FACG
Elham Afghani, MD
Monjur Ahmed, MD, FACG
Joseph Ahn, MD, MS, MBA, FACG
Jana G Al Hashash, MD, MSc, FACG
Olga C . Aroniadis, MD, MSc, FACG
Sharjeel Arshad, MD
Akwi W Asombang, MD, MPH, FACG
Ayse Aytaman, MD, FACG
Jodie A Barkin, MD, FACG
Mashal A Batheja, MD
Sean Bhalla, MD
Asmeen Bhatt, MD, PhD
Shrinivas Bishu, MD
Wojciech C Blonski, MD, FACG
Peter S Buch, MD, FACG
Daniel W Bushyhead, MD
Freddy Caldera, DO, MS, FACG
Steven L Carpenter, MD, FACG
Andrew T Catanzaro, MD, FACG
Shannon Chang, MD, FACG
Khadija H . Chaudrey, MD
Raquel E Davila, MD, FACG
Larry M Deppe, MD
Lovekirat S Dhaliwal, MD
Banreet Dhindsa, MBBS
Ahmed M Dirweesh, MD
David T Dulaney, MD
Mohamad A Eloubeidi, MD, FACG
Shanti L Eswaran, MD, FACG
Thomas W Faust, MD
Ryan K Fawley, MD, FACG
Adam S Faye, MD
David Fudman, MD
Harish K Gagneja, MD, FACG
Seema R Gandhi, MD, FACG
Swapna Gayam, MD, FACG
Aaron S Goldberg, MD, FACG
Shilpa Grover, MD, MPH
Christina Y. Ha, MD, FACG
Nghiem Ha, MD
Fady Haddad, MD
Bilal Hameed, MD
Andrew J Han, MD
Phillip K Henderson, DO
Edith Y. Ho, MD, MS, FACG
Erik A Holzwanger, MD
Nicholas A Hoppmann, MD
Jennifer Horsley-Silva, MD
Dominique E Howard, MD, FACG
Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG
David P Hudesman, MD, FACG
Sumant Inamdar, MD
Mohammad K Ismail, MD
Danny Issa, MD
Prasun K . Jalal, MD, FACG
Laith H Jamil, MD, FACG
Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, FACG
Aditya Kalakonda, MD
Tonya R Kaltenbach, MD, MS, FACG
Rahul Karna, MD
Abraham R . Khan, MD, FACG
Zubair Khan, MD
Wissam Kiwan, MD
Gursimran S . Kochhar, MD
Shivangi T Kothari, MD, FACG
Pujitha Kudaravalli, MD
Anand Raman Kumar, MD, MPH
Stephen J Lanspa, MD, FACG
Luis F Lara, MD
Galen Leung, MD
Darrick K Li, MD, PhD
David B Liang, MD, FACG
Gary R Lichtenstein, MD, FACG
Ian Lustbader, MD, FACG
Mitchell A Mahmoud, MD, FACG
Lisa B Malter, MD, FACG
Emad Mansoor, MD
Noel B Martins, MD
Chetan Mittal, MD
Dejan Micic, MD, FACG
Fouad J Moawad, MD, FACG
Mayssan Muftah, MD
V Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, FACG
Rishi D Naik, MD, FACG
Udayakumar Navaneethan, MD, FACG
Judy W Nee, MD
Saowanee Ngamruengphong, MD
Anh D Nguyen, MD
Philip N Okafor, MD, MPH, FACG
Veeral M Oza, MD
Baldeep S Pabla, MD
Elizabeth R . Paine, MD, FACG
Nasim Parsa, MD
Neha V Patel, MD, FACG
Viral D Patel, MD, FACG
Pallavi Patil, MD
Srikrishna V Patnana, MD
Jessica R Philpott, MD, PhD, FACG
Douglas K Pleskow, MD, FACG
Dany A Raad, MD
Mahmoud Rahal, MD
Shreya Raja, MD
S Devi Rampertab, MD, FACG
Rajani Rangray, MD
Nikila C Ravindran, MD, FACG
Andrew R Reinink, MD
Ernesto S Robalino Gonzaga, MD
Ahmed Saeed, MD
Tahira Saifuddin, MD, FACG
Niloy Jewel Samadder, MD, FACG
Tarek Sawas, MD
David A Schwartz, MD, FACG
Amol Sharma, MD, MSc, FACG
Kaveh Sharzehi, MD
Mohamed Shoreibah, MD
Asim Shuja, MD
Prashant Singh, MD
Jacob M Skeans, MD
Scott M Smukalla, MD
Kyle D Staller, MD, MPH
Judy A Trieu, MD, MPH
Guru Trikudanathan, MD
Shifa Umar, MD
Asad Ur Rahman, MD
Kenneth J Vega, MD, FACG
David W Victor, MD, FACG
Lavanya Viswanathan, MD, MS, FACG
David W. Wan, MD, FACG
Xiao Jing Wang, MD
H Christian Weber, MD, FACG
Rashad C Wilkerson, DO
Kenneth K Wang, MD, FACG
Robert J Wong, MD, MS, FACG
Mohammad Yaghoobi, MD, FACG
John Erikson L Yap, MD, FACG
Sonia S Yoon, MD
Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Educational Affairs Committee (cont.)
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for all Postgraduate educational activities of the College including the Annual Postgraduate Course and the Scientific Program for the Annual Meeting of the College (including the solicitation of abstracts, the selection and invitation of special guest speakers, and the printing and distribution of the final Scientific Program) . It shall be responsible for reviewing and approving all continuing education courses submitted to the College for approval or co-sponsorship, and enforcing all administrative and financial guidelines for the conduct of such courses The Director of the Annual Postgraduate Course of the College shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee
OBJECTIVES
1 Develop the final program for the Annual Scientific Meeting, including clinical symposia, bonus (formerly breakfast) sessions, and abstract presentations
2 Develop CME and MOC activities, including Regional Postgraduate Courses, one-day Courses/Schools, Self-Assessment Tests, Virtual Grand Rounds, etc
3 Curate and archive current content and develop new content for the Education Universe
4 . Evaluate and endorse international meetings to address the needs of our international members
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Educational Affairs Committee is committed to maintaining ACG’s role as a leading provider of high quality continuing medical and professional education for digestive health care providers The Committee continues to establish state-of-the-art educational activities in a variety of venues and formats to allow ACG members and others to be lifelong learners regarding the prevention, treatment, and cure of digestive diseases . The Committee does so by soliciting suggestions and recommendations from our distinguished members and Fellows, as well as reviewing memberbased needs assessment data, and data analyses of attendee evaluations from past meetings The Committee looks forward to and will continue to bring quality CME to clinicians in the field of gastroenterology
The Educational Affairs Committee and its Subcommittees met on three occasions over the last year . The full committee met in October to discuss the past and upcoming year The Annual Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee met in January 2024 to plan the educational offerings for the 2024 Annual Meeting ACG 2024 is being offered as a hybrid event both live in Philadelphia and with virtual components in October 2024 The Abstract Selection Subcommittee then met in July 2024 to select oral presentations, poster presentations, and abstract awards for the 2024 meeting
ACG 2024
The Abstract Selection Subcommittee met in July 2024 Over 5,900 abstracts were submitted, and 68 of the top-rated abstracts were selected for oral presentation
For the twelfth year, the College offered an Endoscopy Video Forum abstract category Video abstracts focusing on endoscopic techniques, as well as challenging or unique cases, were invited for submission . Six abstracts were selected for presentation at the 12th Annual Endoscopy Video Forum Authors of accepted videos will present their videos in person and answer questions from the judges and the audience During the session, the audience, along with the judges, will vote to select the best video of ACG 2024
Forty-two of the top abstracts were identified as award recipients, with $42,000 to be distributed among award winners, including: 3 ACG Auxiliary Awards, 2 Case Reports Journal Awards, 27 Outstanding Research Category Awards (14 specifically for Trainees), 1 Outstanding Research Award by an APP (NEW in 2024), 5 ACG Governors Awards for Excellence in Clinical Research, 1 Radhika Srinivasan Gender-Based Research Award, 1 Health Equity Research Award, 1 International Award, and 1 Lawlor Resident Award . This year was also the first time ACG awarded 3 International Travel Grants to presenting authors from countries classified by the World Bank as Lower to Lower-Middle Income (LLMI) The goal of these grants is to encourage research in gastroenterology in LLMI countries and inspire researchers to present their research at the ACG Annual Meeting In addition, late breaking abstracts of exceptional scientific merit were considered for oral presentation at the Annual Meeting
Over 5,100 abstracts were selected for poster presentation in 2024 Experts and College leaders will once again be asked to select the top presenter from their assigned categories and award them with an Outstanding Poster Presenter designation, distinguished by a red ribbon on the poster in Philadelphia as well as a certificate of recognition following the meeting .
The final program for the ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting was developed collaboratively after extensive discussion with the Educational Affairs Committee, chaired by Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, with input from ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG, and the ACG Board of Trustees The program includes 8 new ignite sessions (formerly breakfast) sessions, 12 clinical symposia, over 70 oral presentations, and over 5,100 poster presentations
On Friday, October 25, 2025, five additional educational offerings are available:
1 GI Pathology and Imaging – led by Course Co-Directors Olga C Aroniadis, MD, MSc, FACG, and Phillip K Henderson, DO, will feature live and streaming sessions from 7:00 am – 12:30 pm Eastern .
2 Practice Management Summit: Bigger, Stronger, and Faster: How to Make Your Practice Thrive, Not Just Survive – led by Course Co-
Directors: Michelle L Hughes, MD, and J . Andy Tau, MD, will feature live sessions from 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm Eastern, with on-demand sessions available following the course
3 What’s New in GI Pharmacology Course – led by Course CoDirectors Brooks D Cash, MD, FACG, and William D . Chey, MD, FACG, will feature live and streaming sessions from 1:45 pm – 5:20 pm Eastern
4 NEW! WISE GI: Women’s Initiative for Success and Elevation in Gastroenterology Course – led by Course Co-Directors: Calley H Levine, MD, and Jennifer Katz, MD, FACG, will feature live sessions from 1:45 pm – 6:30 pm Eastern, with on-demand sessions available following the course
5 NEW! ACG Guide to the Guidelines Course – led by Course CoDirectors: Brennan M Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG, and Hetal A . Karsan, MD, FACG, will feature live sessions from 6:45 pm – 9:30 pm Eastern, with on-demand sessions available following the course
Access to courses on the digital platform will be available to both live and virtual attendees until March 31, 2025
Virtual-only attendees will be able to select a Virtual All Access Pass that includes three of the ACG Friday courses (GI Pathology and Imaging, Practice Management Summit and What’s New in GI Pharmacology Course) paired with the Postgraduate Course and the Annual Scientific Meeting . A second Virtual All Access Pass option allows for the addition of the ASGE Friday Endoscopy Course
On October 26 – 27, 2024, the Postgraduate Course will be held under the leadership of Course Co-Directors Jodie A Barkin, MD, FACG, and Jill K J . Gaidos, MD, FACG . The Self-Assessment Test, prepared under the direction of Olga C Aroniadis, MD, MSc, FACG, with content from the Postgraduate Course faculty and Educational Affairs Committee members, will be distributed once again in booklet form to all in-person Postgraduate Course attendees; online access will be provided for ALL Postgraduate Course attendees
After completion of the SAT, learners will receive:
• A personalized scoring profile, including overall and category scores as well as comparison data to their peers
• Detailed answers and explanations
• Supporting references with links in the online version to PubMed for further study
• An evaluation form to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ and ABIM MOC points
Additional Educational Initiatives/Projects
Live Educational Offerings
In addition to planning this year’s Annual Meeting educational activities, the Educational Affairs Committee has continued to work on the following future educational initiatives and projects:
2024 Meetings
ACG’s Functional GI & Motility Disorders School & ACG Southern Regional Postgraduate Course
December 6-8, 2024
Renaissance Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
2025 Meetings
NEW! ACG’s Esophagus School & ACG Western Regional Postgraduate Course
January 24-26, 2025
Mandalay Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada
ACG's IBD School and ACG/FGS Annual Spring Symposium
March 7-9, 2025
Naples Grande Beach Resort
Naples, Florida
NEW! Shaping the Future of Gastroenterology and ACG/LGS Regional Postgraduate Course
March 14-16, 2025
DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
ACG’s Endoscopy School & ACG Eastern Regional Postgraduate Course
June 6-8, 2025
Marriott Metro Center
Washington, DC
ACG’s Functional GI & Motility Disorders School & ACG Midwest Regional Postgraduate Course
August 22-24, 2025
Marriott Indy Place Indianapolis, Indiana
NEW! ACG’s Esophagus School & ACG/VGS/ODSGNA Regional Postgraduate Course
September 5-7, 2025
Williamsburg Lodge
Williamsburg, Virginia
ACG 2025
October 24-29, 2025
Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix, AZ
ACG’s Hepatology School & ACG Southern Regional Postgraduate Course
December 5-7, 2025
Renaissance Hotel Nashville, Tennessee
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Educational Affairs Committee (cont.)
Navigating the ABIM’s MOC Program
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) continues to update the requirements for its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program ACG strives to do everything it can to make ABIM’s MOC process simple for members to navigate As such, the College has MOC modules available for members at universe.gi.org to make ABIM’s MOC process as easy as possible to fulfill .
ACG continues to offer ABIM MOC points for all live meetings including the regional postgraduate courses, Friday Schools, as well as all the courses and bonus sessions at ACG 2024 .
ACG Online Self-Assessment Test
The 2022 through 2024 Self-Assessment Tests (SAT) are available online, with each test featuring more than 300 multiple choice questions organized by organ system The online SAT tracks user responses, provides overall/category scores and comparison data to other test-takers, as well as detailed explanations for each answer, and linked references for further study This user-friendly study tool is an excellent choice for members who are preparing for the board/recertification exam, need CME/MOC credits, or are simply looking for a way to keep current in gastroenterology
ACG Education Universe
The ACG Education Universe is an online, self-directed CME program that provides a way for all clinicians to access outstanding tools in preparing for the GI boards, recertification, or obtaining necessary CME credits outside of the ACG meetings Users can choose the topics they want to learn about, the format of the information, and how much time they want to devote to learning any given topic A wide variety of educational materials including lectures, journal articles, and learning modules allow the user to cater to his or her needs and interests
The ACG Education Universe also hosts a “Training Pathway” available to GI Program Directors and fellows that provides educational materials (lectures, journal articles, and self-assessment test questions) organized into categories that align with the GI Core Curriculum Program Directors have the ability to assign homework to their GI trainees, comprised of content of their choosing, and monitor the trainees’ progress and completion of assignments .
The Training Pathway also includes “A Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director’s Toolkit: Utilizing Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to Teach and Evaluate Fellows’ Performance in Communication, Professionalism, and Other Key ACGME Competencies .” ACG worked with NYU Langone School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, to develop and make this Toolkit available It includes all of the necessary instructions, materials, and templates needed for a training program to offer a comprehensive OSCE program The materials include detailed clinical scenarios with evaluation objectives and related ACGME milestones; OSCE station set-up instructions; indepth character profiles and dialogue cues for the standardized patients or professionals; instructions for the participating fellows; checklists to assist the standardized patient and faculty observers in providing verbal
feedback to the fellows; sample fellow report cards and evaluation surveys; and instructions on how to use these materials . Importantly, each clinical case is developed with the goal of evaluating the fellows’ performance in accordance with designated ACGME milestones .
Virtual Grand Rounds
In response to the changing needs of GI clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, ACG began offering Virtual Grand Rounds in March 2020 These weekly webinars are offered on Thursdays from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm Eastern and are rebroadcast from 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern . They are open-access and offered on a variety of clinical GI topics Registration for this popular activity has surpassed 80,000 clinicians The College plans to continue offering these Virtual Grand Rounds as a valuable element of ACG’s educational programming The majority of Virtual Grand Rounds are offered for both CME and ABIM MOC points . If you are not able to join the Virtual Grand Rounds live, they are all archived on the ACG Education Universe (universe.gi.org)
International Webinar Series
The OPGE (Pan American GI Society) Webinar series was initiated in March 2019 . Starting in March 2021, this opportunity was opened up to all international GI societies Past and future topics can be accessed at gi.org/education/international-virtual-grand-rounds .
International Endorsed Courses
In an effort to expand the ACG’s educational offerings to our international members, the Committee approved the following 2024 international courses for endorsement by the College:
BIG Conf. “Best of India in Gastroenterology”
GI Oncology Meet 2024
May 11-12, 2024
MedIndia Academy & Hospitals
Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Gastroenterology: A Global Perspective
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, in association with the American College of Gastroenterology and the Scottish Society of Gastroenterology
November 6, 2024
Edinburgh, Scotland and Virtual
Korea Digestive Disease Week 2024
November 14-16, 2024
Seoul, Korea
New Endo-GE Webinar Series
An Initiative of MedIndia Academy & Hospital
April - December 2024
FDA RELATED MATTERS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Eric D Shah, MD, MBA, FACG, Chair
Amanda K Cartee, MD, FACG, Vice Chair
Kalyan R Bhamidimarri, MD, MPH, FACG
James B . Canavan, MD, PhD
Saurabh Chawla, MD, FACG
Jacqueline N . Chu, MD
Neal D . Dharmadhikari, MD
Linda A Feagins, MD, FACG
Brian D . Ginnebaugh, MD
Lawrence Goldkind, MD
Stephen Hasak, MD
Yasmin G Hernandez-Barco, MD
Omar K Jamil, MD
Justin T Kupec, MD, FACG
Benjamin H Levy, III, MD
Madhu Mathew, MD
Fazia A Mir, MD
Suresh K . Nayudu, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for maintaining and strengthening the College’s relationship with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as providing topical information to The American Journal of Gastroenterology and other ACG publications and meetings regarding GI drugs and devices that have been reviewed and/or approved by the FDA
OBJECTIVES
1 Maintain and enhance an ongoing relationship with the FDA:
• To serve in an advisory role concerning gastroenterology products
• To assess impact of FDA decisions regarding drugs/devices and to inform ACG leadership and members
• To provide suggestions for the FDA GI Drug Advisory Committee
• To develop and maintain collaborative programs with the FDA
2 Provide updates, via The American Journal of Gastroenterology, SmartBrief, the ACG website, other media, and workshops or symposia, for our members on key issues stemming from FDA policies or decisions
3 Serve as a resource for members to report adverse events (AEs) more easily .
COMMITTEE REPORT
The FDA Related Matters Committee in 2024 continues under the leadership of Eric Shah, MD, MBA, FACG, and Amanda Cartee, MD, FACG (Vice Chair)
In-person committee meeting with FDA leadership
Eleven members of the Committee attended an in-person meeting at the ACG offices on May 17, 2024 . They were joined by three physician leaders from the FDA’s Division of Gastroenterology, OND, CDER – Jessica Lee, MD, Division Director; Juli Tomaino, MD, Deputy Division Director; and Erica Lyons, MD, Associate Director for Therapeutic Review . Each FDA leader shared their professional journey from patient care to their current
Harini Rathinamanickam, MD
K Gautham Reddy, MD, FACG
Tilak U Shah, MD, MHS, FACG
Adam F Steinlauf, MD
Chung Sang Tse, MD
Eric J Vargas, MD
Shivakumar Vignesh, MD, FACG
regulatory work at the agency, as well as new drug approvals, clinical study design, and our joint fellowship program for first- and second-year GI fellows . The Committee also reviewed edits to the FDA page on the ACG website
The ACG-FDA Fellowship
Program
The ACG-FDA Fellowship Program is back, after a hiatus due to COVID-19 The Committee recently selected the next two participants in our joint fellowship with the FDA Their one-month virtual rotation will begin in Spring 2025
The fellow(s) receive a monetary award for participating in the program and will subsequently become a member of the FDA Related Matters Committee Fellows also receive a stipend for travel and related expenses to the subsequent ACG Annual Meeting for a presentation to the FDARelated Matters Committee at their meeting .
FDA Committee Manuscripts
The Committee routinely drafts manuscripts related to FDA and clinical gastroenterology These manuscripts are published in the Red Section of The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) or hosted on the FDA Committee section of the ACG website
FDA Network of Experts
The College is also a member-organization of the FDA’s “Network of Experts .” This program allows the FDA rapid access to expertise when it is needed to supplement existing knowledge and expertise within the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) .
