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Meet a rising star in fecal incontinence research
The AGA Research Foundation offers its flagship grant, the AGA Research Scholar Award, to the most promising early career investigators. Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is no exception. We’re thrilled to highlight Dr. Staller – a 2016 AGA Research Scholar Award winner – as our AGA Research Foundation researcher of the month.
The Staller lab’s AGA-funded project is specifically focused on the risk factors for fecal incontinence, which have not been well studied. One in 10 women over age 80 suffers from this debilitating condition. Dr. Staller looked at the lifestyles and dietary factors of female study participants in research databases to determine whether they were predisposed to developing fecal incontinence beyond the usual risk factors such as childbirth, which can cause injury to the pelvic floor, and diabetes. Dr. Staller believes that understanding and modifying risk factors could decrease the chance of women developing this condition, or could even prevent it.
With his AGA Research Foundation grant, Dr. Staller found that consumption of dietary fiber in higher quantities, and an increase of moderate exercise up to a point, lowered the risk of developing fecal incontinence. “This tells us that not only is fiber healthy but also preventative to fecal incontinence,” he said.
Dr. Staller says that he became interested in this area of study after patients, who were getting excited about their impending retirement or enjoying their retirement years, developed this life-altering condition. His compassion for his patients inspired him to study the factors leading to fecal incontinence, which will likely become more prevalent as the U.S. population ages.
Dr. Staller is using the baseline data from his AGA Research Foundation grant to support his application for a 5-year NIH grant designed to help young investigators learn new research skills to further their careers.
“This is the next step in my career,” he said. “If I didn’t have the AGA Research Foundation grant, I don’t know if the opportunity would be there for me to go on to the next level. The AGA grant gives you the opportunity to get that baseline data so you can become a competitive applicant for longer-term grants.”
Another benefit of Dr. Staller’s AGA Research Foundation grant: It got him involved with AGA. In March 2019, Dr. Staller joined the new class of AGA Future Leaders, AGA’s competitive leadership development program designed to prepare early career GIs for future leadership roles in AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases. The program kicked off at AGA’s inaugural leadership development conference.
“It is a true honor to participate in the AGA Future Leaders Program. During the AGA Leadership Development Conference, we learned concrete tips about effective leadership strategies across the spectrum of GI practice from research to clinical practice. Among our mentors were prominent researchers, clinical innovators, and division and department heads from across the U.S. – there was no shortage of inspiration. Perhaps most importantly, I was able to form what I hope to be career-long connections with both my fellow future leaders program participants and our mentors,” he said.
Dr. Staller’s qualifications as a clinician and researcher of bowel issues are put to good use as a father of two boys, ages 4 and 6, who are at the peak of the potty humor stage.
“They’re interested in the GI tract as well,” Dr. Staller said with a laugh. “My mom likes to say I never got out of the potty phase and made it a career. It’s important to feel comfortable talking about these uncomfortable topics. That’s what people want from their physician. If you can talk about this and the physician doesn’t bat an eyelash, that’s a good setup to have a good therapeutic relationship.”
‘Put your own oxygen mask on first’
Takeaways from the leadership conference stress the importance of self-care, emotional intelligence and remaining optimistic.
“Leadership 101: Put your own oxygen mask on first @DarwinConwell #AGAleads #AGAForward @AmerGastroAssn”– Dr Michelle T. Long (@DrMTLong)
The inaugural Leadership Development Conference combined participants from three AGA programs for a weekend of networking, mentorship and mapping out goals and initiatives.
Attendees included the 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders and mentors, Women’s Leadership Conference participants, and mentors and scholars of the new AGA FORWARD Program, an National Institutes of Health–funded initiative that supports underrepresented minority physicians and scientists.
“Got to meet one of my tweeps heroes today! She’s even more awesome in real life!! #AGALeads #WomenInMedicine #WomenInGI @drfolamay @AmerGastroAssn” – Dr Aline Charabaty (@DCharabaty)
“Dr. Boland (Lynch syndrome) discussing career success in an ever changing scientific environment #AGALeads #AGAForward” – Eric J. Vargas M.D. (@EricJVargasMD)
“7 AGA Presidents, moderated by Dr. Anandasabapathy on Pathways to Leadership and Overcoming Challenges of the Era Presidential Panel @AmerGastroAssn Leadership conference program @SeragHashem @BCMDeptMedicine @KanwalFasiha @Aketwaroo @richashukla84” – Ruben Hernaez (@ruben_hernaez)
The event coincided with International Women’s Day, giving Women’s Leadership Conference attendees the chance to celebrate their journeys and grow into leadership roles with other #WomenInGI.
“#AGALeads #womenleadershipconference #womeninGI #InternationWomensDay with some amazing ladies in GI!! @AmerGastroAssn @AlisonGoldinMD @ibddocmaria @joanwchen” – ReezwanaCMD (@reezwanc)
“#AGAleads #WomeninGI women negotiating in a group are perceived favorably-Ellen Zimmerman, MD”
– Fazia Mir-Shaffi, MD (@Faiziya) March 9, 2019
“What I learned at @AmerGastroAssn #womeninGI Leadership course (after waiting a bit to see what stuck w me)
1. If you say yes to a request, you’re saying yes to doing it well.
2. Knowing your limitations will serve you better than being great at everything” – Laura Targownik (@UofM_GI_Head)
Aline Charabaty Pishvaian, MD, shared some takeaways in the AGA Community forum (community.gastro.org) about challenges women in GI face – a breakout discussion from the Women’s Leadership Conference.
View more insight and takeaways from participants on Twitter using #AGALeads.
Dr. Vaibhav Wadhwa advocates for step therapy reform in Florida
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD, met with Ms. Laurie Flink, deputy district director for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), to discuss AGA’s legislative priorities.
Dr. Wadhwa thanked Ms. Flink for Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s support of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Screening Act and NIH funding. Dr. Wadhwa also mentioned that Rep. Wasserman Schultz is not a cosponsor of the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act and explained in detail about why this is an important resolution that needs to be passed.
Dr. Wadhwa gave examples of patients from his own practice and discussed the challenges they face. Ms. Flink was very interested in hearing about patients with chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) not being able to get the appropriate regimen because of the barriers created by step therapy. Ms. Flink was very appreciative of the visit and stated that these in-person visits along with personal stories about these issues go a long way in helping congressional offices understand the implications that these bills have.
Ms. Flink assured Dr. Wadhwa that she will raise these points with Rep. Wasserman Schultz and will discuss cosponsoring the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act once it is reintroduced.
Dr. Wadhwa is a fellow at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, and is the AGA Congressional Advocates Program state leader for Florida. He is interested in therapeutic endoscopy and advocating for appropriate reimbursement for endoscopic procedures.
How to get involved in advocacy
Interested in advocacy but not sure how or whether you have time in your busy schedule? AGA has an array of options for how you can be active in advocacy. Some take as little as 5 minutes.
Letter writing. AGA uses GovPredict, an online advocacy platform that allows members to contact their representatives in Congress with just a few clicks. AGA develops messages on significant pieces of legislation, key efforts in Congress, or on issues being advanced by federal agencies that have a great impact on gastroenterology. AGA’s ongoing letter writing campaigns can always be