FDA Safety Alerts & Meetings
The Committee continues to highlight and notify ACG members when the FDA publishes safety alerts and other regulatory updates pertaining to clinical gastroenterology . ACG notifies membership through various communication tools and social media The ACG FDA Related Matters Committee continues to host these safety alerts and recalls on ACG’s website Committee members continue to monitor and attend important hearings at the FDA on behalf of the College
Eric D. Shah, MD, MBA, FACG
FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Costas H Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG, Chair
Carol A Burke, MD, FACG
Kenneth R DeVault, MD, MACG
Sunanda V Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG
Paul Y Kwo, MD, FACG
Amy S Oxentenko, MD, FACG
Irving M Pike, MD, MACG
Costas H Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG, Chair
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
In cooperation with the Treasurer, this Committee will develop an annual operating budget and submit it to the Board of Trustees for approval It will be the responsibility of this Committee to review the financial conditions of the College on a continuing basis and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding dues, investments, contributions and all other financial aspects of the College
OBJECTIVES
1 Conduct annual audit and budget review
2 Work with the Executive Director to prepare a new budget for presentation to the Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting
3 Review the performance of the College’s investment reserves
4 . Continue to refine the oversight functions of this Committee in the activities of the College
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Finance and Budget Committee reviews the overall financial status of the ACG and the ACG Institute When appropriate, the committee makes recommendations on how to finance the College’s activities and maintain adequate financial reserves, including recommending a budget for the coming year The 2025 budget draft will be reviewed and approved by the Committee and sent to the Board of Trustees for review and approval at the Annual Meeting in late October The committee will also review the draft of the audited 2023 Financial Statements for the College and the ACG Institute and recommended approval by the full Board of Trustees
In recent years, the College has implemented an endowment spend policy that provided additional revenue to support – if needed – the College’s annual operating budget based on an agreed upon percentage of investment reserves put forth by the Committee (currently 3 5%) The goal is to protect the investment principal while allowing the maximum amount of funds possible to support programs and services for the College membership This model is in place for both the College and the ACG Institute for Clinical Research and Education where it was
successfully implemented several years ago and has provided both security and flexibility that has enabled effective short and long-term planning As we continue to operate during these times of uncertainty for GI practices in all settings, the College has benefited enormously from the financial security that the careful financial stewardship over many years has provided to the College for the benefit of the membership
This Committee continues to oversee transfers of funds to the ACG and the ACG Institute’s investment reserves to provide for the ACG and the ACG Institute’s long-term financial security and resource growth for the College in accordance with ACG policy, regardless of the ups and downs in the investment markets The Committee is also responsible for overseeing and, when necessary, altering the College’s Investment Policy . Last year has seen a rebound in the market after a very rough 2022 in the stock and bond markets, and this year has been off to another strong start allowing the College to continue to fulfill our investment goals and objectives We are watching market changes and rely on recommendations from the investment managers regarding short- and longterm market movements
The College’s (and Institute’s) investments are currently split between two investment firms, each relying on independent money managers following the same overall investment policy which gives flexibility in what specific investments or investment classes are employed This model allows the Committee to compare one firm's performance against the other and against key broader market benchmarks . This permits the Committee to consider restructuring our distribution or asset allocation, and changing one of the managers if needed, depending on return-on-investment analysis Performance evaluation is reviewed monthly by our Executive Director and Vice President, Finance and quarterly by the Committee The Committee has also chosen to continue holding an in-person meeting with one of the investment firms during the Annual Meeting to review overall performance and analyze current financial trends or market highlights
Since 2008, when the two current brokerage firms were selected, the cost to manage the investment funds has been treated as a budgeted expense item rather than a deduction from the investment gain/loss accounts The Board of Trustees agreed with the Committee that this would not only increase transparency of the cost of investment management, but also increase the investment yield over the long term The ACG Investment Guidelines are reviewed at least annually and received some minor updates in 2021 to adjust some of the limits on various classes of investment holdings at the request of the investment managers in response to the pandemic impacts on the markets The cash balance reserve policy requires that 50% of the annual operating budget to be available in either cash or other liquid assets
We continue to consider and review different investment vehicles for the College’s financial reserves, including a property investment which includes the College’s new office building which staff moved into at the beginning of 2023, and other small investment opportunities that align with the mission and investment policy of ACG .
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Vladimir M Kushnir, MD, FACG, Chair
Sangeeta Agrawal, MD, FACG
Paul A Akerman, MD, FACG
Amer AlSamman, MD
Ganesh S Aswath, MD
Thomas J . Borody, MD, FACG
Alan Brijbassie, MD, FACG
Adam Buckholz, MD
Daniel Castaneda, MD
Prabhleen Chahal, MD, FACG
Jean Chalhoub, MD
Alyssa Y Choi, MD
Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu, MD, FACG
Marta L Davila, MD, FACG
Bara El Kurdi, MD
Maysaa El Zoghbi, MD
OBJECTIVES
Sarah M Enslin, PA-C
Balwant Singh Gill, MD, DNB
Frank G . Gress, MD, MACG
Seth A Gross, MD, FACG
Daniela G Vinsard, MD
Yasmin G . Hernandez-Barco, MD
Prasad G Iyer, MD, MSc, FACG
Laith H Jamil, MD, FACG
Toufic Kachaamy, MD, FACG
Adam J Kichler, DO
Christopher Y. Kim, MD, FACG
Linda S Lee, MD, FACG
Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, PhD, FACG
Swati Pawa, MD, FACG
Ryan B Perumpail, MD
Aparna Repaka, MD
To evaluate innovation and technology needs in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology for our members .
The Committee is comprised of members with specific expertise and interest in GI technology There are also liaisons from related ACG Committees to align work and avoid duplicative projects
COMMITTEE REPORT
Innovation & Technology Podcast Series: “Brains and Guts”
The Innovation & Technology Committee launched a new podcast, “Brains & Guts” in the Fall 2023 The podcast is hosted on an ongoing basis by Toufic Kachaamy, MD, FACG, and Vladimir Kushnir, MD, FACG .
The goal of the podcast series is to demystify the process of developing new technology and empower gastroenterologists to explore ideas and apply the innovator’s mindset to everyday practice Episodes have thus far covered the importance of GI innovation, what to do after coming up with an idea, fundraising and market analysis, and patenting
ACG 2024: Innovation & Technology Committee Booth Tour and Reception
The Committee plans to host a Committee Booth Walking Tour at ACG 2024, with the goal of meeting industry representatives and driving booth traffic to the ACG 2024 exhibit floor, followed by a cocktail reception for the Committee, Brains & Guts Podcast guests, GI innovation and technology industry leaders, as well as others
Peter J Sargon, MD
Drew B Schembre, MD, FACG
Omer Shahab, MD
Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG
Lin Shen, MD
Amandeep K . Shergill, MD, MS, FACG
Manish Singla, MD, FACG
Anthony Sofia, MD
Rushi K Talati, MD
Raseen Tariq, MD
Jason R . Taylor, MD, FACG
M'hamed Turki, MD
Sachin B Wani, MD
Brandon A . Wuerth, MD
ACG Magazine – “Tech Spotlight”
The Committee hosts a “Tech Spotlight” series for ACG Magazine
Tech Assessments and Subject-Matter Expertise
ACG routinely receives coverage-determination assessment requests from insurers dealing with new technology . This Committee provides the subject matter experts and formulates ACG’s response/feedback to these organizations
“Best of ACG 2023 Abstracts” VGR and Abstract Technology Email
In April 2024, the Committee hosted an ACG VGR, highlighting these abstracts from last year’s meeting and promoting the 2024 ACG Annual Meeting .
Vladimir M. Kushnir, MD, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Kenechukwu O Chudy-Onwugaje, MD, FACG, Chair
Bincy P Abraham, MD, MS, FACG
Patricia Ajayi-Fox, MD
Badr Al-Bawardy, MD, FACG
Muhammad A Altaf, MD
Sunil P Amin, MD
Avinash Aravantagi, MD
Bhavana Bhagya Rao, MD
Somasundaram Bharath, MD, FACG
Abhik Bhattacharya, MD
Moheb Boktor, MD, FACG
Antoine Boustany, MD
Wilson Catapani, MD, FACG
Seshadri T Chandrasekar, MD, FACG
Avais M Chatha, MD, FACG
Saleem Chowdhry, MD
Sonja P Dawsey, MD
Silvio W de Melo, Jr , MD, FACG
Uzoamaka Kimberly Dike, MD
Genaro V Elizondo, MD
Moamen Gabr, MD
Temitayo Gboluaje, MD
Edoardo Giannini, MD, PhD, FACG
Balwant S Gill, MD, DNB
Nalini M Guda, MD, FACG
Grigoriy E Gurvits, MD, FACG
Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG
Syed F Jafri, MD
Afrin N Kamal, MD
Hamid Kamran, MD, FACG
Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
Kunut Kijsirichareanchai, MD, FACG
John J Kim, MD, FACG
Na Li, MD, PhD
Gene K Ma, MD
Guilherme Macedo, MD, PhD, MACG
Anand Madan, MD, FACG
Mitchell A . Mahmoud, MD, FACG
Amir Masoud, MD, FACG
Julia F Massaad, MD, FACG
Mike Mills, MD, FACG
Sharat Misra, MD, FACG
Akihito Nagahara, MD, PhD, FACG
Kiran R Nakkala, MD, FACG
Rathi Narayan, MD, MBA, FACG
Arif Nawaz, MD, FACG
Borko Nojkov, MD
Shabana F Pasha, MD, FACG
Swati Pawa, MD, FACG
Nikila Ravindran, MD, FACG
Reem Z Sharaiha, MD, MSc
Fahmi K Shibli, MD
Amandeep Singh, MD
Gengqing Song, MD, PhD
Oscar Teramoto-Matsubara, MD, FACG
Virendra Tewari, MD, FACG
Kevin Tin, MD
David J Truscello, DO
Marisabel Valdez, MD, FACG
Luis R Valdovinos, MD
Santhi S . Vege, MD, MACG
This Committee shall be responsible for developing materials and program concepts to address the needs and interests of the College’s international membership and promoting the ACG in the international community
OBJECTIVES
1 . Examine the Annual Meeting for enhancements that would make it more attractive and comfortable to international members by identifying topics of global interest
2 Consider issues that would make membership of the ACG more attractive and feasible for international gastroenterologists .
Kenechukwu O. Chudy-Onwugaje, MD, FACG
3 Consider tangible benefits of membership for international members
4 Review College publications to identify those which would have value to international members
5 Establish guidelines for co-sponsorship of carefully selected international meetings by the ACG; coordinate planning of these programs working closely with the Educational Affairs Committee
6 Oversee the applications and selection of the recipients of the International Training Grants and review the formal final report from the recipients of their experience, including a letter from their mentor
7 Evaluate the international component of the ACG website
8 . Work with the Board of Governors to clarify roles and responsibilities of International Governors .
9 . Perform periodic surveys of international members regarding ACG services to work towards developing materials and programs specifically designed to address the needs and interests of our international members .
10 . Host the International Attendee Reception at the ACG Annual Meeting
COMMITTEE REPORT
International Training Grants
The Committee is responsible for soliciting applicants and evaluating proposals for two International GI Training Grants One grant supports a gastroenterologist from outside the U S to come for training in North America The other provides support to send a member practicing in North America for short-term specialized training abroad The Committee collaborated with ACG staff to more intensely market the International GI Training Grants which led to a robust response from applicants this year: 14 applications for the International Grant and 4 for the North American Grant The applications were reviewed and scored by the Grant Review Subcommittee, and subsequently discussed by the full Committee, with approval of the Board of Trustees This year, two recipients were selected for both grants
2024 International Training Grant Awardees
Dr Kerry-Ann Penn-Brown from Jamaica is currently a 2nd year gastroenterology fellow at the Hospital of the West Indies and is looking to complete a 6-month clinical rotation in the U S as part of her fellowship She will train at Massachusetts General Hospital under the direction of Dr . Akwi Asombang for 6 months . She has found that working in an academic institution has fostered a love of mentoring and guiding junior staff along their academic journey Exposure to gastroenterology in a first world setting will allow her to broaden her knowledge of other conditions which she wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to in her training program in Jamaica This will not only impact her future patients but also the students and residents in internal medicine with whom she interacts Grant Amount = $15,000
Dr . Coskun Demirtas from Turkey is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at Marmara University School of Medicine, in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and would like to further his research career in the area of portal hypertension (PH), in the context of his area of expertise, HCC He will train at Yale University Liver Center under the direction of Dr Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao for 3 months His main clinical goal is to observe and gain clinical knowledge and experience in critical diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies with the aim of improving patient care and research in his home center for patients with HCC at the different stages of cirrhosis and PH He hopes to fill the clinical gaps in the field of PH and HCC and combine with scientific research to turn his unit into a globally recognized center Grant Amount = $12,000
2024 North American International Training Grant Awardees
Dr Dora Huang from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New York, New York, plans to study at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), in Rwanda under the direction of Dr Steve Bensen for a three-week annual collaborative effort between GI Rising Inc ., a large International team of GI, fellows, nurses and trainees, and the Rwandan Society of Endoscopy and Rwandan Ministry of Health The ACG grant would directly support her goal of working with under-resourced communities Working with these institutions – and setting up GI care models and service locations – is an important part of comprehensive medical care This is what she’d ultimately like to address – to consider the role of gastroenterology in low resource settings, through partnerships with academic communities or organizations . Through this grant, she hopes to learn about the development of cost-aware and sustainable endoscopy and associated GI programs – and to bring this capacity to areas within the United States Grant Amount = $6,500
Dr Shria Kumar is an Assistant Professor, in the Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine She is a clinical researcher and advanced endoscopist with a particular focus on the prevention and early detection of gastric and colorectal cancers . Her ultimate career goal is to lead a “dry lab” focused on measuring risk, identifying optimal screening and surveillance strategies, and assessing the utility of these strategies in real-world settings . The 3-week training with the Clinical Effectiveness Research group at the University of Oslo in Norway under the direction of Drs Michael Bretthauer and Mette Kalager, will focus on two key areas – quantifying cancer risk and measuring effectiveness of screening programs The Oslo center offers a unique one-stop shop for clinical effectiveness research studies, from development to implementation, with a focus on GI cancers with an eye towards ensuring screening strategies truly reduce cancer burden Dr Kumar’s goals are (1) to development of an “early-onset colorectal cancer” cohort within the Veterans’ Health Administration, where she holds a research appointment, using learned methods; and (2) to complete and publish a meta-analysis, in conjunction with the Oslo team which will form the basis of a US-guided strategy going forward . Grant Amount = $5,000
Other Initiatives
Social Media
• Oversees the ACG International Facebook page, whose membership is over 2,300, and frequently posts ACG content to members
• Collaborate with ACG’s International Governors
• Work with ACG’s social media staff for international colon cancer awareness and other initiatives
International Relations Committee (cont.)
International Webinar Series
• The subcommittee is working with the ACG International Governors and international GI Societies to create joint webinars .
• In 2024, the following international webinars took place:
• June 12, 2024: Saudi Gastroenterology Association (SGA), “Approach to Classic and Extraesophageal GERD Symptoms in 2024”
• July 23, 2024: Mexico Association of Gastroenterology (AMG), Spanish language, “Is There a Relationship Between a Tick Bite (Alpha-Gal Syndrome) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome?”
• August 28, 2024: Hong Kong IBD Society, “Current Medical therapies for IBD”
• September 18, 2024: Lebanese Society of Gastroenterology (LSGE), “Comparative Clinical Trials in IBD”
International Abstract Travel Grants
The International Travel Grants consist of a stipend in the amount of $2000 each to the presenting author of the three best abstracts submitted by international authors from countries classified by the World Bank as Lower to Lower-Middle Income The goal of these grants is to encourage research in gastroenterology in Lower to Lower-Middle income countries and inspire researchers to present their research at the ACG Annual Meeting Recipients are required to attend the ACG Annual Meeting in-person to receive their grant funding Authors must not be based in or be a citizen of the U .S or Canada and all work must have been performed outside the U S and Canada
The 2024 Recipients are: Ala I . Sharara, MD (Lebanon), Saumya Ahluwalia, MBBS (India) and Partha Pal, MD (India)
International Attendee Reception
The Committee is pleased to continue to support the International Attendee Reception which takes place on Sunday, October 27th from 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm at ACG 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .
ACG Endorsement / Participation in International Meetings
The Committee works with international societies to identify opportunities for the College to affiliate with international societies, as well as to endorse and support international meetings through participation of ACG leaders as faculty The following were endorsed/ supported in 2024:
Japanese Gastroenterology Association 20th Annual Hybrid Meeting
February 9 - 10, 2024
Okinawa, Japan
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting.
Best of ACG India
In partnership with Lupin Limited .
March 15-17, 2024
Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, India
Association of West Indian Gastroenterologists (AWIG) Annual Meeting
April 18 - 20, 2024
Barbados
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting .
Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting
April 19 - 21, 2024
Quetta, Pakistan
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting .
Nigeria Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Annual Meeting
July 15 - 20, 2024
Jos, Nigeria
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting .
Colombian Congress of Gastroenterology
September 26 - 28, 2024
Bogota, Colombia
ACG sponsored 2 faculty members for this meeting .
Gastroenterology: A Global Perspective
Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
November 6, 2024
Edinburgh, Scotland
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting
Mexican Association of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting
November 15 - 19, 2024
City of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
ACG is sponsoring 2 faculty members for this meeting
Indian Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting
December 5 - 6, 2024
Varanasi, India
ACG sponsored 1 faculty member for this meeting
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC POLICY COUNCIL
MEMBERS
Louis J Wilson, MD, FACG, Chair
Dayna S Early, MD, FACG, Vice Chair
Alyn L Adrain, MD, FACG
R Bruce Cameron, MD, MACG
Aline Charabaty, MD, FACG
William D . Chey, MD, FACG
Sita S . Chokhavatia, MD, MACG
Francis A Farraye, MD, MSc, MACG
Darrell M Gray, II, MD, MPH, FACG
Christopher Y. Kim, MD, FACG
Caroll D Koscheski, MD, FACG
Joyann A Kroser, MD, FACG
Ayanna Lewis, MD
Baharak Moshiree, MD, MSc, FACG
Jose M Nieto, DO, FACG
March E Seabrook, MD, FACG
Jennifer L Seminerio, MD
Eric D . Shah, MD, MBA, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
The ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council will engage in policy development and provide analysis regarding national affairs, public policy, and practice management to improve the legislative, regulatory, and practice management activities, and provide for a process to better align these initiatives to enable practicing gastroenterologists to provide optimal patient care
COMMITTEE REPORT
The ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council is designed to align the legislative, regulatory, practice management activities, and related communications of the College .
The ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council in 2024 continued under the leadership of Chair Louis Wilson, MD, FACG
The Council is made up of a Council Chair; Chair, Vice-Chair, PastChair and 5 U S Regional Councilors of the ACG Board of Governors; Chair of ACG Practice Management Committee; Chair of FDA-Related Matters Committee; various ACG Physician Representatives to outside organizations; the ACG Vice President; as well as at-large ACG members .
The Council reviews feedback from the ACG Board of Governors, projects underway/planned by the ACG Practice Management and FDA Related Matters Committees, as well as ACG’s state/national advocacy initiatives and partnerships with patient advocacy groups The Council will finalize recommendations regarding ACG’s public policy and practice management initiatives, including:
1 Recommending agenda and topics for the ACG Board of Governors and ACG Advocacy Day
Sapna V . Thomas, MD, FACG
Samir D Vermani, MD
Bara El Kurdi, MD
Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG
Justin T Kupec, MD, FACG
Neelima G Reddy, MD, FACG
Patrick E Young, MD, FACG
2 . Recommending feedback/topics from ACG Governors for the ACG Practice Management and FDA Related Matters Committees' consideration
3 Recommending topics to pursue at the state and local level and identifying key stakeholders and local partners
4 . Aligning these recommendations across the College’s relevant committees of jurisdiction, coalitions, and leadership
5 Working with the College’s communications teams and committees to develop communications strategies, highlighting these initiatives to the ACG membership at-large
Louis J. Wilson, MD, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Sita S Chokhavatia, MD, MACG, Chair
Alyn L Adrain, MD, FACG
John T Bassett, MD, FACG
Alexander Carlson, DO
Nikki Duong, MD
Kathleen A . Ferrell, PA
Nicole H Harrison, MD
Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG
Keerthana Kesavarapu, DO
Justin T Kupec, MD, FACG
Stephen W Landreneau, MD, FACG
Monica R . Nandwani, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Jose M Nieto, DO, FACG
Daryl Ramai, MD
Nikila C Ravindran, MD, FACG
Neelima G Reddy, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for encouraging qualified individuals to apply for membership in the College and for assessing the value of membership, ensuring that the College addresses the needs and desires of all its constituents, enhancing membership participation in College activities, and facilitating communications with potential applicants
OBJECTIVES
1 Ensure the continued membership growth of the ACG in all categories
2 Recruit more women, under-represented minorities, advanced practice providers, and practice leadership (e g , managers) into the membership
3 Continue outreach to GI Program Directors and GI trainees for membership
4 Recognize the impact of membership diversity through programs and projects designed to meet the specific and unique needs of different groups of College members
5 Provide our members with tools and resources to allow them to provide the best care for their patients
6 Support our members with resources and mentorship to enhance their professional success .
7 Continue efforts to encourage qualified members to apply for Advancement to Fellowship in the College
8 Evaluate member satisfaction and institute follow-up on issues to ensure continued member satisfaction and increase participation in College activities
9 . Provide recommendations to the Board of Trustees on membership issues, requests, retention, and recruitment
COMMITTEE REPORT
ACG membership has grown to well over 19,000 members with continued growth in all categories of membership The Membership Committee is led by the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors and comprised of the ACG Governors Regional Councilors, and at least one representative from each of the following: an advanced practice provider, a trainee member, an early career/junior faculty member and a member in private practice . ACG Governors continue to promote membership locally and play an active role in seeking out members who may qualify for Fellowship in the College and encouraging such members to apply for FACG status
The Committee has been working on the following initiatives over the past year:
ACG Committee Cross Collaboration
The Membership Committee in collaboration with the Practice Management and Innovation and Technology Committees finalized a comprehensive manual for non-clinical endoscopy center staff to serve as an educational tool for our members and their staff . The Endoscopy Unit Orientation Manual is complete and available for download on the ACG website: webfiles.gi.org/links/pm/ACGEndoscopyManual.pdf
New Membership Category
The Committee and the Board of Trustees approved a new membership category for medical students enrolled in an accredited U S . medical school
Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG
PATIENT CARE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Scott L . Gabbard, MD, FACG, Chair
George G Abdelsayed, MD, FACG
Noemi Baffy, MD, FACG
Allan W Barbish, MD, FACG
Lawrence F Borges, MD
Allison M Bush, MD
Jennifer X . Cai, MD, MPH
David J Cangemi, MD, FACG
Michael V Chiorean, MD, FACG
Cuckoo Choudhary, MD
Justin A Crocker, MD, FACG
Narayan Dharel, MD, FACG
Sravanya Gavini, MD
Ari M Grinspan, MD, FACG
Jeffery Groce, MD
Milli Gupta, MD
Yuri Hanada, MD
Tadd K Hiatt, MD
Ariela Holmer, MD
Victoria M B Howard, PA
Elizabeth S Huebner, MD, FACG
Rizwan Jafri, MD
Neha Jakhete, MD
Daniela Jodorkovsky, MD, FACG
Ariel Jordan, MD
Avanija Kanmanthareddy, MD
Ashwani Kapoor, MD, FACG
Sundip S Karsan, MD, FACG
Maia Kayal, MD, MS
Dennis Kumral, MD
George Kunnackal John, MD
Stephen W . Landreneau, MD, FACG
Alisa Likhitsup, MD
Jared S Magee, DO
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
The Committee shall be responsible for educating the membership in all matters pertaining to office management, patient education, and practice of gastroenterology
OBJECTIVES
1 Provide up-to-date, balanced education on gastrointestinal diseases and procedures to patients
2 Stewardship of the content of the ACG Patient website
3 Increase patient engagement with the College COMMITTEE REPORT
The ACG Patient Care Committee is charged with developing educational materials for ACG members and patients Digital health information is an important resource for patients and the Committee works to ensure the College is offering accurate and up-to-date topics via the ACG website’s patient education pages at gi.org/patients A major activity of the Committee is to oversee and update sections of the patient education site .
Patient Care Website Updates
2024 has been a busy year for the Committee . The year consisted of updating the ACG Patient Care webpage, gi.org/patients, to make sure the content is recent and relevant Committee members have been asked to update the content and create new content in areas that are regularly seen in practice but not included in the previous patient care
Patrick K McCabe, MD
Muhammad A Memon, MD
Andrew T Mertz, MD
Neilanjan Nandi, MD, FACG
Leila Neshatian, MD, MSc
Ami J Panara, MD
Neil D . Parikh, MD
Brian P Riff, MD
Richard P Rood, MD, FACG
Abbas H Rupawala, MD
Kavya M Sebastian, MD, FACG
Rohit Singhania, MD, FACG
Abhinav Tiwari, MD
Drew Triplett, DO
Ganesh R Veerappan, MD, FACG
Allison L . Yang, MD, MPH
resources The Committee has also begun to enhance the usability of the patient care pages by working with experts towards making sure each page meets a 6th grade literacy level and modifications to make the website look more modern and contain more images and diagrams Next steps include enhanced searchability, the addition of QR Codes, and the addition of sharing tools
ACG and GastroGirl Podcasts and Red Journal Questions
The Committee is aiming to present relevant content in new and engaging ways including patient-centered podcasts and patientcentered questions submitted to the Red Journal editors who record a new topic each month GastroGirl hosts a podcast each month in collaboration with the Patient Care Committee, where Jacqueline Gaulin interviews expert physicians on various patient-centered topics, suggested by Committee members
ACG Magazine One-Pagers
The Committee is working in collaboration with the ACG Magazine team to create patient-focused one-pagers on common GI problems that patients experience . The one-pagers are written in accessible language and contain a QR code, linking to the respective digestive health topic on the ACG patient site
Scott L. Gabbard, MD, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Inessa Normatov, MD, FACG, Chair
Ashwin Agrawal, DO
Muhammad A Altaf, MD
Thomas M Attard, MD
Adrian Chapa-Rodriguez, MD
Javier Garcia-Marin, MD
Sandeep Kumar Gupta, MD, FACG
Girish Hiremath, MD, MPH
Prasanna K Kapavarapu, MD
Sophia A . Patel, MD
Ananthasekar Ponnambalam, MD
Yolanda Rivas, MD, FACG
Joseph Runde, DO
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for promoting the exchange through the College both for what ACG can do to better serve the interests of pediatric gastroenterologists and pediatric patient populations and serving generally as a channel through which pediatric gastroenterologists can contribute to the improvement and benefit of the College and its members, assisting with efforts to actively encourage membership of pediatric gastroenterologists in the College, developing means to increase participation and visibility of pediatric gastroenterologists within the College generally, encouraging submission of papers relating to pediatric gastroenterology to The American Journal of Gastroenterology, and identifying and bringing forth ideas to make the ACG Annual Meeting more attractive to pediatric gastroenterologists
OBJECTIVES
1 Increase the membership level of pediatric gastroenterologists in the ACG .
2 . Promote the benefits of ACG membership for pediatric gastroenterologists
3 Increase level of involvement in the ACG Annual Meeting by pediatric gastroenterologists
4 Encourage the submission of abstracts for the Annual Meeting
5 Encourage the submission of manuscripts to The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
6 Encourage increased Committee representation by pediatric gastroenterologists
COMMITTEE REPORT
1 We continue to reach out to all Pediatric GI Fellowship Program Training Directors by email to encourage pediatric GI fellows to join the ACG and attend the Annual Meeting
2 The Committee worked with the ACG education staff for the fifth consecutive year to secure American Board of Pediatrics MOC points for the 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course
3 Pediatric to Adult Transition of Care Survey – Subcommittee members, Drs Inessa Normatov, Yolanda Rivas, Ashwin Agrawal, Adnan Altaf, Girish Hiremath, Sandeep Gupta, and Joseph Runde designed a survey focusing on transition of care in patients with developmental disabilities and complex medical needs . The aim of the survey is to assess the self-perceived readiness of the accepting GI physicians in caring for these patients as well as their current practice set-up . The survey will be sent to ACG physician members and results will be shared with the membership in the coming months
Inessa Normatov, MD, FACG
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG, Chair
Mohamed A Abdallah, MD
Nitin K Ahuja, MD, MS
Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG
Joseph C Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG
Jeffrey Berinstein, MD
Sameer K . Berry, MD
Joseph A Cappa, MD, FACG
Amanda W Charlton, NP
Andrew C . Elden, MD
Deepinder Goyal, MD
Abhishek Gulati, MD, FACG
Maneesh Gupta, MD
Pierre Hindy, MD, FACG
Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG
Michelle L . Hughes, MD
Syed M Hussain, MD
Olanrewaju Y Jimoh, MD
Rashid H Khan, MD, FACG
Shruti Khurana, MD
Jagpal S Klair, MD
Whitfield L Knapple, MD, FACG
James T Kwiatt, MD
Melissa Latorre, MD, MS
Pavan K Mankal, MD, FACG
Manoj K Mehta, MD, FACG
Abdul S Mohammed, MD
Richard E Moses, DO, JD, FACG
Arun K . Muthusamy, MD
Jagdish S Nachnani, MD, MBA
Rathi Narayan, MD, MBA, FACG
Maliha Naseer, MD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for developing the practice management course held at the ACG Annual Meeting, any other regional or national practice management courses, coordination of College publications and educational efforts related to managed care issues and representation of the clinical GI practitioner concerns and perspectives to insurers, health plans, networks and other payor related entities
OBJECTIVES
1 Develop and produce an effective annual Practice Management Course, which is held in conjunction with the ACG Annual Meeting
2 Expand practice management sessions at the College’s Regional Postgraduate Courses .
3 . Develop, expand, and update educational materials for the Practice Management section of the ACG website and Education Universe, including the “ACG Practice Management Toolbox ”
4 Create practice management resources to enable members to be more effective and efficient in their practices .
5 . Work in conjunction with other committees such as Legislative Affairs and Public Policy and FDA Related Matters, to develop and disseminate practical information expeditiously to ACG members
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Practice Management Committee in 2024 is under the leadership of Chair, Sapna Thomas, MD, FACG .
Practice Management Committee Work Retreat
The Committee hosted an in-person meeting in March 2024, during the Annual North American Conference of Gastroenterology Fellows Course
Vu Q Nguyen, MD, FACG
Shireen A Pais, MD, FACG
Neal C Patel, MD
Tarun Rai, MD
Nikila C Ravindran, MD, FACG
Vonda G Reeves, MD, MBA, FACG
Nirav R Shah, MD, FACG
Pooja Singhal, MD, FACG
Brian J So, MD
J . Andy Tau, MD
Richard S Tilson, MD
Drew Triplett, DO
Andrew Ukleja, MD
Renuka Umashanker, MD, FACG
Seventeen Committee members participated in this event, making it our first in-person Committee work retreat since 2019 The retreat proved to be highly productive, with the Committee successfully completing three toolbox articles and making significant progress on eight others
Practice Management
Summit at ACG 2024: Bigger, Stronger, and
Faster:
How to Make Your Practice Thrive, Not Just Survive
The Committee will host the ACG Practice Management Course/Summit during the 2024 ACG Annual Meeting . The summit's sessions will focus on expanding human capital, optimizing practice productivity, and harnessing machines and tolls to boost efficiency This year’s course directors are Michelle L Hughes, MD, and J . Andy Tau, MD .
Prior Authorization Membership Benefit: Letter Generator
The Committee works with the ACG Prior Authorization Task Force and has developed an automated template letter generator, as an update to the Practice Management Toolbox This new tool will simplify the administrative processes and lessen the burden on GI practices
Practice Management Committee Toolbox
The Toolbox is a series of short articles, written by Committee members and APP Committee members, that provide ACG members with easily accessible information to improve their practices Each article covers an issue important to private practices and physician-led clinical practices They include a brief introduction, a topic overview, specific suggestions, helpful examples, and a list of resources or references The Practice Management Committee is confident this series will be a valuable resource for members striving to optimize their practices .
The Committee has published several toolbox topics as articles in 2024 issues of ACG Magazine, as well as the Practice Management Toolbox Highlights E-Magazine
Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
PRACTICE PARAMETERS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Bryan G Sauer, MD, MSc (Clin Res), FACG, Chair
Joseph C . Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG
Edward L Barnes, MD, MPH, FACG
Andrea L Betesh, MD
Talal K . Bhatti, MBBS
Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG
Shrinivas Bishu, MD
Kathy P. Bull-Henry, MD, MBA, FACG
Walter W Chan, MD, MPH, FACG
Steven B Clayton, MD, FACG
Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu, MD, FACG
Michelle S . Cohen, MD
Stanley M Cohen, MD, FACG
Kelly C Cushing-Damm, MD
Jose D Debes, MD, FACG
Fadi F Francis, MD, FACG
Shashank Garg, MD
Mohit Girotra, MD, FACG
Shilpa Grover, MD, MPH
Maneesh Gupta, MD
Simona S . Jakab, MD
Arun B Jesudian, MD, FACG
Varun Kesar, MD
John J Kim, MD, FACG
Jennifer M Kolb, MD
Linda S Lee, MD, FACG
Jonathan S Levine, MD
Joseph K Lim, MD, FACG
Jimmy K . Limdi, MD, FACG
Berkeley Nguyen Limketkai, MD, PhD, FACG
Wai-Kit Lo, MD
Jared S . Magee, DO
Gautam Naresh Mankaney, MD
John G McCarthy, MD
Akshata Moghe, MD, Phd
Douglas R Morgan, MD, MPH, FACG
Parvathi A Myer, MD
James S Park, MD, FACG
Amit Patel, MD, FACG
Shajan Peter, MD, FACG
Emad S Qayed, MD, MPH, FACG
Nancy S . Reau, MD, FACG
Chanakyaram A Reddy, MD
Mark S Riddle, MD, DrPH, FISTM
Mark W. Russo, MD, MPH, FACG
Shervin Shafa, MD, FACG
Brijen J Shah, MD
Shailja C Shah, MD, MPH
Sunil G Sheth, MD, FACG
Harminder Singh, MD, FACG
Preetika Sinh, MD
Zachary L Smith, DO
Viveksandeep Thoguluva Chandrasekar, MD
Chandrashekhar Thukral, MD, PhD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for reviewing state-of-the-art research and establishing peer-reviewed consensus recommendations for publication by the College regarding the then-current viewpoint of several key experts on the treatment of digestive disorders by gastroenterologists and other physicians
OBJECTIVES
1 . Develop practice guidelines that reflect the current, state-of-theart scientific work based on the principles of evidence-based medicine
2 Update previously published guidelines as new information becomes available
Adam M Tritsch, MD
Santhi S Vege, MD, MACG
Marcelo F Vela, MD, MSCR, FACG
Mihir S Wagh, MD, FACG
Robert J Wong, MD, MS, FACG
Mohammad Yaghoobi, MD, FACG
Marc J Zuckerman, MD, FACG
Lauren Gerson GRADE Program Members
Robert J Wong, MD, MS, FACG, Chair
Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, FACG
Joy Chang, MD
Po-Hung (Victor) Chen, MD, PhD, FACG
Shipla Grover, MD, MPH
John J . Kim, MD, FACG
Jennifer Kolb, MD
Berkeley Limketkai, MD, PhD, FACG
Andrew Moon, MD, MPH, FACG
Emad S Qayed, MD, MPH, FACG
Bryan G Sauer, MD, MSc (Clin Res), FACG
Shailja Shah, MD, MPH
COMMITTEE REPORT
The past year was again very productive for the Practice Parameters Committee Four practice guidelines were published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) in 2024 As of submitting this report in July, 4 guidelines are under AJG peer review, and 20 guidelines are in development . Over the past 3 years, the Committee has completed and published 22 guidelines
Guideline Status
Published in 2024:
• January: Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
• March: Management of Acute Pancreatitis
• July: Focal Liver Lesions
• September: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori
Bryan G. Sauer, MD, MSc (Clin Res), FACG
Currently in Editorial Review:
• Preventive Care in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Update
• Malnutrition and Nutrition Support in Liver Disease
• Management of Gastric Premalignant Conditions
• Diagnosis and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Currently in Development:
• Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric IBD - UC
• Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric IBD - Crohn's
• Preventative Care in Patients with Cirrhosis
• Management of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation
• Management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Patients wtih Cirrhosis
• Pancreatic Cysts (Update)
• Perioperative Management of IBD
• Portal Hypertensive Bleeding
• Diverticular Disease
• MASH
• Management of Biliary Emergencies
• Hepatic Encephalopathy
• Management PSC and PSC/IBD
• Perioperative Management of Cirrhosis
• Diagnosis and Management of Small Bowel Bleeding (Update)
• Management of Immunotherapy Induced Gastrointestinal, Pancreatic, and Hepatic Toxicity
• Bariatric Endoscopy
• Gastrointestinal Polyposis Syndrome
• Update in Crohn’s Disease
• Update in Ulcerative Colitis
For each of the above guidelines, an authoring panel of topic experts will be or has been invited to participate, and a member from the Committee has been assigned to each guideline to assure that the timeline is followed
GRADE Methodologists
For each guideline, the GRADE system is utilized to evaluate the strength of the recommendations (from high to low) and the overall quality of evidence (strong or conditional) Joy Chang, MD, of the University of Michigan, Po-Hung (Victor) Chen, MD, PhD, FACG, of Johns Hopkins University, Jennifer Kolb, MD, MS, of UCLA, and Andrew Moon, MD, MPH, FACG, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill completed training to certify them as expert methodologists in guideline development . Led by Professor Grigorios I Leontiadis MD, PhD, FACG, the group attended training at McMaster University June 27-29, 2024
Meeting Summary
The Committee met at an in-person meeting in May at DDW, and each of the Committee’s sub-committees met twice to discuss developments in their fields that would warrant updates or new guidelines . The Committee is meeting at ACG 2024 in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, October 28
ACG's Committees (cont.)
PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Richard S . Bloomfeld, MD, FACG, Chair
Ali M Ahmed, MD
Ahmad M . Al-Taee, MD
Edward L Barnes, MD, MPH, FACG
Dawn B Beaulieu, MD, FACG
Divya B . Bhatt, MD
Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG
Navreet M Chowla, MD, FACG
Shirley Cohen-Mekelburg, MD
Andrew D Feld, MD, JD, FACG
Sean Fine, MD, FACG
Alexandra Guillaume, MD
Robert Hirten, MD
Leo C Katz, MD, FACG
Truptesh H Kothari, MD, MS, FACG
Alexander T Lalos, MD, FACG
James F Marion, MD
Christian A Mayorga, MD
Omar Mousa, MD
Ramzi H Mulki, MD
Alexander Perelman, DO
Meena A Prasad, MD
Amanda B Pressman, MD, FACG
Mark Real, MD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
The Professionalism Committee shall be responsible for promoting professionalism within the ACG, gastroenterology, and medicine
The Committee will be the College’s primary forum for maintaining and promoting professionalism, focusing on patient-centered care, improving the patient-physician relationship and providing resources for the College’s membership to address issues of personal wellbeing
COMMITTEE REPORT
The ACG Professionalism Committee has created and launched ACG Wellness Central: gi.org/practice-management/acg-wellness-central/. This is a multi-media resource on the ACG website that is intended to be the go-to resource for ACG members seeking information on promoting wellness and mitigating burnout . The Committee will continue to work to update the resources and promote increased usage
The Committee members contributed material on how they personally maintain wellness to the ACG Magazine Winter 2023 Wellness issue, and, on behalf of the Committee, I presented ACG Virtual Grand Rounds on Joy and Wellness in Gastroenterology in January 2024 The Professionalism Committee proposed a symposium on Wellness that has been accepted to be a part of the 2024 ACG Annual Meeting . The Committee has also worked with ACG leadership to incorporate wellness activities into all ACG events
Aparajita Singh, MD, MPH
Karolina Siniakowicz, DO
Patrick A Twohig, MD
Kimberly N Weaver, MD
Amir Zarrinpar, MD
Andrew B Chun, MD, FACG
Amit Gupta, MD
Jeffrey A Murray, MD, FACG
Micheal S Tadros, MD, FACG
Alex Zhornitskiy, MD
The Professionalism Committee was proud to publish its position paper “Professionalism in the Management of Endoscopic Adverse Events: Consensus Document From the American College of Gastroenterology Professionalism Committee” in The American Journal of Gastroenterology October 2023 issue
Richard S. Bloomfeld, MD, FACG
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG, Chair
David R Beswick, MD, FACG
Maithili V Chitnavis, MD, FACG
Robin L . Dalal, MD
Katie A Falloon, MD
Ankur Jain, MD, FACG
Allon Kahn, MD, FACG
Karl K Kwok, MD
Adam C Lessne, MD, FACG
Benjamin H Levy, III, MD
Phillip C Lindholm, MD
Dana J Lukin, MD, PhD, FACG
Farah Monzur, MD, FACG
Sajan Jiv Nagpal, MD
Neilanjan Nandi, MD, FACG
Linda Anh B Nguyen, MD, FACG
Anjana A . Pillai, MD, FACG
Atoosa Rabiee, MD, FACG
Syed Hamaad Rahman, DO
Francisco C . Ramirez, MD, MACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for coordinating all public relations activities between the College and the professional and lay public
COMMITTEE REPORT
About the PR Committee
The Committee’s overall goals are to enhance the reputation of the College and raise awareness of GI and liver diseases throughout the year and in conjunction with various health observances . Identifying and promoting excellent clinical research and elevating the College’s standing with consumer and health media are key objectives for the PR Committee An active and dedicated group of clinicians support the College’s educational priorities and interface with consumer media and the medical press
The PR Committee helps to enhance the College’s social media presence and participates in the conversation relating to clinical GI happening on ACG’s social media channels including Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram . Signature initiatives of the PR Committee include the annual SCOPY Awards along with innovative public awareness efforts in conjunction with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month . The PR Committee is charged with a review of research abstracts presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting with a goal of identifying innovative and newsworthy GI clinical science as the basis for the College’s media outreach .
Eduardo A . Rodriguez Zarate, MD, FACG
Shawn Shah, MD
Rohit Sharda, MD
Tyson J Sievers, MD
Joshua A Sloan, DO
Romik P Srivastava, MD
Jamile Wakim-Fleming, MD, FACG
Strategic Communications Goals: Awareness of ACG, Gastroenterology and Digestive Health
The core objectives of ACG’s PR and communications efforts are to:
• celebrate the ACG membership and the GI community;
• advance public awareness of the field of gastroenterology and digestive health;
• spotlight excellent clinical research in GI, hepatology, and endoscopy;
• and serve as a source of credible, accessible, and impactful patient education and disease awareness materials for College members, patients, the media, and the general public
Through the College’s digital presence and social media channels, the PR Committee amplifies the activities of our ACG members and aims to build a sense of community for the College Social media is a critical channel to feature clinical science presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting as investigators share their findings with the larger GI community and build their professional reputations
ACG now has more than 39,700 followers on Twitter/X as of July 2024 (up from 37,100 a year ago) Despite the radical changes rocking the Twitter/X space in the past few years, ACG continues to grow its community of followers and drive the conversation within GI while celebrating and connecting with the generation of gastroenterologists who use social media to network and share clinical and professional insights Overall, physician engagement with social media helps advance awareness of the GI field and ACG’s priority programs LinkedIn is another important channel for news from the College on key programs and priorities including public policy updates
Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG
#DiversityinGI Virtual 5K and Morning Fun Runs at ACG 2023 in Vancouver
The PR Committee collaborated with the DEI Committee on this event celebrating diversity, inclusion, and community in GI and medicine in the weeks leading up to and during the ACG 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting . This event garnered industry sponsorship at the level of $15,000 each from Ironwood (for the third year), Takeda (for the second year), and Biocon Biologics Proceeds from the Race go to the DEI Committee’s Summer Scholars mentorship program for medical students from groups under-represented in medicine
(Clockwise from top left) Fun Run October 21, 2023 Vancouver, Team Leader Dr Aasma Shaukat (front center with sign) . Fun Run October 22, 2023 with Co-Leaders ACG PR Chair, Dr Reezwana Chowdhury and Dr Dana Lukin (pictured front row center with the sign) Fun Run October 23, 2023 in Vancouver with leader Dr Matt McNeill (pictured row 2 right) Fun Run October 24, 2023 with Co-Leaders Dr Millie Long (Center with sign) and Dr Baha Moshiree (front row with hat next to Dr Aasma Shaukat)
For 2023, four early morning “fun runs” were planned for the Vancouver meeting with different team leaders, including Committee members Dr . Reezwana Chowdhury and Dr Dana Lukin Each day at 6:45 am PT, the stalwart #DiversityinGI Fun Runners gathered for a run and some collegiality
The PR Committee is very grateful to the following group leaders:
• Saturday, October 21 at 6:45 am PT Dr Aasma Shaukat
• Sunday, October 22 at 6:45 am PT Dr Dana Lukin & Dr Reezwana Chowdhury
• Monday, October 23 at 6:45 am PT Dr Matt McNeill
• Tuesday, October 24 at 6:45 am PT Dr Millie Long & Dr Baha Moshiree
#ACG2023 Social Media Engagement and Media Coverage
For ACG 2023, Twitter/X engagement with the College using the hashtag #ACG2023 peaked on Monday, October 23, and Tuesday, October 24, 2023 with a total estimated 59 million impressions in the week surrounding the meeting which saw 8,255 tweets involving over 2,200 individuals Twitter/X continues to be an important tool for GI physicians to share clinical and professional insights, and advance awareness of ACG’s priority programs
Media coverage of clinical science from the 2023 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting—exclusive of social media coverage—was is notable in terms of record number of articles covering a wide spectrum of GI and liver diseases The level of engagement by reporters interviewing ACG investigators presenting their work is a testament to the quality of the science and the ways that our communications team personally connects journalists with researchers and experts
Combined 2023 SCOPY Awards and ACG Social Media Acumen Awards
Outgoing PR Chair Dr Tauseef Ali and Incoming PR Chair Dr . Reezwana Chowdhury were co-hosts of a combined SCOPY Award and Social Media Acumen Awards reception on Monday, October 23, 2023 The committee decided to combine two great events to bring together the enthusiasm and excitement of its #IRL Social Media Meetup in 2021 and 2022, with a joyous celebration of the winners of ACG’s ninth annual SCOPY Awards, the Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention, and Year-Round Excellence
The committee takes tremendous pride in the GI community’s commitment to colorectal cancer prevention and to embracing patient education and advocacy in their local communities . Since 2015, ACG has recognized highly creative, innovative, and impactful CRC awareness efforts by ACG members with SCOPY awards For 2023, Dr Ali presented 17 SCOPY awards .
ACG’s Social Media Acumen Awards started in 2022 to celebrate those in the GI world who are passionate about using social media for good – for connection, education, and storytelling, for advancing the GI profession, and for educating patients Dr Chowdhury presented 15 awards honoring individuals for their sharp wit, good judgment, and significant impact on the GI community via social media
A special part of the event was the presentation of 36 special awards to the Social Media Ambassadors for the ACG publication Evidence-Based Gastroenterology All members of the EBGI 2022-2023 Social Media Ambassadors cohort received a special Social Media Acumen award of a unique glass paperweight and certificate .
attended, enjoyed great positive energy and there were opportunities for photos with two different stepand-repeat backgrounds . The attendees all were good natured about taking a massive group photo . Moving the event to Monday from Sunday at the Annual Scientific Meeting for SCOPY and expanding the attendance with all the social media winners boosted participation and was such a positive development A representative from Abivax, the sponsor of the event, Michael Ferguson, Chief Commercial Officer represented the company and shared brief remarks
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Highlights 2024
For 2024, the College’s CRC Month celebration featured advocacy, music, physical activity, patient education, and kicked off with an invitation to the larger GI community to show their true colors by wearing blue – the signature hue of CRC awareness – for “Dress in Blue Day” on Friday, March 4, 2024 .
45 is the New 50 was ACG’s key theme for 2024 Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month emphasizing the age for average risk individuals to begin screening An important addition to the suite of CRC infographics translated into languages other than English is a new Arabic translation by past ACG PR Committee member Danny Issa, MD
Special Edition of ACG Virtual Grand Rounds, “Community Outreach on Colorectal Cancer: Lessons & Pearls from ACG’s
SCOPY Award Winners”
On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Noon EST, the ACG PR Committee sponsored a webinar hosted current Chair Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG and past Chair Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG . The committee’s aim was to inspire ACG members and their staffs with examples of excellence and innovation in colorectal cancer community education and outreach from winners of ACG's SCOPY Award (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention and Year-round Excellence gi org/SCOPY) The session highlighted practical and actionable strategies from SCOPY winners and familiarized ACG members with College’s CRC education resources .
The PR Committee is very grateful to the ACG Education Department for their support of this session featuring Katie F Farah, MD (CMO, AHN Wexford Hospital); Darwin Conwell, MD, MS, FACG, University of Kentucky (Chair, Department of Internal Medicine) and Dawn Baker (Project Coordinator); Sudha Pandit, MD, LSU Shreveport (Assistant Professor of Medicine); and Erica Duh, MD, UC Irvine (2nd Year GI Fellow) .
2024 Dress in Blue Day Highlights
While much of the action for Dress in Blue Day happens on social media, the PR Committee encourages members to share photos with the ACG Communications team who each year shares and celebrates these photos widely Here is a selection from 2024:
(Clockwise from top left) All in for Dress in Blue Day at Gundersen Health System, LaCrosse, WI Dr Elwyn and staff at Smoky Mountain Gastroenterology, Maryville, TN Dr Sita Chokhavatia and colleagues at Valley Medical Group, Ridgewood, NJ Dr March E Seabrook with team at Consultants in Gastroenterology, West Columbia, SC Dr Felipe Velez Gonzalez and his staff in Arecibo, Puerto Rico Dr Costas Kefalas and staff are true blue at Akron Digestive Consultants, Akron, OH
Participants in the combined SCOPY Awards and Social Media Acumen Awards, at ACG 2023 in Vancouver, BC
Outstanding cohort of EBGI Social Media Ambassadors honored at ACG 2023 with EBGI EIC Dr Phillip Schoenfeld (pink tie)
Public Relations Committee (cont.)
ACG CRC Community Education Toolkit
The PR Committee added a new Arabic infographic to its array of patient education handouts and resources for community education events and social media through its CRC Community Education Toolkit which can be accessed at bit.ly/ACG-CRC-toolkit
Former PR Committee member Dr Danny Issa helped with the translation and review of the piece . This infographic is also translated into 10 other languages (Chinese [Traditional], Chinese [Simplified], Hindi, Hmong, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese) . These materials can be downloaded at bit.ly/CRC-Infographic-Translations
Joining
Forces with Patient Advocates in Washington, DC
On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Washington, DC on the National Mall, ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG represented the College at the Fight Colorectal Cancer “United In Blue” Rally and installation . ACG is proud to be part of a coalition of patient advocacy and cancer education organizations standing with CRC patients, survivors, and caregivers who gathered to visit with legislators and bring attention to colorectal cancer, the trends in young-onset disease, and to demand that the U S Congress prioritize CRC research and screening A dramatic installation of 27,400 blue flags near the U .S . Capitol was a powerful visual representation of those younger than 50 who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2030 unless we do more to educate, screen, and raise awareness
Tune
It Up Concert on March 28, 2024
The 2024 Tune It Up Concert for Colorectal Cancer
Awareness was an evening of musical inspiration that marked the end of CRC Month Dr . Benjamin Levy of the ACG Public Relations Committee organized a virtual concert featuring artists from a wide array of musical genres who donated their time and performances ACG’s Tune It Up Virtual Concert to Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer included performers such as Lisa Loeb, Rufus Wainwright, violinist Hilary Hahn, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, A Great Big World, Colbie Caillat, The Ally Venable Band, Kerry Ellis, Shaun Mundy, Maddie Poppe, the Knights Chamber Orchestra, and special guest Katie Couric along with many more! You can listen to a recording of this impressive program at gi.org/concert
(Top right) Concertmaster Benjamin H Levy, III, MD, has been honored with the SCOPY Award over the years for his musical gifts to the College (Bottom right) 2024 Tune It Up Concert Guests
Bridging Medicine & Music
Bridging Medicine & Music was a colorectal cancer education program and concert organized by ACG Governor for Northern California Ronald K Hsu, MD, FACG, and featuring international celebrity electric violinist Mark Wood who performed in person with five student orchestras and choirs at Davis Senior High School in Davis, CA, on March 22, 2024 ACG was a promotional partner for this event and many ACG leaders contributed to a video produced by Dr . Hsu with key messages on CRC prevention, including President Dr Jonathan Leighton, as well as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, Dr Dayna Early and Dr Sita Chokhavatia, along with Dr Aasma Shaukat, Dr Anita Afzali, Dr . Costas Kefalas, Dr Neil Stollman, and Dr Douglas Rex The College has helped Dr Hsu organize and promote this event for the past three years and recognized his work with a SCOPY Award in 2022 .
Local College members and ACG staff joined PR Chair Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG, to install the flags and show support for advocates from Fight CRC
musicians, Dr Ronald Hsu,
(Top row) The weather did not dampen the spirits of ACG volunteers led by Dr Reezwana Chowdhury (Bottom row) ACG President Jonathan A Leighton, MD, FACG, joins CRC advocacy in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2024 .
Student
and electric violinist Mark Wood performed in a concert, Bridging Medicine and Music in March 2024
World Digestive Health Day 2024
The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) observance of World Digestive Health Day 2024 was Wednesday, May 29th . The theme for WDHD 2024 was: “Your Digestive Health: Make It A Priority ” WGO’s characterizes the theme for this year: “Prioritizing digestive health is paramount for fostering overall well-being and quality of life The digestive system serves as the gateway to nourishment, absorbing vital nutrients essential for sustaining bodily functions and promoting optimal health By making digestive health a priority, individuals empower themselves to proactively manage their well-being, mitigating the risk of gastrointestinal disorders and associated complications . A balanced and nutritious diet, coupled with lifestyle choices that support digestive wellness, not only enhances physical health but also contributes to mental and emotional equilibrium .
Furthermore, prioritizing digestive health fosters a proactive approach to healthcare, enabling early detection and intervention in the case of potential issues, thus promoting longevity and vitality Ultimately, by recognizing the pivotal role of the digestive system in overall health, individuals can embark on a journey towards holistic wellness, ensuring that they can fully engage in and enjoy all aspects of life to the fullest extent ”
ACG published a blog post and supported social media outreach to add to the sense of solidarity with the global GI community on #WDHD2024 and to share resources such as journal articles, guidelines, videos, and patient materials
SCOPY Awards 2024: SCOPY Turns 10!
Each year the SCOPY Awards recognize ACG members and their staffs for creative, innovative, and high impact community education initiatives . SCOPY is an acronym for ACG’s Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence
Now in its tenth year, the 2024 SCOPY Awards deadline was May 1, 2024, and over 63 applicants have submitted entries . The review committee always includes fellows-in-training who, along with the PR Chair and ACG staff, assess the merits, originality, and impact of the submissions The annual SCOPY awards ceremony at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting will be Monday, October 28, 2024, from 5 to 6 pm as a combined reception honoring the ACG Social Media Acumen Awards The Committee recognizes with thanks Rashmi R Advani, MD and Carl Kay, MD who contributed to the 2024 review of submissions .
Review of “Newsworthy” Abstracts
In August, the committee undertakes one of its most significant tasks, the review of scientific abstracts to identify those with particularly “newsworthy” findings The PR Committee’s goal is to identify “hot topics” as well as noteworthy clinical science These abstract selections serve as the clinical/ scientific basis for press outreach and a series of informative “Author Insights” that are published on the ACG Blog and selected posters receive a special designation in the poster hall, both onsite and online .
ACG's Committees (cont.)
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Timothy B Gardner, MD, MS, FACG, Chair
Patricia D Jones, MD, FACG, Vice Chair
Manasi Agrawal, MD, MS
Mohammad F Ali, MD, FACG
Christopher V Almario, MD, FACG
Joseph C . Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG
Akwi W Asombang, MD, MPH, FACG
Jordan E Axelrad, MD, MPH, FACG
Dilhana S . Badurdeen, MD, FACG
Gyorgy Baffy, MD, PhD, FACG
Edward L Barnes, MD, MPH, FACG
Alfred S . Barritt, IV, MD, MSCR, FACG
Divya B Bhatt, MD
Brian P Bosworth, MD, FACG
Darren M . Brenner, MD, FACG
Carol A Burke, MD, FACG
Jennifer X Cai, MD, MPH
Audrey H . Calderwood, MD, MS, FACG
Dustin A Carlson, MD, MSCI
Victor Chedid, MD, MS
Po-Hung (Victor) Chen, MD, PhD, FACG
Raymond K Cross, MD, MS, FACG
Adam S Faye, MD
Scott L Gabbard, MD, FACG
Srinivas Gaddam, MD, MPH
Divyangkumar Gandhi, MD, FACG
Tamas A . Gonda, MD
Lucinda A Harris, MD, MS, FACG
Edith Y Ho, MD, MS, FACG
Jennifer Horsley-Silva, MD
Robert J Huang, MD
Pichamol Jirapinyo, MD, MPH, FACG
Afrin N Kamal, MD
Colleen R Kelly, MD, FACG
Sahil Khanna, MBBS, MS, FACG
Bharati Kochar, MD, MS
Nikhil A Kumta, MD, MS, FACG
Alexander Kuo, MD
Brian E . Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG
Ayanna Lewis, MD
Peter S Liang, MD
Bruce A Luxon, MD, PhD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
The ACG Research Committee is responsible for the annual review of applications for Clinical Research Awards and Junior Faculty Development Awards funded under the auspices of the ACG Institute for Clinical Research & Education The Research Committee makes recommendations for clinical research funding to the ACG Board of Trustees which approves the awards
COMMITTEE REPORT
ACG Grant Review Process
In January 2024, the ACG Research Committee met over Zoom and in person, to review the submissions for the ACG 2024 Research awards This hard-working group completed an extensive review of all submitted grants . In assessing the applications for 2024, the ACG Research Committee utilized the Cadmium grant system All grants were evaluated on a nine-point scale in line with NIH grant scoring practices After preliminary review and scoring by three assigned reviewers, applications were further discussed, and a priority score for funding was assigned
The Committee’s typical process is that approximately one-third of the lowest-scoring grants are triaged without extensive discussion, and the rest have extensive discussion and re-scoring by the Committee at the meeting The Committee pays meticulous attention to conflicts of interest and rigorously assesses the scientific merits and feasibility of all grants
Julia McNabb-Baltar, MD, MPH
Thomas E Mellor, DO
Akshata Moghe, MD, Phd
Baharak Moshiree, MD, MSc, FACG
Cynthia A Moylan, MD, MHS
Eric S . Orman, MD
Swathi Paleti, MD
Konstantinos Papamichail, MD
Francisco C Ramirez, MD, MACG
Karthik Ravi, MD
Jessica B Rubin, MD
Richard J Saad, MD, MS, FACG
Brett W Sadowski, MD
Eric D Shah, MD, MBA, FACG
Shawn Shah, MD
Siddharth Singh, MD, MS
Vikesh K Singh, MD
Sebastian Strobel, MD
Felix Tellez Avila, MD, MSc, PhD
Christopher D Vélez, MD
After prioritizing the quality of the science, the Committee discusses the appropriate cut-off lines denoting science of adequate quality to merit funding Each applicant, whether successful or not, receives a written critique of the grant so that improvements can be planned for subsequent submissions either to the College or elsewhere Overall, the investigators selected for the 2024 ACG clinical research awards were the top candidates of an outstanding group of applicants and should produce research of which the College will be proud
Funding for 2024 Clinical Research
For 2024, the ACG Institute for Clinical Research and Education awarded $2,710,801 in support of outstanding clinical research in gastroenterology based on the review and recommendations of the ACG Research Committee This year, ACG will support four Junior Faculty Development Awards at an overall level of $1,800,000 over 3 years, a substantial investment that recognizes and supports promising clinical researchers There were thirty applications for this career development award
ACG will support two Established Investigator Bridge Funding Awards at $600,000 in total, over two years ($150,000 per year), to sustain competitive, patient-oriented research programs during a gap in federal funding
Timothy B. Gardner, MD, MS, FACG
The Research Committee recommended funding for the Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award re-named in honor of the life and legacy of Leonidas H Berry, MD, MACG, ACG’s first African American member (1946) and champion of social change to de-segregate hospitals and medical schools Funding was recommended to support one awardee at the funding level of $75,000 ($50,000 year one and $25,000 year two) This award supports actionable science that will translate to reducing health and/or healthcare disparities
The Committee funded one award for the ACG/ASGE Epidemiologic Research Award in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy This joint society award supports a study utilizing data from the GIQuIC quality benchmarking registry
From among forty-seven submissions for the 2024 Clinical Research Award and Pilot Research Award, the Research Committee recommended funding for 4 investigators for a total of $130,000 . Two investigators received pilot awards at the $15,000 level, and two received clinical research awards at the $50,000 level
The Medical Resident Clinical Research Award and the Medical Student Research Award categories recognize and support promising trainees as they develop careers in clinical research in gastroenterology and hepatology Additionally, these awards provide an opportunity to travel to the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting . For these award categories, the Research Committee recommended funding seven Medical Resident Clinical Research Awards for a total of $68,120 and five Medical Student Research Awards for a total of $17,365 .
Junior Faculty Development Award
The College is proud to support four Junior Faculty Development Awards this year The ACG Junior Faculty Development Grant is a three-year award designed to support junior faculty members with outstanding promise to establish an independent, productive career in gastroenterology or hepatology The primary goal of this career development grant of $150,000 per year for each of the three years is to assist promising clinical researchers in developing research and careers that have a direct bearing on clinical gastrointestinal practice This includes providing 50% protected time for clinical research .
The ACG Board of Trustees approved four Junior Faculty Development Awards recommended by the ACG Research Committee at their January 2024 meeting:
Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH: Massachusetts General Hospital — Initiating Colorectal Cancer Screening in Unscreened Individuals 45 to 54
Jennifer M. Kolb, MD, MS: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System — Preventing Post-Endoscopy Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Barrett’s Esophagus
Jorge D. Machicado, MD, MPH: University of Michigan — Towards a Precision Medicine Approach to Treat Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis
Kara Wegermann, MD: Duke University — Lipid Metabolite Profiles and Cardiovascular Events in Persons with HIV (PWH) who have Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
Established Investigator Bridge Funding Award
The ACG Established Investigator Bridge Funding Award is a two-year award supporting 30% protected time as bridge funding for established investigators This bridge funding grant of $150,000 per year for 2 years is designed to help researchers principally focused on digestive or liver diseases and to sustain their competitive, patient-oriented research programs during a gap in federal program funding . This year’s recipients are:
Renumathy Dhanasekaran, MD, PhD: Stanford University — Molecular Determinants of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Disparities Among Hispanic Patients
Randy Longman, MD, PhD: Weill Cornell Medicine — Defining a FiberResponsive Functional Microbiome to Treat Ulcerative Colitis
Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award
The Leonidas Berry Health Equity Research Award supports up to $75,000 for actionable science that will translate to reducing health and/or healthcare disparities, thereby promoting health equity This two-year award provides funding to faculty or attending physicians who have completed all their training and are practicing gastroenterologists/ hepatologists in the community, who have pilot data for funding at $75,000 ($50,000 year one and $25,000 year two based on progress) This year’s recipient is:
Jin Ge, MD, MBA: University of California, San Francisco — Applying Large Language Models-Driven Natural Language Processing to Better Understand the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Disparities in Liver Transplantation
ACG/ASGE Epidemiologic Research Award in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
The College, in partnership with ASGE, supports one or two-year awards of up to $50,000 for projects involving the use and outcomes of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy within the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC) This year’s recipient is:
Lovekirat Singh Dhaliwal, MD: Emory University School of Medicine — Impact of Social Determinants of Health in Barrett’s Esophagus Surveillance and Management: An Analysis Using the GIQuIC Database Clinical Research Award
The College offers Clinical Research Awards of up to $50,000 each year for original clinical research . The mission of this awards program is to fund innovative research that is patient-care oriented The Committee also considers proposals for pilot awards (up to $15,000) within this category
Research Committee
(cont.)
ACG 2024 Clinical Research Awards (up to $50,000)
Hisham Hussan, MD, FACG: University of California, Davis — Analyzing SexSpecific Changes in Colorectal Cancer Pathways After Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
Berkeley Limketkai, MD, PhD: University of California, Los Angeles — Clinical and Microbial Effects of Xylooligosaccharide Prebiotics for the Induction of Remission in Ulcerative Colitis
ACG 2024 Clinical Research Awards – Pilot Grants (up to $15,000)
Brian T. Li, MD: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Family-Based Epidemiological Study of Helicobacter pylori Prevalence in the United States
Swetha Parvataneni, MD: Indiana University Health — Harnessing the Patient Perspective to Improve Emergency Department Utilization in Cirrhosis
Medical Residents and Medical Students Awards
These grant categories provide support for research by junior colleagues . The Medical Resident Clinical Research Award offers up to $10,000 for original research under the mentorship of a more senior ACG member The Medical Student Research Award provides a summer research experience for medical students, supporting up to $5,000 in living expenses, to be completed under the supervision of a mentor who is an ACG member These two award types will support travel to the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting as part of the experience
2024 Medical Resident Clinical Research Award (up
to $10,000)
Robert C. Chase, MD: Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — Diaphragmatic Breathing for the Treatment of Bloating and Distension: a Prospective Pilot Study
Lizeth Cifuentes, MD: University of Pittsburg Medical Center — Bridging Genetics and Metabolism for Colon Health in Alaska Native Populations
Davis A. Hartnett, MD: Brigham and Women’s Hospital — Comparison of Esophageal Gene Expression Between Allergic and NonAllergic Phenotypes in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Benjamin D. Liu, MD: Case Western Reserve University/MetroHealth Medical Center — GERD Development Among Patients Starting GlucagonLike Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: A Single Center Study
Joshua Norman, MD: Johns Hopkins University — Risk Stratification of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Liver Transplant Allocation
Sanjana Verma, MD: University of California San Francisco — Assessing the Impact of Varied Alcohol Consumption Patterns on the Development of Cirrhosis through Longitudinal Transient Elastography Measurements
Xiaohan Ying, MD: New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell — Medication
Utilization and Pricing for Patients With Viral Hepatitis
2024 Medical Student Research Award (up to $5,000)
Abid Anwar, BS: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine — Investigating Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Induced Inflammation in Biliary Organoids from Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patients
Insa Mannstadt, BS, BA: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons — How Sociodemographic Factors May Influence The Impact of Gut Microbiome-Based Treatments
Catherine Tang, AB: New York University Langone Medical Center — Impact of Mild Endoscopic Disease Activity on Short-term Clinical and Quality of Life Outcomes in Older Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Haakim Waraich, BARSC-MD: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia — Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Endoscopic Biliary Stents for Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Systemic Review and Metaanalysis
Tian Zhang, BS: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine — Effects of Esophageal Monitoring and Interventions on Lung Transplant Patients
TRAINING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG, Chair
Ariel W Aday, MD
Sushil K Ahlawat, MD
Omeed S . Alipour, MD
Lydia L Aye, DO, FACG
Hasan H Bader, MD
Jason M Brown, MD, FACG
Aileen Bui, MD
Chad M Burski, MD
Benjamin E Cassell, MD
Saurabh Chawla, MD, FACG
Laura Chiu, MD, MPH
Tenzin Choden, MD
Bradford J . Chong, MD
Ebubekir S Daglilar, MD
Rahul S Dalal, MD, MPH
Murali Dharan, MD
David T Dulaney, MD
Nikki Duong, MD
Adam C . Ehrlich, MD, MPH, FACG
Derrick D Eichele, MD, FACG
Mohamed Elkhouly, MD
Natalie Farha, MD
Matthew Fasullo, DO
Ryan Flanagan, MD, MPH
Joseph D . Frasca, MD
Jeanetta W . Frye, MD
Brian D Ginnebaugh, MD
Aaron S . Goldberg, MD, FACG
Sanya Goswami, MD
Yesenia Greeff, MD, FACG
Christina Y Ha, MD, FACG
Prateek S . Harne, MD
Muhammad K Hasan, MD, FACG
Erik A Holzwanger, MD
Kevin V. Houston, MD
Maria Lisa S Itzoe, DO
Erin T Jenkins, MD
Albert Kim, MD
Brian Kim, MD
Scott A Larson, MD, PhD, FACG
Jeffrey H Lee, MD, MPH, FACG
Suma S Magge, MD
Lisa B Malter, MD, FACG
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for coordinating activities, programs and outreach relating to training programs and trainee members of the College OBJECTIVES
1 . To explore opportunities to encourage more participation by fellows-in-training in ACG
2 To develop meetings and educational events for trainees
3 To continue to update and expand the Trainees Section of the ACG website
4 To promote mentoring of trainees by the College’s members
5 To encourage the networking of trainees amongst each other and faculty at ACG meetings
6 . To encourage more interest and guidance among Internal Medicine residents in a future career in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Gautam Naresh Mankaney, MD
Madhu Mathew, MD
Rebecca Matro, MD
Zoe Memel, MD
Klaus Mergener, MD, PhD, FACP, FACG
Farah Monzur, MD, FACG
Rishi D Naik, MD, FACG
Sunhee Park, MD, FACG
Pratik Patel, MD
Alana B Persaud, MD
Dhruvil K . Radadiya, MD
Gordon T Robbins, MD
Danial H Shaikh, MD
Joseph Sleiman, MD
Indu Srinivasan, MD
Dharma B Sunjaya, MD
Cesar A Taborda, MD
June Tome, MD
Xiao Jing Wang, MD
Dana Zalkin, MD
COMMITTEE REPORT
Trainee Courses
NEW! – Chief Fellows Course
The inaugural Chief Fellows Course was held in the Washington, DC, area on June 7-8, 2024, and co-directed by Adam Ehrlich, MD, MPH, FACG, and Farah Monzur, MD, FACG Sixty Chief Fellows from across the country were nominated by their program director and then selected at random to attend the course, which was designed to prepare rising Chief GI Fellows for this complicated role Attendees participated in networking, role-playing and small group discussions to practice conflict resolution, teaching and feedback skills Program directors will be invited in early 2025 to nominate their rising Chief Fellow to attend the June 2025 course .
2nd Year Fellows Course
The 19th annual ACG 2nd Year Fellows Course was held on January 12 –14, 2024 in the Washington, DC, area It was chaired by Chad M Burski, MD, Jason M Brown, MD, FACG, and Indu Srinivasan, MD The course featured both general sessions and small group breakouts tailored to the learning needs of 2nd year fellows, in addition to Hands-on sessions led by experts in endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, and esophageal manometry The attendees had the opportunity to interact one-on-one
Mohammad Bilal, MD, FACG
Training Committee (cont.)
with the experts for a unique mentoring opportunity . Program directors are invited each July to nominate a 2nd year fellow from their program to attend the course After the nomination period closes, the College randomly selects 125 fellows and fully funds their travel for the course .
Annual Meeting and Postgraduate Course Trainee and Resident Events
NEW! – Trainee Lounge at ACG 2024
New this year at the Annual Meeting and Postgraduate Course, the Training Committee will host a Trainee Lounge for residents and GI fellows . This will serve as a space for trainees to connect, network, grab a snack, challenge their co-fellows to a match of ping pong or foosball, and learn how to become engaged in the College This space will also be used for several formal and informal trainee sessions throughout the Annual Meeting The lounge will be open from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm from Saturday, October 26th – Tuesday, October 29th
GI Jeopardy
This year will mark the 21st year of the GI Jeopardy competition, which remains very successful and increasingly popular among trainees The online preliminary (pre-test) round of GI Jeopardy ran from early-July through early-August . This preliminary competition resulted in five teams being invited to the live competition, based on the number of questions correctly answered and the amount of time spent taking the test . The finalists this year are Cleveland Clinic Foundation, National Capital Consortium, Naval Medical Center (San Diego), UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center and University of Missouri - Columbia .
Each of these programs was invited to designate two competitors for the final round on Saturday, October 26th, and qualifying teams received airfare and housing for the Philadelphia meeting The winning team members from the live Jeopardy competition will each receive a $1,000 travel grant toward the 2025 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona We expect another spirited competition this year, with Dr Nabil Fayad returning as emcee, so come prepared to cheer on the participants!
Postgraduate Course Trainees Luncheon
The popular Trainees’ Luncheon at the Annual Meeting will resume this year on Sunday, October 27th The luncheon will feature a faculty panel to discuss “Scoping Out Your Future: From Fellow to Frontline”, discussing early career experiences and important considerations for choosing a career path post Fellowship The panel will feature Lisa S . Cassani, MD, Jami A R . Kinnucan, MD, FACG, Mariam Naveed, MD, Sergio A Sanchez-Luna, MD, and Rohit Sharda, MD Chad M Burski, MD, Yesenia Greeff, MD, FACG, and Rishi D Naik, MD, FACG, are the CoChairs for this event
NEW! – Fireside Chat with ACG Leadership
The Training Committee will hold a “Fireside Chat with ACG Leadership” in the Trainee Lounge on Monday, October 28th, from 10:30 am - 11:30 am Panelists include past presidents and board members Fellows will engage with panelists in an informal Q&A, moderated by Dr Mohammad Bilal, on different leadership trajectories and how involvement in the ACG and
national organizations can bring fulfillment throughout their careers
Residents' Event: Navigating the GI Match - Tips and Tricks for Applicants
The Committee will host its third annual session at the Annual Meeting specifically designed for residents “Navigating the GI Match - Tips and Tricks for Applicants” will take place on Monday, October 28th, from 10:30 am - 11:30 am Panelists will include GI Fellowship Program Directors from diverse settings and current GI Fellows .
NEW! – Residents' Event: Ask the Fellows
The Committee will host “Ask the Fellows” on Tuesday, October 29th, from 10:35 am to 11:30 am in the Trainee Lounge This exciting opportunity for Residents hoping to match into GI Fellowship will be led by Dr . Joseph Sleiman . Residents will network and ask questions in an informal gathering with GI Fellows
Other Activities and Programs
Online Resources for Residents
Drs Mohammad Bilal and Ariel Aday are leading the Committee’s efforts to expand the online resource center for GI fellowship applicants . It includes new resources for residents interested in GI fellowship and will guide them through the GI fellowship match and into the start of their fellowship training . In addition, the subcommittee held its annual Virtual Grand Rounds webinar on April 24, 2024, with over 300 attendees, to provide guidance to prospective applicants on the Match application process . If you missed the live webinar, you can watch a recording in the ACG Education Universe here: education.gi.org/presentations/ universe_17567
Board Review Question of the Week
The 2023-2024 Grand Prize Winner of the online Board Review Question of the Week competition was Dr Devika Gandhi, MD, from Loma Linda University Medical Center She received a $1,000 travel grant toward the 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia The current round of questions can be found in the Trainees section of the ACG website The Grand Prize Winner will be determined by weekly participation and the highest number of correct answers to the questions (must answer at least 75% of the questions to be eligible) and will receive a $1,000 travel grant for the 2025 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona To stimulate ongoing participation, we also offer a quarterly prize of free access to one of ACG’s Online Self-Assessment Tests for the participant who answers the most questions correctly each quarter To be eligible, participants must answer at least 75% of the questions each quarter .
Resident and Trainee Mentoring Program
The Mentoring subcommittee, led by Dr Nikki Duong, has developed guidelines for a successful mentoring relationship The program’s objective is to provide fellows in training access to faculty from diverse practice models, academic departments, and geographic regions The program continues to foster casual dialogue between mentors and mentees, while affording residents and trainees the opportunity to gain valuable guidance and career advice from faculty not accessible to them in their training programs Internal Medicine residents are mentored by recent graduates and current GI Fellows
WOMEN IN GASTROENTEROLOGY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Kara M De Felice, MD, FACG, Chair
Elizabeth S Aby, MD
Paula G Adamson, MD
Sangeeta Agrawal, MD, FACG
Jana G Al Hashash, MD, MSc, FACG
Yamam Al Saadi, MD
Somaya A M . Albhaisi, MD
Lydia L Aye, DO, FACG
Manavi Bhagwat, MD
Tamara R Brodsky, MD, MBA
Tanya Bruckel, MD
Chau B Che, MD, FACG
Cynthia Cherfane, MD
Erica R Cohen, MD
Rabia A de Latour, MD
Xheni Deda, MD
Meeta Desai, MD
Seema R . Gandhi, MD, FACG
Shima Ghavimi, MD
Yesenia Greeff, MD, FACG
Irma Hashmi, DO
Autumn P Hines, DO
Sara N . Horst, MD, MPH, FACG
Pegah Hosseini-Carroll, MD, FACG
Victoria M . B . Howard, PA
Catherine T Hudson, MD
Kathryn E Hutchins, MD
Neha Jakhete, MD
Parastoo Jangouk, MD
Jennifer Katz, MD, FACG
Kavita R . Kongara, MD
Tamara Koritarov, DO
Calley H Levine, MD
Sarah Malik, MD
Neena Mohan, MD
Sudha Pandit, MD
RESPONSIBILITIES AS STATED IN THE ACG BYLAWS
This Committee shall be responsible for identifying and evaluating issues that pertain to women in the field of gastroenterology and formulating means to assure that desired goals are met
OBJECTIVES
1 . Encourage participation, membership, and advancement of female gastroenterologists in the ACG
2 Promote research and understanding of the gender differences in gastrointestinal diseases
3 Encourage women to pursue a career in gastroenterology and provide resources to aid in their success
4 Foster mentors for students, residents, and fellows in medical training programs
COMMITTEE REPORT
Navigating, Networking, and Negotiating Your First Job Workshop
This workshop was developed to provide fellows and junior faculty with the skills needed when negotiating for positions and the tools for effective networking, both essential in the development of effective leaders This workshop will be held in-person at the Annual Meeting on Friday, October 25, from 5:45 pm to 9:00 pm, and it is co-chaired by Drs Pegah Hosseini-Carroll and Sarah Malik .
Kumkum S Patel, MD
Alana B Persaud, MD
Jessica B Rubin, MD
Sheila Rustgi, MD
Naemat Sandhu, MD
Yara Sarkis, MD
Katherine E . Scholand, MD
Uzma D . Siddiqui, MD, FACG
Radha A Tamerisa, MD
Camille S . Thelin, MD
Judy A . Trieu, MD, MPH
Ana Rosa V Sangay, MD
Lavanya Viswanathan, MD, MS, FACG
Lan S Wang, MD
Melinda Wang, MD
Julie Yang, MD, FACG
Career Opportunities for Women in GI Luncheon
This innovative career symposium, held in conjunction with the ACG Postgraduate Course, is tailored for female residents, trainees, and junior faculty It features female ACG members from various gastrointestinal subspecialties and practice settings, who provide insights into their career choices in gastroenterology and discuss strategies for succeeding as women in the field Drs Kathryn Hutchins and Yesenia Greeff are serving as co-chairs this year The luncheon will take place during the Postgraduate Course on Saturday, October 26, from 12:20 pm to 1:35 pm
Women in GI Online Task Force
The goal of the task force is to increase the online presence of women in GI, and to promote ACG initiatives and projects focused on women in GI . This task force is co-chaired by Drs . Lydia Aye and Irma Hashmi . This task force has successfully created a series of podcasts based on the ACG Pregnancy Monograph which is available on the ACG website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts
Education and Promotion of IBS Awareness
Led by Drs . KumKum Patel and Lavanya Viswanathan, the initiative for this task force is to raise awareness of IBS, particularly during April, which is IBS Awareness Month The ACG Communications team successfully posted on ACG's social media platforms four times throughout April In addition to internal promotions, our task force leaders encouraged their department members to post every Friday in April, effectively spreading the message
Kara M. De Felice, MD, FACG
ACG's Committees (cont.)
Women in Gastroenterology Committee (cont.)
GI Workshop
The GI Workshop task force, led by Drs Calley H Levine and Jennifer Katz, is offering an exciting new half-day course at the ACG 2024 meeting on Friday, October 24, from 1:45 pm to 6:30 pm This course, titled “ACG’s WISE GI: Women’s Initiative for Success and Elevation in Gastroenterology Leadership Course” focuses on professional development and networking opportunities for female gastroenterologists, including senior fellows and attendings at all career stages . It is highly relevant for those in both private practice and academic practice
Nursing Room/Childcare
This task force, led by PA Victoria Howard and Dr Xheni Deda, has coordinated with staff to offer live streaming of sessions in the nursing room and has established a multi-faith prayer room for all attendees, which will be open daily They have also arranged childcare services for those traveling with young children
Well-Being and Work-Life Balance Task Force
Led by Drs Camille Thelin and Kavita Kongara, the task force has successfully coordinated another yoga session at the Annual Meeting . This session, open to all attendees, will take place on Sunday, October 27, from 6:00 am to 7:00 am The Task Force also worked with staff to create women networking breakfasts at four of the 2025 ACG Regional Courses
Leadership Conference
Dr Kara De Felice, Chair of the Women in GI Committee, and Dr Aasma Shaukat, Board of Trustees Liaison, have successfully reinstated the Leadership Conference previously hosted by the Women in GI Committee before the pandemic The ACG Leadership Conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025, the day before the ACG/LGS Regional Postgraduate Course in New Orleans . This course will offer strategies for balancing career and personal life to support success in GI leadership The program will address the unique challenges faced by gastroenterologists and provide insights on building resilience, achieving professional success, and maintaining career satisfaction in a dynamic healthcare environment
ACG Magazine Articles
The Committee is currently looking for volunteers to write articles with a goal of one per year
ACG'S ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Since it began publishing in 1934 as the official peer-reviewed journal, The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) has been considered the American College of Gastroenterology’s flagship journal and the crown jewel of the organization . It has long been the leading general GI clinical journal and impacts the delivery of quality care on a daily basis . The College remains committed to publishing the most relevant high quality clinical gastroenterology and hepatology science in the form of original research, review articles and consensus papers related to new therapeutic modalities as well as disease management . Other notable sections include the Red Section, ACG Clinical Guidelines, and images and videos of the month . Each issue of the Red Journal includes CME opportunities Every member of the College receives a free subscription to AJG . Led by co-Editors-in-Chief Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG, and Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG, who beging their second 3-year term in January 2025 . The international editorial board looks for cutting edge manuscripts that can be adapted immediately to clinical practice
Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology
The College expanded its publishing titles with the creation of a Gold Open Access journal, Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (CTG), in 2016 . With an eye toward bridging the gap from bench to bedside, CTG looks to fulfill an unmet need for clinicians and scientists by welcoming novel cohort studies, early-phase clinical trials, qualitative and quantitative epidemiologic research, hypothesis-generating research, studies of novel mechanisms and methodologies including public health interventions, and integration of approaches across organs and disciplines . CTG also welcomes hypothesisgenerating case series, methods papers, and translational research with clear applications to human physiology or disease The Journal practices double-blind peer review, with increases impartiality and aims to prevent potential biases from influencing the reviewers' opinion . Led by Editor-in-Chief Brian Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG, CTG announces the development of its first International Editorial Board that includes members of the World Gastroenterology Organisation .
ACG Case Reports Journal
The ACG Case Reports Journal (ACGCRJ) was launched in 2013 in recognition of the changing nature of academic publishing, which discouraged publication of case reports due to their low likelihood of citation—an important avenue for GI and hepatology trainees as well as private practitioners to publish scientific papers in peer reviewed journals ACGCRJ provides an Open Access, peer-reviewed publishing outlet for GI fellows, private practice clinicians, and other healthcare providers to share interesting and unique case reports ACGCRJ publishes case reports, images, videos, and letters to the editor in all topics of gastroenterology and hepatology The editorial team is made up exclusively of GI fellows . Applications open each January for editorial positions, and the editorial calendar year runs July 1-June 30 The ACGCRJ was created to help fulfill ACG’s commitment to providing growth and learning opportunities for GI and hepatology fellows, and helps fellows meet core curriculum requirements for non-patient care activities All case submissions must have a GI and hepatology fellow-in-training or a resident interested in pursuing fellowship as the lead author . Cases authored by private practice clinicians and other healthcare providers who might traditionally face difficulty publishing with leading journals are also welcome Publication fees for ACG members are wavied as part of their exclusive member benefit .
Evidence-Based Gastroenterology
ACG Evidence-Based GI (EBGI) evaluates GI and Hepatology research articles published by using evidence-based criteria to identify the highest quality studies The editors create structured abstracts outlining the published study, and provide expert commentary on the article Led by Editor-in-Chief Philip Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG, the summaries are written by the Associate Editors, who comment on articles published in non-GI focused, high impact journals as well as those published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology The criteria from the “User’s Guides to the Medical Literature: A Manual for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, 3rd edition” (2015) is used to create the structured abstracts, assess the methodologic quality of studies, and explain study results for practitioners with limited knowledge of statistics EBGI aims to fill an unmet need for members in private practice who do not have institutional access to non-ACG subscription publications . Readers can catch up on research quickly, keeping up to date on studies and trends in GI Podcasts of each article are available and indexed on audio services such as Spotify and iTunes
The EBGI Social Media Ambassadors create weekly tweetorials of articles covered in each issue Tweetorial slides can now be download for use in Journal Clubs
The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) finishes its first 3-year term under the co-leadership of co-Editors-in-Chief (EICs) Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG, and Millie Long, MD, MPH, FACG Since their start, the EICs tasked themselves with focusing on the reader, author, and reviewer to ensure a well-rounded journal experience The editors remain dedicated to publishing important content for clinicians and family practice providers
This past March, the editorial board traveled to New Orleans, LA, for a 2-day retreat to discuss journal development During the meeting, the group discussed conflicts of interest, hot topic articles, and the everexpanding topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in publishing . In recognition of the increasing number of papers on AI in GI, Ryan Stidham, MD, MS, from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor was brought onto the editorial board in spring 2024 Another aspect of AI at the Journal level is increasing attention to the use of AI in manuscript writing By the end of the retreat, it was agreed that authors must disclose at the submission process whether or not any AI tools were used in the development of the paper, and to what extent they were used While this declaration is important, it should be noted that the editors cautiously embrace AI in publishing, as long as the authors are using it to improve the work, and not create it mechanically All authors should adhere to their institutional policies on AI use Other topics of development during the retreat were invited reviews and Red Section articles, as well as the next few special issues But it wasn’t all work and no play! The editorial team enjoyed an evening river boat ride on the Mississippi River aboard the Natchez While it was too foggy to see the city lights, the music from the live jazz trio was enjoyed by all
In June 2024, the Journal published a special issue on Obesity, which was imagined as a crossroads between the multiple specialties involved in studying obesity pathogenesis With 18 articles and brief reports, and 5 review articles, the issue included articles on the popular GLP-1 medications and potential GI implications in clinical practice on bowel prep, safety of use in patients with IBD, and gastric emptying delays Other articles highlighted the role of ultra-processed foods in GI cancer risk, and pediatric eating behaviors after esophageal remodeling The next special issue on “Inflammation” will be published in January 2025 Our current call for papers on “Patient-Centered Outcomes” closes on December 1, 2024 Be sure to submit your high-quality research exploring patient-centered research of the digestive system focusing on patient reported outcomes such as symptoms and health-related
quality of life Papers should critically examine relevant exposures and interventions with a focus on patient centered outcomes Other patientcentered topics will also be prioritized for this collection, including availability of services, patient-centered technologies, and manuscripts focusing on disease burden Ideally, submissions should incorporate a wide variety of settings and diverse participants to address individual differences in care Submissions can be of all study types, from descriptive epidemiology to randomized controlled trials .
The Journal continues to publish articles on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) . The co-EICs have created a curated collection of DEI articles published during their tenure . As healthcare continues to evolve, the importance of fostering an inclusive environment and embracing diversity has become increasingly evident This compilation aims to shed light on the various dimensions of diversity within gastroenterology, from patient care and medical education to research and professional development This can be accessed through the Journal website under the “Collections” tab Be sure to bookmark it for your reading library
As always, the Journal would not be able to produce any content without input from our hard-working reviewers We are indebted to our talented pool of reviewers who help to ensure that we publish the best clinical science in gastroenterology and hepatology This is the second year that we are proud to offer complimentary ACG memberships to reviewers who complete at least five high-quality reviews for AJG in a calendar year We will be celebrating our top journal reviewers at the Journals Reception on Sunday, October 27 Look for our listing of other reviewers acknowledged at the ACG Annual Meeting in Philadelphia .
The Editors are pleased to announce the Top Reviewers for 2024: Joseph Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG, Jordan Axelrad, MD, MPH, FACG, Muhammad Aziz, MD, Naohiko Akimoto, MD, Sidney Barritt, IV, MD, MSCR, FACG, Enrik Aguila, MD, MBA, Fadi Antaki, MD, Yifei Hu, PhD, and Jimmy Limdi, MD, FACG These individuals have completed 5 or more high-quality reviews for the Journal, and receive a waiver for their ACG membership fee .
The current co-EICs were confirmed for a second 3-year term by the ACG Board of Trustees in June, and look forward to continuing to publish high-quality, clinically relevant articles for our readership
2024 Editorial Board
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System
Richmond, VA
Senior Associate Editors
Brooks Cash, Houston, TX
Raymond Cross, Baltimore, MD
Benjamin Lebwohl, New York, NY
Mark Pimentel, Los Angeles, CA
Aasma Shaukat, New York, NY
Hugo E. Vargas, Scottsdale, AZ
Red Section Editors
Neeral Shah, Charlottesville, VA
George Smallfield, Richmond, VA
Associate Editors
Seth Crockett, Chapel Hill, NC
John DiBaise, Scottsdale, AZ
Ashley Faulx, Cleveland, OH
Jennifer Flemming, Kingston, Canada
Juan Gallegos-Orozco, Salt Lake City, UT
C. Prakash Gyawali, St. Louis, MO
Sara Horst, Nashville, TN
Michael Kappelman, Chapel Hill, NC
Christopher Ma, Calgary, Canada
Baharak Moshiree, Charlotte, NC
Max Petrov, Auckland, New Zealand
Joseph Pisegna, Los Angeles, CA
Yaron Rotman, Rockville, MD
Joel Rubenstein, Ann Arbor, MI
Allison Schulman, Ann Arbor, MI
Tilak Shah, Weston, FL
Deputy Associate Editors
Andrew Moon, Chapel Hill, NC
Judy Trieu, St. Louis, MO
Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, FACG
University of North Carolina
School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC
Editorial Advisory Board
Maisa Abdalla, Loma Linda, CA
David Alpers, St. Louis, MO
Joseph Anderson, Hanover, NH
Giovanni Barbara, Bologna, Italy
Alan Barkun, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
A. Sidney Barritt, Chapel Hill, NC
Charles N. Bernstein, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
David Binion, Pittsburgh, PA
Audrey H. Calderwood, Lebanon, NH
Andres Cárdenas, Barcelona, Spain
William D. Chey, Ann Arbor, MI
Claudia PMS de Olivier, São Paulo, Brazil
Jason Dominitz, Seattle, WA
Gary Falk, Philadelphia, PA
Stevan A. Gonzalez, Fort Worth, TX
Ikuo Hirano, Chicago, IL
Samuel Ho, San Diego, CA
Sen-Yung Hsieh, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Gianluca Ianiro, Rome, Italy
Patricia D. Jones, Miami, FL
Allon Kahn, Phoenix, AZ
David Katzka, Rochester, MN
Sahil Khanna, Rochester, MN
Timothy Koch, Roanoke, VA
Bharati Kochar, Boston, MA
Anand Kulkarni, Raichur, Karnataka, India
Dennis Kumral, Charlottesville, VA
Uri Ladabaum, Palo Alto, CA
Sandeep Lakhtakia, Telangana, India
Angel Lanas, Zaragoza, Spain
Lena Lapidot, Tel Aviv, Israel
Jonathan Leighton, Scottsdale, AZ
Jimmy Limdi, Manchester, UK
Pablo Luna, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mathias Mandorfe, Vienna, Austria
Benson Massey, Milwaukee, WI
Gil Melmed, Los Angeles, CA
Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Mexico City, Mexico
Hiroto Miwa, Hyogo, Japan
Steven Moss, Providence, RI
Joseph Murray, Rochester, MN
James Neuberger, Birmingham, UK
Kavish Patidar, Indianapolis, IN
Francesca Ponziani, Rome, Italy
Natalia Queiroz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Eammon Quigley, Houston, TX
Surinder Rana, Chandigarh, India
Yehuda C, Petah Tikva, Israel
Sammy Saab, Los Angeles, CA
Richard Saad, Ann Arbor, MI
Fergus Shanahan, Cork, Ireland
Nicholas Shaheen, Chapel Hill, NC
Prateek Sharma, Kansas City, MO
Daniel Sifrim, Leuven, Belgium
Tracey Simon, Boston, MA
Tyler Stevens, Cleveland, OH
Christina Surawicz, Seattle, WA
Elliot Tapper, Ann Arbor, MI
Alok Thakur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Hidenori Toyoda, Ogaki, Japan
Jonel Trebicka, Frankfurt, Germany
Arvind Trindade, New Hyde Park, NY
Santhi Swaroop Vege, Rochester, MN
Michael Vaezi, Nashville, TN
John J. Vargo, Cleveland, OH
Ken Wang, Rochester, MN
Bechien Wu, Los Angeles, CA
Qing Xie, Shanghai, China
Rena Yadlapati, La Jolla, CA
Eric Yoshida, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (CTG) is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open access, online journal dedicated to innovative clinical work in the field of gastroenterology, pancreatology, and hepatology CTG seeks to promptly publish and broadly disseminate important clinical care insights and significant scientific discoveries that impact the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive disorders
The AI in GI special issue, published in October 2023, was devoted to various ways in which AI is being applied to improve the care of patients with gastrointestinal conditions Articles covered how AI may be able to improve diagnostic accuracy, whether it's computer-aided diagnosis of in situ colon polyps or real-time detection of Helicobacter pylori infection and looked at how AI can improve patient access to GI diagnostics The issue features 8 research articles and 1 review article, along with 1 editorial . Continuing to look forward to the future, Editorin-Chief Brian Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG, began his second term in 2024 with a focus on the journal’s global audience
CTG receives papers from all around the world, with China being the top submitting country for the past 5 years The Journal publishes papers from the United States, China, Thailand, Japan, and European countries like Italy, Germany, and Belgium With this in mind, the editors were inspired to update the Journal cover in Spring 2024 Working with ACG’s Design Team, the editors aimed to visualize the communication pathways that cross the globe to reflect the fastpaced, open access nature of the Journal As all articles are free to view, research published in CTG is available to a wide international audience within 5 days after acceptance The editors thank Antonella Iseas at ACG for her work on updating the cover design
With the Editor-in-Chief’s new term came some fresh faces to the Editorial Board Violeta Popov, MD, PhD, and Andrew Tai, MD, concluded their terms as Associate Editors at the end of 2023 The Journal thanks both Dr Popov and Dr Tai for their work on the Journal and welcomes new Associate Editors Ashwani Singal, MD, MS, FACG, and Yasmin Barco-Hernandez, MD Additionally, the editors thank Bharati Kochar, MD, MS, for her work as Interim Associate Editor this fall
The Journal also expanded the masthead to include an International Editorial Board in 2024 Launched in partnership with the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG, was designated as the first Chair Board members have to review at least 3 manuscripts per year, promote the Journal on social media and at meetings, and attend the ACG Annual Meeting Additionally, editorials developed by members of the board will be published quarterly This partnership showcases the editors’ dedication to the promotion of optimal care of gastrointestinal and liver disorders worldwide .
The Journal editors continue to publish interesting content, and an article in the June 2024 issue was popular outside of the Journal’s standard audience of clinical practitioners and researchers The article “Substitution of One Meat-Based Meal With Vegetarian and Vegan Alternatives Generates Lower Ammonia and Alters Metabolites in Cirrhosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial” by Badal and colleagues from the Richmond VA Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences was picked up by over 25 news outlets The randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that going vegan or vegetarian for just one meal can lower levels of harmful ammonia in adults whose livers are permanently damaged by cirrhosis .
The most read paper of the year as of this writing in late July is another RCT published in January, “Lactulose vs Polyethylene Glycol for Bowel Preparation: A Single-Center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study Based on BMI,” from the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School in China This RCT showed that lactulose oral solution is superior to PEG in bowel preparation quality and taste, especially in normal BMI and higher BMI groups Be sure to go back in our archives to read these not to be missed articles!
The editors wish to thank all the reviewers and authors who make publication possible, as well as the editors of The American Journal of Gastroenterology for their continued support in sending high quality content our way through the transferred submission process We look forward to more special issues, cross-association collaboration, and continued publication of interesting and innovative articles in 2025
2024 Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Brian C. Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA
Associate Editors
Yasmin G. Hernandez-Barco, MD
Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA
John Kim, MD, FACG
Division of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda, CA
David Levinthal, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA
Eugenia Shmidt, MD, FACG Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Ashwani K. Singal, MD, MS. FACG Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, Kentucky
Jennifer Weiss, MD, MS Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison, WI
ACG Case Reports Journal (ACGCRJ) is an open-access (OA), peerreviewed journal, which is edited exclusively by GI fellows, and provides a publishing outlet for GI fellows, private practice clinicians, and other healthcare providers to share interesting case reports . ACGCRJ publishes case reports, images, videos, and letters to the editor in all topics of gastroenterology and hepatology The Journal is indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), PubMed/ PubMed Central, and the Web of Science
At the start of their term in July 2023, Co-Editors-in-Chief (EICs) Vibhu Chittajallu, MD, and Khushboo Gala, MBBS, met with members of the ACG Scholarly Publications staff to plan their goals and initiatives for the term . With an eye toward peer reviewer engagement and appreciation, the editors developed a Reviewer of the Month program To qualify for this honor, reviewers must complete more than 2 high quality peer reviews (a reviewer score of >3 out of 5) in a 2-month period Qualified reviewers are then ranked blindly by the EICs, and a monthly honoree is selected The Reviewer of the Month receives a certificate of achievement and is featured on the ACGCRJ website and social media feeds
The EICs also committed to highlighting authors through a Case of the Month feature Each month, a different editor selects a case to write a brief commentary on . Both the commentary and associated article are featured on the front page of the ACGCRJ website Additionally, the editorial board committed to producing a podcast with different authors and subject area experts each month Podcasts are posted on the ACG website and all major streaming services, reaching over 1,000 followers combined on our largest 3rd party platforms, Spotify and Apple Podcasts .
During the 2023-2024 term, all editors successfully completed both a Case of the Month commentary and podcast recording in addition to managing their workload in the manuscript review process This was no small feat, given a sharp increase from 861 submissions received in 2022 to 973 received in 2023
The EICs also wished to engage strong mentorship opportunities for the ACGCRJ Editorial Board With that in mind, they began inviting experienced editors including The American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) Co-Editor-in-Chief Dr Millie Long and current AJG Associate Editor / former ACGCRJ EIC Dr Judy Trieu to speak and answer questions at the monthly ACGCRJ Editorial Board meeting .
The 2023-2024 co-Editors-in-Chief completed their terms on June 30, 2024, and passed the torch to Prateek Harne, MBBS, MD, of Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA, and Muhammad Nadeem Yousaf, MD, of University of Missouri, Columbia, MO In light of the continuous increase in submissions received by ACGCRJ, the Board of Trustees approved an expanded editorial board for the 20242025 term, increasing the number of Associate Editors from 12 to 14 The new editorial board appreciates the support from the Digital Communications and Publications Committee
Associate Editors
Daniyal Abbas, MD Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY
Sonya Bhaskar, MD University of South Florida Tampa, FL
Tina Boortalary, MD, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA
Vaishnavi Boppana, MD University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
Dushyant Dahiya, MD University of Kansas Kansas City, KS
Umer Farooq, MD St. Louis University St. Louis, MO
2024-2025 Editorial Board
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Prateek Harne, MBBS, MD
Allegheny Health Network Pittsburgh, PA
Muhammad Nadeem Yousaf, MD University of Missouri Columbia, MO
Abel Joseph, MD Stanford University Stanford, CA
Rahul Karna, MD University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
Daniel Marino, MD, MBA NYU Langone New York, NY
Krystal Mills, MD Mayo Clinic Rochester Rochester, MN
Ahmed Telbany, MD, MPH University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
Himesh Zaver, MD University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA
Evidence-Based Gastroenterology (EBGI) launched in October 2021 in conjunction with the ACG Annual Meeting Each month since, Associate Editors review selected GI and hepatology related articles that are published in non-GI journals, providing a structured abstract that outlines the main question the article addresses, details the design, setting, patient groups, and the interventions used, and discusses the results and outcomes Editors provide a commentary on why the article is important and how the conclusions compare with their own practice Lastly, the editors identify areas for future research on the subject The publication’s goal is to highlight key GI articles published in general medical journals to assist practitioners and fellows in staying up to date on important articles and information that readers may not have free access to otherwise Podcasts are produced for each summary and available on iTunes, Spotify, and directly through the EBGI article on the ACG website . GastroGirl’s, Jacqueline Gaulin, continues her co-hosting duties, bringing in her patient-focused view to the practice-based segment Editor-in-Chief Philip Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG, edits each summary and leads each month’s series of podcasts . Dr Schoenfeld is the Founding Editor and completes his 3-year term on the publication this December
This past year, the EBGI Social Media (SoMe) Ambassadors, led by Romy Chamoun, MD, and Noor Syed, MD, took center stage during March’s Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month . In March, the SoMe Ambassadors launched the 45 Healthy Meals Challenge on X/ Twitter to promote how healthy diets can aid in CRC prevention, claiming the hashtag #EatGoodFeelGoodxCRCAwareness Arming the public with 45 healthy recipes, the SoMe Ambassadors also posted videos and tips on the importance of nutrition in CRC prevention . CRC month was capped with a Special ACG Virtual Ground Round (VGR) highlighting CRC survivors, advocates, and experts EBGI SoMe Ambassadors Sophia Dar, MD, and Mohamad I Itani, MD, moderated
the 1-hour session with CRC experts Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG, and Folasade P May, MD, PhD, FACG, and CRC survivors Ms Evelyn Farmer and Mr Jeffrey Dincher in the March 26, 2024, VGR Farmer and Dincher shared their patient experiences with navigating the healthcare system and their CRC survivor stories May and Shaukat offered advice on CRC screening guidelines, shared bowel prep tips, and discussed clinical trials that are underway that may lead to further advancements in the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of CRC
The SoMe Ambassadors continue to contribute to EBGI through their weekly tweetorials . Published on the @ACG_EBGI X/Twitter account each Wednesday, tweetorials present the EBGI summary in easy to digest slides As of July 2024, the EBGI team had turned the tweetorials into downloadable slide decks for journal clubs to use Visit the EBGI Journal Club page to view this new resource .
The Editors will begin to highlight ACG Guidelines in the second half of 2024, starting with coverage of the 2022 Gastroparesis guideline in August to mark Gastroparesis Awareness Month Both ACG guidelines and EBGI are free to view . The ACG is pleased to announce the new co-Editors-in-Chief, who begin in January 2025 Joseph Anderson, MD, MHCDS, FACG, of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT, and Paul Kwo, MD, FACG, of Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, will work together to guide the development of timely and relevant summaries of articles in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, JAMA, and Lancet, among others publications
2024 Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Philip Schoenfeld, MD, MSEd, MScEpi, FACG
Gastroenterology Section, John R. Dingell VA Medical Center Detroit, MI
Associate Editors
Ahmad Abu-Heija, MD
Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates
Oak Ridge, TN
Romy Chamoun, MD
GI Fellow
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Allentown, PA
Rahul S. Dalal, MD, MPH
Crohn's and Colitis Center
Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA
Swathi Eluri, MD, MSCR
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
Elie Al Kazzi, MD, MPH
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York, NY
Bharati Kochar, MD, MS Division of Gastroenterology
Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School Boston, MA
Philip N. Okafor, MD, MPH Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL
Nicole E. Rich, MD, MSCS
Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX
Social Media Ambassadors
Sophia Dar, MD
Aimem Farooq, MD
Kashyap Chauhan, MD
Fnu Vikash, MD, M.Med
Nazli Begum Ozturk, MD
Arjun Chatterjee, MD
Hannah Winthrop Fiske, MD
Dheera Grover, MBBS
Michelle Baliss, DO
Muhammad Sheharyar Warraich, MBBS
Maryam Bilal Haider, MD
Mohamad I. Itani, MD
Aastha Chokshi, MD
Carl Kay, MD
Jalpa Devi, MBBS
Sean-Patrick Prince, MD, MPH
Camille Lupianez Merly, MD
Devika Gandi, MD
Umer Farooq, MD
Clive Jude Miranda, DO, MSc
Jassimran Singh, MD
Anoushka Dua, MD
Eleazar Montalván-Sánchez, MD
Chukwunonso Benedict Ezeani, MD
Natalie Wilson, MD
Kuntal Bhowmick, MD
Tessa Herman, MD
Mythili Menon Pathiyil, MD
Peter Bhandari, MD
Daryl Ramai, MD, MPH, MSc
Ben Clement, MD
Grecia Santaella-Mendez, MD
Chidiebele Omaliko, MD
Noor S. Syed, MD
GI Fellow
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
Christopher Velez, MD
Center for Neurointestinal Health Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA
Timothy Yen, MD
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Loma Linda University Dallas, TX
Margaret Zhou, MD
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Stanford University Stanford, CA
Social Media Subcommittee Leaders
Social Media Associate Editors
Romy Chamoun, MD
Noor Syed, MD
CRC Awareness Month Team
Mohamad I. Itani, MD
Chukwunonso Benedict Ezeani, MD
Jassimran Singh, MD
Camille Lupianez Merly, MD
Media Operations
Aimen Farooq, MD
Kashyap Chauhan, MD
GI Fellowship Outreach
Jalpa Devi, MBBS
Trainee #SoMe Impact Study Leads
Sophia Dar, MD
APPENDICES
ACG'S VISION: To be the preeminent organization supporting health care professionals who provide compassionate, equitable, high-quality, state-of-the-art, and personalized care to promote digestive health.
OUR MISSION: To provide tools, services, and accelerate advances in:
• patient care,
• education,
• research,
• advocacy,
• practice management,
• professional development and
• clinician wellness, enabling our members to improve patients' digestive health and build personally fulfilling careers that foster well-being, meaning and purpose.
The College has been meeting the needs of GI clinicians since its inception in 1932 The designation of Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG) is bestowed upon select members in recognition of significant professional achievement and superior competence within the field of gastroenterology The FACG designation represents achievements that highlight your dedication to your profession Show your colleagues, staff, and patients your commitment to the profession and apply for Advancement to Fellowship .
View the requirements and benefits here: gi.org/membership/advancement-to-fellowship .
MEMBERS WHO ADVANCED TO FELLOWSHIP THIS YEAR
Badr Al-Bawardy, MD, FACG Mohammad F. Ali, MD, FACG
Jordan E. Axelrad, MD, MPH, FACG
Lydia L. Aye, DO, FACG
Dilhana S. Badurdeen MD, FACG
Noemi Baffy MD, FACG Wojciech C. Blonski MD, FACG
Jason M. Brown MD, FACG
David J Cangemi MD, FACG
Amanda K. Cartee MD, FACG
Shannon Chang MD, FACG Avais M. Chatha MD, FACG Muhammad Afzal Chaudhry MD, FACG
Wei-Chung Chen MD, FACG Fong-Kuei Frank Cheng MD, FACG
Keng-Yu Chuang MD, FACG
John K. Corless MD, FACG
Jose D. Debes MD, FACG
Jason A. Dominitz MD, FACG
Ryan K. Fawley MD, FACG Joseph Gallagher MD, FACG Yesenia Greeff MD, FACG Abhishek Gulati MD, FACG
Nitin K Gupta MD, FACG
Austin Lee Chiang MD, FACG
Jose C. Hernandez MD, FACG John J. Hutchings MD, FACG
Thomas F. Imperiale MD, FACG
Venkatakrishnan Iyer MD, FACG
John W. Jacobs Jr., MD, FACG
Antoine F Jakiche MD, FACG Pichamol Jirapinyo MD, MPH, FACG Christopher M. Johnson MD, PhD, FACG
Patricia D Jones MD, FACG Arundeep S. Kahlon MD, FACG
Shahid Karim MD, FACG Jennifer Katz MD, FACG
Laurie A. Keefer PhD, FACG
Dmitriy O. Khodorskiy MD, FACG
Divyanshoo Kohli MD, FACG
Rajesh K. Kumar MD, FACG
Adam C. Lessne MD, FACG
Geoffrey L Metz MD, FACG
Martin W. Moehlen MD, MPH, FACG
Rishi D. Naik MD, FACG
Neilanjan Nandi MD, FACG
Vu Q. Nguyen MD, FACG Inessa Normatov MD, FACG
Leybelis Padilla MD, FACG
Sunhee Park MD, FACG
Sonali Paul MD, FACG Khola Qamar MD, FACG
Atoosa Rabiee MD, FACG
Md. Khalequzzaman Sarker MD, FACG
Shervin Shafa MD, FACG
2024 ACG Fellows (FACG)
Stephen M. Vindigni MD, FACG
Lavanya Viswanathan MD, MS, FACG
Andrew M. Weinberg DO, FACG
Sung K. Yang MD, FACG
John Erikson L Yap MD, FACG
Shamita B. Shah MD, FACG
Daniel S. Strand MD, FACG
Virendra Tewari MD, FACG
Vivek M. Trivedi MD, FACG
Fatema S. Uddin MD, FACG
Past ACG Presidents & ACG Board of Governors Chairs
ACG PAST PRESIDENTS
Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG 2022-2023 Charlottesville, VA
Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG 2021-2022 Providence, RI
David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG 2020-2021 New York, NY
Mark B. Pochapin, MD, FACG 2019-2020 New York, NY
Sunanda Kane, MD, FACG 2018-2019 Rochester, MN
Irving M. Pike, MD, FACG 2017-2018 Walnut Creek, CA
Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG 2016-2017 Cleveland, OH
Kenneth R. Devault, MD, FACG 2015-2016 Jacksonville, FL
Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG 2014-2015 Chicago, IL
Harry E. Sarles, Jr., MD, FACG 2013-2014 Rockwall, TX
Ronald J. Vender, MD, FACG 2012-2013 New Haven, CT
Lawrence R. Schiller, MD, FACG 2011-2012 Dallas, TX
Delbert L. Chumley, MD, FACG 2010-2011 San Antonio, TX
Philip O. Katz, MD, MACG 2009-2010 Philadelphia, PA
Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, FACG 2008-2009 Houston, Texas
Amy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, FACG 2007-2008 Rochester, MN
David A. Johnson, MD, MACG 2006-2007 Norfolk, VA
Jack A. Di Palma, MD, FACG 2005-2006 Mobile, AL
John W. Popp, Jr., MD, FACG 2004-2005 Columbia, SC
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG 2003-2004 Indianapolis, IN
Frank L. Lanza, MD, FACG 2002-2003 Houston, TX
Edgar Achkar, MD, FACG 2001-2002 Cleveland, OH
Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, FACG 2000-2001 Omaha, NE
*Luis A. Balart, MD, FACG 1999-2000 New Orleans, LA
Christina M. Surawicz, MD, FACG 1998-1999 Seattle, WA
Sarkis J. Chobanian, MD, FACG 1997-1998 Knoxville, TN
*Marvin M. Schuster, MD, FACG 1996-1997 Baltimore, MD
Seymour Katz, MD, FACG 1995-1996 Great Neck, NY
Joel E. Richter, MD, FACG 1994-1995 Cleveland, OH
William D. Carey, MD, FACG 1993-1994 Cleveland, OH
Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, FACG 1992-1993 Bronx, NY
*Arvey I. Rogers, MD, FACG 1991-1992 Miami, FL
David Y. Graham, MD, FACG 1990-1991 Houston, TX
Jamie S. Barkin, MD, FACG 1989-1990 Miami, FL
Chesley Hines, Jr., MD, FACG 1988-1989 New Orleans, LA
*Myron Lewis, MD, FACG 1987-1988 Memphis, TN
*Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD, FACG 1986-1987 New York, NY
*John P. Papp, MD, FACG 1985-1986 Grand Rapids, MI
*Walter H. Jacobs, MD, FACG 1984-1985 Kansas City, MO
*James L. Achord, MD, FACG 1983-1984 Jackson, MS
Jerome D. Waye, MD, FACG 1982-1983 New York, NY
*Franz Goldstein, MD, FACG 1981-1982 Philadelphia, PA
*Burton I. Korelitz, MD, FACG 1980-1981 New York, NY
Sidney J. Winawer, MD, FACG 1979-1980 New York, NY
Richard G. Farmer, MD, FACG 1978-1979 Washington, DC
*William S. Rosenthal, MD, FACG 1977-1978 New York, NY
*F. Warren Nugent, MD, FACG 1976-1977 Burlington, MA
*J. Edward Berk, MD, FACG 1975-1976 Irvine, CA
*John T. Galambos, MD, FACG 1974-1975 Atlanta, GA
*Angelo E. Dagradi, MD, FACG 1973-1974 Palm Desert, CA
*Richard H. Marshak, MD, FACG 1972-1973 New York, NY
*Mitchell A. Spellberg, MD, FACG 1971-1972 Chicago, IL
*Joseph E. Walther, MD, FACG 1970-1971 Indianapolis, IN
*Henry Colcher, MD, FACG 1969-1970 New York, NY
*David A. Dreiling, MD, FACG 1968-1969 New York, NY
*Murrell H. Kapla, MD, FACG 1967-1968 New Orleans, LA
*John M. McMahon, MD, FACG 1966-1967 Bessemer, AL
*Maxwell R. Berry, MD, FACG 1965-1966 Big Canoe, GA
*Milton J. Matzner, MD, FACG 1964-1965 Brooklyn, NY
*Robert R. Bartunek, MD, FACG 1963-1964 Cleveland, OH
*Edward J. Krol, MD, FACG 1962-1963 Chicago, IL
*Theodore S. Heineken, MD, FACG 1962 Glen Ridge, NJ
*Louis Ochs, Jr., MD, FACG 1961 New Orleans, LA
*Henry Baker, MD, FACG 1960-1961 Boston, MA
*Joseph Shaiken, MD, FACG 1959-1960 Milwaukee, WI
*Frank J. Borrelli, MD, FACG 1958-1959 New York, NY
*C. William Wirts, MD, FACG 1957-1958 Philadelphia, PA
*Arthur A. Kirchner, MD, FACG 1956-1957 Los Angeles, CA
*James T. Nix, MD, FACG 1955-1956 New Orleans, LA
*Lynn A. Ferguson, MD, FACG 1954-1955 Grand Rapids, MI
*Sigurd W. Johnsen, MD, FACG 1953-1954 Passaic, NJ
*Felix Cunha, MD, FACG 1952-1953 San Francisco, CA
*William W. Lermann, MD, FACG 1951-1952 Pittsburgh, PA
*C. J. Tidmarsh, MD, FACG 1950-1951 Montreal, Canada
*Horace W. Soper, MD, FACG 1949-1950 St. Louis, MO
*William R. Morrison, MD, FACG 1948-1949 Boston, MA
*Anthony Bassler, MD, FACG 1936-1948 New York, NY
*G. Randolph Manning, MD, FACG 1932-1936 New York, NY
*Isidor L. Ritter, MD, FACG 1932 New York, NY
*Deceased
PAST ACG BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHAIRS
2020-2022
Patrick E. Young, MD, FACG
2018-2020.................................................................................Neil H. Stollman, MD, FACG 2016-2018
Costas H. Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG 2014-2016
Immanuel K. H. Ho, MD, FACG 2012-2014
Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG 2010-2012
David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG 2008-2010
Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG 2005-2008
Francis A. Farraye, MD, FACG 2004-2005 ................................................................ Richard P. MacDermott, MD, FACG 2002-2004
Harry E. Sarles, Jr., MD, FACG 2000-2002
Roy K. H. Wong, MD, FACG 1998-2000 Edgar Achkar, MD, FACG 1996-1998
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG 1994-1996 P. Gregory Foutch, DO, FACG 1992-1994 Luis A. Balart, MD, FACG 1990-1992 David A. Peura, MD, FACG 1988-1990
William D. Carey, MD, FACG 1986-1988
Albert C. Svoboda, Jr., MD, FACG 1984-1986 ................................................................................... E. Marvin Sokol, MD, FACG 1982-1984
Gerald H. Becker, MD, FACG 1981-1982 E. Marvin Sokol, MD, FACG 1980-1981
Alvin M. Cotlar, MD, FACG 1976-1980
Robert L. Berger, MD, FACG 1973-1976
Richard N. Meyers, MD, FACG 1970-1973
Albert M. Yunich, MD, FACG 1969-1970 .................................................................................
Edward I. Melich, MD, FACG 1968-1969
Manuel Sklar, MD, FACG 1967-1968
Edward I. Melich, MD, FACG 1966-1967
Warren Breidenbach, MD, FACG 1965-1966
Edward I. Melich, MD, FACG 1964-1965
Edward J. Nightingale, MD, FACG 1962-1964
Stanley Sidenberg, MD, FACG 1959-1962
Libby Pulsifer, MD, FACG 1958-1959
Dale W. Creek, MD, FACG 1955-1958
Henry G. Rudner, Sr., MD, FACG 1954-1955 ......................................................................................... Henry Baker, MD, FACG
Past ACG Awards Recipients & Special Lecturers
PAST BERK/FISE CLINICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS (formerly the ACG Clinical Achievement Award)
2023 Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG
2022 Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG
2021 Nicholas J. Talley, AC, MD, PhD, MACG
2020 William D. Chey, MD, FACG
2019 Jamie S. Barkin, MD, MACG
2018 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG
2017 Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, MACG
2016 Linda Rabeneck, MD, MACG
2015 Peter A. Banks, MD, MACG
2014 Edgar Achkar, MD, MACG
2013 Philip O. Katz, MD, MACG
2012 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG
2011 Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG
2010 Roy K. H. Wong, MD, MACG
2009 Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG
2008 Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, MACG
2007 Joel E. Richter, MD, MACG
2006 Seymour Katz, MD, MACG
2005 David B. Sachar, MD, MACG
2004 Alvin M. Zfass, MD, MACGa
2003 Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD, MACG
2002 Cyrus Rubin, MD, FACG
2001 Jerome D. Waye, MD, MACG
2000 Bergein Overholt, MD, MACG
1999 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG
1998 Leslie H. Bernstein, MD, FACG
1997 Sidney J. Winawer, MD, MACG
1996 Burton I. Korelitz, MD, MACG
1995 David Y. Graham, MD, MACG
1994 Howard Spiro, MD, FACG
1993 F. Warren Nugent, MD, FACG
1992 Henry D. Janowitz, MD, FACG
1991 John T. Galambos, MD, FACG
1990 Leon Schiff, MD, FACG
1989 James L. A. Roth, MD, FACG
1988 J. Edward Berk, MD, MACG
1987 Leonidas Berry, MD, FACG
PAST COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG
Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG
2022 Jean S. Wang, MD, PhD, FACG
2021 V. G. Mohan Prasad, MD
2020 Hari S. Conjeevaram, MD, FACG
2019 Seshadri T. Chandrasekar, MD, DM, D.Sc, FACG
2018 Louis J. Wilson, MD, FACG
2017 Amar R. Deshpande, MD, FACG
2016 David J. Hass, MD, FACG
2015 Darrell M. Gray, II, MD, MPH
2014 Timothy B. Gardner, MD, MS, FACG
2013 Richard T. McGlaughlin, MD
2012 March E. Seabrook, MD, FACG
2011 Joseph D. DiMase, MD, FACG
PAST DISTINGUISHED MENTORSHIP AND TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Michael Camilleri, MD, DSc, MACG
C. Prakash Gyawali, MD, FACG
2022 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG
Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG
2021 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, MACG
Dawn T. Provenzale, MD, FACG
Satish S. C. Rao, MD, PhD, FACG
PAST DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AWARD RECIPIENTS (formerly the Minority Digestive Health Care Award)
2023 Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG
2022 Rachel B. Issaka, MD
2021 Darrell M. Gray, II, MD, MPH, FACG
2018 Renee L. Williams, MD, FACG
2017 Darwin L. Conwell, MD, MS
2016 Maria T. Abreu, MD
2014 Fritz Francois, MD, FACG
2013 Frank A. Hamilton, MD, MPH, MACG
2008 Abbasi J. Akhtar, MD, FACG
2007 LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., MD, FACG
PAST INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Douglas R. Morgan, MD, MPH, FACG
2022 Seshadri T. Chandrasekar, MD, FACG
2021 Nalini M. Guda, MD, FACG
2020 Mahesh K. Goenka, MD, FACG
2019 Manoop S. Bhutani, MD, FACG
2018 Francis K. L. Chan, MD, FACG
2017 Mark D. Topazian, MD, FACG
2015 Guilherme G. Macedo, MD, PhD, FACG
2014 Henry Cohen, MD, FACG
2013 Toshifumi Hibi, MD, PhD, FACG
2012 Flavio Steinwurz, MD, FACG
2011 Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, MACG
PAST MASTER RECIPIENTS
Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), MACG
Sami R. Achem, MD, MACG
Edgar Achkar, MD, MACG
James L. Achord, MD, MACG
Arthur H. Aufses, MD, MACG
Bruce R. Bacon, MD, MACG
John Baillie, MB, ChB, MACG
Luis Balart, MD, MACG
Simmy Bank, MD, MACG
Peter A. Banks, MD, MACG
Jamie S. Barkin, MD, MACG
K. Orrin Barrow, MBBS, MACG
Ivan T. Beck, MD, MACG
Gerald Becker, MD, MACG
Robert L. Berger, MD, MACG
J. Edward Berk, MD, MACG
Harold Bernhard, MD, MACG
David E. Bernstein, MD, MACG
Leslie H. Bernstein, MD, MACG
Leonidas H. Berry, MD, MACG
H. Worth Boyce, Jr., MD, MACG
Eugene M. Bozymski, MD, MACG
S. Philip Bralow, MD, MACG
Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG
W. Scott Brooks, MD, MACG
Qiang Cai, MD, PhD, MACG
R. Bruce Cameron, MD, MAT, MACG
Michael Camilleri, MD, MACG
William D. Carey, MD, MACG
Donald O. Castell, MD, MACG
Sarkis J. Chobanian, MD, MACG
Sita S. Chokhavatia, MD, MACG
Delbert L. Chumley, MD, MACG
Harris R. Clearfield, MD, MACG
Edwin M. Cohn, MD, MACG
Henry Colcher, MD, MACG
Juan R. Colon-Pagan, MD, MACG
Michael D. Crowell, PhD, MACG
Angelo E. Dagradi, MD, MACG
Kenneth R. DeVault, MD, MACG
Jack A. Di Palma, MD, MACG
David Dreiling, MD, MACG
Douglas A. Drossman, MD, MACG
Sudhir K. Dutta, MD, MACG
Grace H. Elta, MD, MACG
Atilla Ertan, MD, MACG
Gary W. Falk, MD, MS, MACG
Richard G. Farmer, MD, MACG
Francis A. Farraye, MD, MSc, MACG
Ronnie Fass, MD, MACG
Sidney M. Fierst, MD, MACG
Warren Finkelstein, MD, MACG
Joseph F. Fitzgerald, MD, MACG
Ira L. Flax, MD, MACG
Martin H. Floch, MD, MACG
Amy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, MACG
P. Gregory Foutch, DO, MACG
James T. Frakes, MD, MACG
Barbara B. Frank, MD, MACG
Martin L. Freeman, MD, MACG
Gerald Friedman, MD, MACG
John T. Galambos, MD, MACG
Martin D. Gelfand, MD, MACG
Lauren B. Gerson, MD, MSc, MACG
Mahesh K. Goenka, MD, DM, MACG
Franz Goldstein, MD, MACG
David Y. Graham, MD, MACG
Frank G. Gress, MD, MACG
Victor W. Groisser, MD, MACG
Frank A. Hamilton, MD, MPH, MACG
Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, MACG
Jorge L. Herrera, MD, MACG
Theodore Hersh, MD, MACG
Chesley Hines, MD, MACG
Basil I. Hirschowitz, MD, MACG
Richard A. Hunt, MD, MACG
Kim L. Isaacs, MD, PhD, MACG
Walter H. Jacobs, MD, MACG
Wasim Jafri, MD, MACG
David A. Johnson, MD, MACG
Robyn G. Karlstadt, MD, MACG
Philip O. Katz, MD, MACG
Seymour Katz, MD, MACG
John J. Kelly, MD, MACG
Ali Keshavarzian, MD, MACG
James F. King, MD, MACG
Burton I. Korelitz, MD, MACG
Robert E. Kravetz, MD, MACG
Shiu-Kum Lam, MD, MACG
Frank L. Lanza, MD, MACG
Eric R. Lee, MD, MACG
Sum P. Lee, MD, PhD, MACG
Suzanne Lemire, MD, MACG
Joseph W. Leung, MD, MACG
Myron Lewis, MD, MACG
Charles J. Lightdale, MD, MACG
Arthur E. Lindner, MD, MACG
G. Richard Locke, III, MD, MACG
W. Elwyn Lyles, MD, MACG
Richard P. MacDermott, MD, MACG
Guilherme Macedo, MD, PhD, MACG
Willis C. Maddrey, MD, MACG
Nirmal S. Mann, MD, MS, PhD, DSc, MACG
John McMahon, MD, MACG
Peter R. McNally, DO, MACG
George W. Meyer, MD, MACG
William A. Millhon, MD, MACG
H. Juergen Nord, MD, MACG
Timothy T. Nostrant, MD, MACG
F. Warren Nugent, MD, MACG
Bergein F. Overholt, MD, MACG
Joel F. Panish, MD, MACG
John P. Papp, MD, MACG
Peter M. Pardoll, MD, MACG
Moses Paulson, MD, MACG
Daniel Pelot, MD, MACG
David A. Peura, MD, MACG
Irving M. Pike, MD, MACG
C. S. Pitchumoni, MD, MACG
John W. Popp, Jr., MD, MACG
Daniel H. Present, MD, MACG
Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, MACG
Linda Rabeneck, MD, MACG
Francisco C. Ramirez, MD, MACG
George B. Rankin, MD, MACG
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG
Joel E. Richter, MD, MACG
Arvey I. Rogers, MD, MACG
William S. Rosenthal, MD, MACG
Richard I. Rothstein, MD, MACG
David B. Sachar, MD, MACG
Michael A. Safdi, MD, MACG
Richard E. Sampliner, MD, MACG
Harry E. Sarles, Jr., MD, MACG
Melvin Schapiro, MD, MACG
Eugene R. Schiff, MD, MACG
Lawrence R. Schiller, MD, MACG
Edward S. Schneir, MD, MACG
Bernard M. Schuman, MD, MACG
Marvin M. Schuster, MD, MACG
Ashok N. Shah, MD, MACG
Nicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, MACG
Mitchell L. Shiffman, MD, MACG
Jerome H. Siegel, MD, MACG
E. Marvin Sokol, MD, MACG
Stuart J. Spechler, MD, MACG
Mitchell A. Spellberg, MD, MACG
Howard Spiro, MD, MACG
Radhika Srinivasan, MD, MACG
Frederick Steigmann, MD, MACG
Flavio Steinwurz, MD, MACG
Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG
Albert C. Svoboda, Jr., MD, MACG
Nicholas J. Talley, MD, MBBS, PhD, MMedSci, MACG
Juan T. Tomasini, MD, MACG
Esther A. Torres, MD, MACG
Fumiaki Ueno, MD, MACG
Michael F. Vaezi, MD, PhD, MSc (Epi), MACG
Jorge E. Valenzuela, MD, MACG
Santhi S. Vege, MD, MACG
Ronald J. Vender, MD, MACG
Arnold Wald, MD, MACG
Joseph E. Walther, MD, MACG
Jerome D. Waye, MD, MACG
Richard L. Wechsler, MD, MACG
William E. Whitehead, PhD, MACG
C. Noel Williams, MD, MACG
David W. Williams, MD, MACG
Sidney J. Winawer, MD, MACG
Roy K. H. Wong, MD, MACG
Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, MACG
Alvin M. Zfass, MD, MACG
PAST NP/PA AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS
2023 Terasa Astarita, MS, APRN, ANP-BC, BCPA
Andrea A. Gossard, CNP
2022 Monica Nandwani, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Kimberly D. Orleck, PA-C
PAST SAMUEL S. WEISS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY RECIPIENTS
2023 Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, MACG
2022 Delbert L. Chumley, MD, MACG
2021 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG
2020 Eugene M. Bozymski, MD, MACG
2019 Alvin M. Zfass, MD, MACG
2018 Peter A. Banks, MD, MACG
2017 John W. Popp, Jr., MD, MACG
2016 Richard G. Farmer, MD, MACG
Burton I. Korelitz, MD, MACG
Sidney J. Winawer, MD, MACG
2015 Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG
2014 Jamie S. Barkin, MD, MACG
2013 Jack A. Di Palma, MD, MACG
2012 Martin H. Floch, MD, MACG
2011 Frank L. Lanza, MD, FACG
2008 Robert E. Kravetz, MD, MACG
2006 William D. Carey, MD, MACG
2005 David Y. Graham, MD, MACG
2004 Edgar Achkar, MD, FACG
2002 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG
2001 Joel E. Richter, MD, MACG
2000 Seymour Katz, MD, FACG
1998 Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, FACG
1997 Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD, MACG
1996 Arvey I. Rogers, MD, MACG
1995 Jerome D. Waye, MD, MACG
1994 J. Edward Berk, MD, MACG
1993 Arthur Lindner, MD, MACG
1992 Franz Goldstein, MD, MACG
1991 James L. Achord, MD, MACG
1990 Robert L. Berger, MD, FACG
1989 Angelo E. DaGradi, MD, MACG
1987 Joseph E. Walther, MD, MACG
1986 Richard L. Wechsler, MD, FACG
1984 John P. Papp, MD, MACG
1982 Daniel Weiss, BS, MA
1980 David A. Dreiling, MD, MACG
1978 Henry Colcher, MD, MACG
1976 Murrel H. Kaplan, MD, FACG
1974 Robert R. Bartunek, MD, FACG
1972 Milton J. Matzner, MD, FACG
PAST JUNIOR GOVERNOR’S AWARD RECIPIENTS (formerly the Freshman Governor’s Award)
2023 Christine Y. Hachem, MD, FACG
2022 Vonda G. Reeves, MD, MBA, FACG
2021 Alyn L. Adrain, MD, FACG
2020 Anne G. Tuskey, MD, FACG
2019 Harish Gagneja, MD, FACG
2018 Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG
2017 David A. Schwartz, MD, FACG
2016 Tedd P. Cain, MD, FACG
2015 Neil H. Stollman, MD, FACG
2014 Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG
2013 Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, FACG
2012 David T. Rubin, MD, FACG
2011 Caroll D. Koscheski, MD, FACG
2010 Costas H. Kefalas, MD, FACG
Past ACG Awards Recipients & Special Lecturers (cont.)
PAST JUNIOR GOVERNOR'S AWARD RECIPIENTS (cont.)
2009 James S. Leavitt, MD, FACG
2008 Immanuel K. H. Ho, MD, FACG
2007 March E. Seabrook, MD, FACG
2006 Flavio Steinwurz, MD, FACG
2005 Edward L. Cattau, Jr., MD, FACG
2004 Myron H. Brand, MD, FACG
2003 Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG
2002 R. Bruce Cameron, MD, FACG
2001 Jay J. Mamel, MD, FACG
2000 Warren Finkelstein, MD, FACG
1999 Massimo Crespi, MD, FACG
1998 Rashad Dabaghi, MD, FACG
1997 Peter M. Pardoll, MD, MACG
1996 Peter F. Purcell, MD, FACG
PAST SENIOR GOVERNOR’S AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Russell D. Cohen, MD, FACG
2022 Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG
2021 Jeffry L. Nestler, MD, FACG
2020 Wilmer Rodriguez, MD, FACG
2019 Stephen T. Amann, MD, FACG
2018 Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG
2017 Whitfield L. Knapple, MD, FACG
2016 Vivek Kaul, MD, FACG
2015 David H. Cort, MD, FACG
2014 Kenneth J. Chang, MD, FACG
2013 David E. Bernstein, MD, FACG
2012 James S. Leavitt, MD, FACG
2011 March E. Seabrook, MD, FACG
2010 John R. Saltzman, MD, FACG
2009 Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG
2008 David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG
2007 Scott M. Tenner, MD, MPH, FACG
2006 Barbara B. Frank, MD, FACG
2005 R. Bruce Cameron, MD, FACG
2004 Joseph W. Leung, MD, FACG
2003 Warren Finkelstein, MD, FACG
2002 Martin D. Mark, MD, FACG
2001 Timothy J. Nostrant, MD, FACG
2000 J. Mark Lawson, MD, FACG
1999 Florian M. Cortese, MD, FACG
1998 William H. Hall, MD, FACG
1997 John W. Popp, Jr., MD, FACG
1996 Delbert L. Chumley, MD, FACG
PAST WILLIAM D. CAREY AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Neil H. Stollman, MD, FACG
2022 James C. Hobley, MD, MSc, FACG
2021 Costas H. Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG
2020 Whitfield L. Knapple, MD, FACG
2019 Immanuel K. H. Ho, MD, FACG
2018 Caroll D. Koscheski, MD, FACG
2017 Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG
2016 Brooks D. Cash, MD, FACG
2015 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG
2014 Flavio Steinwurz, MD, FACG
2013 David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG
2012 Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG
2011 W. Elwyn Lyles, MD, FACG
2010 Edgar Achkar, MD, MACG
2009 Francis A. Farraye, MD, MSc, FACG
2008 Peter M. Pardoll, MD, MACG
2007 R. Bruce Cameron, MD, FACG
2006 Roy K. H. Wong, MD, FACG
2005 Harry E. Sarles, Jr., MD, FACG
2004 John W. Popp, Jr., MD, FACG
2003 Ronald J. Vender, MD, FACG
2002 Douglas K. Rex, MD, FACG
2001 Jack A. Di Palma, MD, FACG
2000 Delbert L. Chumley, MD, FACG
1999 P. Gregory Foutch, DO, FACG
1998 Luis A. Balart, MD, MACG
1997 Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, MACG
1996 Christina M. Surawicz, MD, FACG
PAST NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GI TRAINING GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 Yuying Luo, MD, New York, NY
2022 Rahul S. Dalal, MD, MPH, Boston, MA Andrew M. Moon, MD, MPH, Chapel Hill, NC
2021 Giselle Mahoro, MD, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, Chapel Hill, NC
2019 Robert J. Huang, MD, Stanford, CA
2018 Hassan Siddiki, MD, MS, Chapel Hill, NC
2017 Tracey G. Simon, MD, Boston, MA
2016 Gene K. Ma, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Jennifer Y. Pan, MD, Stanford, CA
2014 Akwi W. Asombang, MD, Columbia, MO
2013 Ryan J. Law, MD, Rochester, MN
2012 Hamed Khalili, MD, Boston, MA
2011 Amit Bhatt, MD, Cleveland, OH
2010 Jenny Sauk, MD, New York, NY
2009 Tonya Kaltenbach, MD, Palo Alto, CA
2008 Anna M. Buchner, MD, PhD, Jacksonville, FL
PAST INTERNATIONAL GI TRAINING GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS
1989 Professor Dame Sheila Sherlock: Liver Disease – The Next Decade
1988 Thomas Almy, MD (Hon.): The Gastroenterologist and The Graying of America
1987 John Fordtran, MD, FACG (Hon.): Recent Insights into the Pathogenesis of Chronic Diarrhea
1986 Henry D. Janowitz, MD, FACG: The Natural History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Therapeutic Decisions
1985 Norton J. Greenberger, MD, FACG (Hon.): Pathophysiological Approach to the Patient with a Diarrheal Disorder
1984 Henri Sarles, MD: Management of Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis
1983 Denis P. Burkitt, MD: The Role of Fibre in the Prevention of Common Intestinal Disease
1982 Howard A. Spiro, MD, FACG: From Parsnips to Pomegranates – A Look Back at Gastroenterology
1981 Basil I. Hirschowitz, MD, FACG: Clinical Perspectives of Gastric Secretion
1980 Charles E. Code, MD, FACG (Hon.): The InterDigestive Gastrointestinal Housekeeper
1979 Baruch S. Blumberg, MD, FACG (Hon.): The Relation Between HBsAG and Hepatic Carcinoma
1978 Charles S. Lieber, MD, FACG: Alcohol and the Liver: Progress Through 1978
1977 Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, FACG (Hon.): The Biomedical Problems Presented by Inflammatory Bowel Disease
1976 Basil C. Morson, MD, FACG (Hon.): Biopsy of the Colon and Rectum in Inflammatory Disease
1975 Thomas C. Chalmers, MD, FACG (Hon.): What Should Distinguish a Gastroenterologist?
1974 Lloyd M. Nyhus, MD, FACG (Hon.): New Frontiers in Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer
1973 Henry L. Bockus, MD, FACG (Hon.): The Doctor Image
1972 Henry Colcher, MD, FACG: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 1972
1971 Irving M. Arias, MD, FACG (Hon.): Jaundice–1972
1970 Hans Popper, MD, FACG (Hon.): The Problem of Hepatitis
1969 Richard H. Marshak, MD, FACG: Ulcerative Granulomas and Ischemic Colitis
1968 David A. Dreiling, MD, FACG: Basic Mechanism in Pancreatic Secretion
PAST DAVID SUN LECTURERS
2023 Paul Y. Kwo, MD, FACG: In With the New, While Managing the Old: How to Care for the Changing Face of Those With Liver Disease
2022 Sanjiv Chopra, MD: The Two Most Important Days: Reflections on Lasting Happiness and Living With Purpose
2021 Jerome D. Waye, MD, MACG: Colon Polyps: Going and Gone
2020 Neena S. Abraham, MD, MSc (Epid), FACG: Cardiogastroenterology: Intersectional Thinking to Meet New Clinical Needs
2019 Miguel D. Regueiro, MD, FACG: The IBD Medical Home and Neighborhood: It Takes a Village
2018 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG: Translational Approaches to Common GI Diseases... Thinking Out of the Box...The Future is Now!
2017 Gary W. Falk, MD, MS, FACG: Screening and Surveillance of Barrett’s Esophagus: Where Are We Now and What Does the Future Hold?
2016 Nicholas J. Talley, MD, MBBS, PhD, MMedSci, FACG: Functional Disease of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel?
2015 William D. Chey, MD, FACG: Food: The Main Course to Disease and Wellness
2014 Thomas A. Scully, JD: The Cloudy Future for Physicians: Reimbursement and Practice Changes in the Post-ACA Era
2013 Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH: Gastroenterology and Public Health in the Era of Health Reform
2012 Douglas A. Drossman, MD, MACG: Helping Your Patient by Helping Yourself: How to Improve the Patient-Physician Relationship
2011 Gregory B. Haber, MD, FACG: Challenges in ERCP — Lessons Learned
2010 Tom R. DeMeester, MD, FACG: Détente in the Therapy of GERD
2009 Fergus Shanahan, MD, FACG: Gut Microbes: From Bugs to Drugs
2008 William J. Sandborn, MD, FACG: The Future Direction of IBD Care
2007 H. Worth Boyce, Jr., MD, MACG: Esophageal Dilation: A Perspective of 45 Years of Experience: Pearls, Perils and Pitfalls
2006 Anthony N. Kalloo, MD, FACG: Natural Ofifice Transgastric Endoscopic Surgery: Dawn of a New Era
2005 Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG: Optimizing the Impact and Safety of Colonoscopy in Colon Cancer Prevention
Past ACG Awards Recipients & Special Lecturers (cont.)
PAST DAVID SUN LECTURERS
(cont.)
2004 Richard L. Sampliner, MD, FACG: Current Controversies in Barrett’s Esophagus
2003 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG: Superior Mesenteric Arterial Emboli and Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: An Update
2002 Christina M. Surawicz, MD, FACG: The Differential Diagnosis of Colitis
2001 Lawrence R. Schiller, MD, FACG: Chronic Diarrhea
2000 Teresa Wright, MD: Hepatitis C in the Next Decade
1999 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG: New Therapies for the Treatment of IBD
1998 David Y. Graham, MD, MACG: Treatment of H. pylori – 1998
1997 Rowen K. Zetterman, MD, FACG: Alcoholic Liver Disease
1996 Rodger Haggitt, MD, FACG: Dysplasia in Ulcerative Colitis: A 20-Year Odyssey
1995 David Skinner, MD: Esophageal Surgery –1995
1994 Thomas Starzl, MD: Gastrointestinal Organ Transplantation for the 1990s – An Outcome Analysis. Can We Afford the Technology in the Era of Cost Containment?
1993 Cyrus E. Rubin, MD, FACG: Small Bowel Pathology
1992 Peter Cotton, MD, FACG: Malignant Obstructive Jaundice: A Real Challenge
1991 Sum P. Lee, MD, FACG: Pathophysiology of Gallstone Formation: Romancing the Stone
1990 Marvin Sleisenger, MD: GI Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host
1989 Laszlo Safrany, MD, FACG: Bile Ducts, Common Duct Stones, and Pancreatitis
1988 Scott J. Boley, MD: Colon Ischemia – The First 25 Years
1987 William Y. Chey, MD, FACG: Ulcerogenic Tumor Syndrome in 1987
1986 David H. Van Thiel, MD, FACG: Liver Transplant – The Role of the Gastroenterologist
1985 James W. Freston, MD, FACG: The Therapy of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Where are We?
1984 Henri Sarles, MD: Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis – A Secretory Concept
1983 Thomas C. Chalmers, MD, FACG: The Clinical Trial
1982 Sidney J. Winawer, MD, FACG: Surveillance of GI Cancer
1981 Paul D. Webster, III, MD, FACG: Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
1980 Paul Sherlock, MD, FACG: Current Concepts of the Epidemiology and Etiology of Colorectal Cancer
1979 I. N. Marks, MD, FACG: Crossroads in Peptic Ulcer Therapy
1978 Rosalyn S. Yalow, PhD: Radioimmunoassay in Gastroenterology
1977 J. Edward Berk, MD, FACG: New Dimensions in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Pancreatic Disease
PAST THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY LECTURERS
2023 Charles N. Bernstein, MD, FACG: Using Epidemiology to Inform Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology
2022 Patrick S. Kamath, MD: The Transformative Power of Research Carried Out by Busy Clinicians
2021 Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG: Hidden in Plain Sight: Bringing Women Into the Scope of Gastroenterology
2020 Christopher C. Thompson, MD, MSc, FACG: Foregut Endotherapy: Cutting Edge Technology for 2020 and Beyond
2019 Ciarán P. Kelly, MD, FACG: Celiac Disease: Myths and Mysteries
2018 Nicholas J. Talley, AC, MD, MBBS, PhD, MMedSci, MACG: What Causes Functional GI Disorders? The Latest Data and Insights
2017 Corey A. Siegel, MD, MS: Refocusing IBD Patient Management: Personalized, Proactive, and Patient-Centered Care
2016 Tram T. Tran, MD, FACG: Hepatitis C: The Past, the Present, and the Future
2015 Brennan M. Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG: How Information Technology Will Transform Gastroenterology
2014 Charles N. Bernstein, MD, FACG: Treatment of IBD: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
2013 David T. Rubin, MD, FACG, & Stephen M. Collins, MBBS: The Emerging Role of the Microbiome in the Pathogenesis and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
2012 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG: Fecal Transplantation for Persistent C. difficile Infection
2011 Professor Peter Gibson: Food Choice as a Key Management Strategy for Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms
2010 Douglas A. Drossman, MD, MACG: Abuse, Trauma and GI Symptoms: Is There a Link?
2009 Loren A. Laine, MD, FACG: PPI-Clopidogrel Interaction: Fact or Fiction?
2008 Christopher C. Thompson, MD, FACG: Endoscopic Management of Obesity; and Michael Sarr, MD: Reoperative Bariatric Surgery, When to and Not to
2007 Anthony N. Kalloo, MD, FACG, & Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACG: NOTES: Just Because We Can, Should We?
2006 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG, Robert E. Schoen, MD, MPH & Gregory S. Cooper, MD, FACG: Colon Cancer Screening: When to Start and Stop
2005 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG & William J. Sandborn, MD, FACG: Steroid-Refractory Severe Acute Ulcerative Colitis: Infliximab or Cyclosporine
2004 Arthur Boudreaux, MD, Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG & Gregory Zuccaro, Jr., MD, FACG: The Use of Anesthesia in Endoscopy – A Critical Examination
2003 David Y. Graham, MD, MACG & Jay L. Goldstein, MD, FACG: Emerging Data on NSAIDs, GI Complications and Implications for Your Practice
PAST DAVID Y. GRAHAM LECTURERS
2023 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG: Intestinal Microbiome: Answer to All GI Ailments?
2022 Emeran A. Mayer, MD: Why Do All Diseases Start in the Gut?
2021 Marla C. Dubinsky, MD: Navigating the Road From Precision to Prevention in IBD
2020 Ira M. Jacobson, MD, FACG: From Hepatitis C to COVID-19: Can We Triumph Again?
2019 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG: Mentoring Mentors
2018 Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG: Management of Patients With Colorectal Polyps: A Personalized Approach Based on Etiology
2017 Sunanda V. Kane, MD, MSPH, FACG: On Becoming a Successful Leader: An Amazing Journey or the Road to Nowhere?
2016 Philip O. Katz, MD, MACG: A View From the Other Side of the Bed: Lessons Learned
2015 Ikuo Hirano, MD, FACG: Eosinophilic Esophagitis 2015: From Acid Reflux to Food Allergy
2014 Naga P. Chalasani, MD, FACG: Idiosyncratic Drug-induced Liver Injury: What Have We Learned in the Last Decade?
2013 Eamonn M. M. Quigley, MD, MACG: Leadership in Medicine 2013: Do We Need a New Approach?
2012 John Fordtran, MD, FACG: Factitious Disease
2011 Irving Waxman, MD, FACG: Endotherapy for Barrett’s Esophagus: Cure or Quagmire
2010 Grace H. Elta, MD, FACG: GI Training: Where Is It Headed?
2009 Peter J. Kahrilas, MD, FACG: Esophageal Motor Disorders in Terms of High Resolution Pressure Topography: What has Changed?
2008 Lawrence J. Brandt, MD, MACG: Colon Ischemia: Respice, Adspice, Prospice
2007 Walter L. Peterson, MD, FACG: Evidence Based Medicine: What Does it Mean for Gastroenterology—Present and Future?
2006 Amnon Sonnenberg, MD, MSc, FACG: The “Incredibly Simple” Solution to the Cohort Phenomenon of Peptic Ulcer
2005 Francis K. L. Chan, MD: Use of NSAIDs in a COX-2 Restricted Environment
2004 David Y. Graham, MD, MACG: Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Cancer: The Problem –The Solution
PAST EMILY COURIC MEMORIAL LECTURERS
2023 Marcia Cross: HPV Related Cancers – Are Your Patients Being Misdiagnosed?
2022 Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG: Colon Cancer Screening: What Do We Need to Build and Who Will Come?
2021 Darrell M. Gray, II, MD, MPH, FACG: Changing the Narrative on Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Translating Stories to Partnership, Policy, and Practice
2020 Katie Couric: From Grief to Advocacy to Activism
2019 Suresh T. Chari, MD, FACG: Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer: Problems, Promise, and Prospects
2018 David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG: 80% Colorectal Cancer Screening by 2018: How Did We Do and Where Do We Go From Here?
2017 Mark B. Pochapin, MD, FACG: Colon Cancer: Polyps, Prevention, and Progress
2016 David E. Fleischer, MD, FACG: Why the Esophageal Health of a Masai Tribesman in Kenya Matters to GI Docs in the U.S.
2015 Irving M. Pike, MD, FACG: National Registry Benchmarking for Colonoscopy Quality: The “High Road” Toward Improving the Performance of Colonoscopy and Cancer Prevention
2014 Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG: Cancer in IBD: The Colon and Beyond
2013 Nicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, FACG: Can We Prevent Cancer in Barrett’s Esophagus?
2012 Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG: Optimizing the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Hereditary Colorectal Cancer
2011 Robert H. Hawes, MD, FACG: Current Diagnosis and Management of Cystic Neoplasms of the Pancreas
2010 David A. Johnson, MD, MACG: Colon Cancer Screening: Evolution to Eradication...
2009 Dennis J. Ahnen, MD: The AdenomaCarcinoma Sequence Revisited–Has the Era of Genetic Tailoring Finally Arrived?
2008 Kenneth E. L. McColl, MD: Why Has Adenocarcinoma Moved from the Stomach to the Esophagus and Where Does Sex Come In To It All?
2007 Peter A. Banks, MD, MACG: Pancreatic Cancer: Present Understanding and Future Prospects
2006 Douglas K. Rex, MD, MACG: What is Needed to Transform Colonoscopy into a Truly Protective Strategy Against Colorectal Cancer?
PAST JEROME MARKS MEMORIAL LECTURERS
2012 Lawrence S. Friedman, MD, FACG: Gastroenterology Then and Now – 1932-2012
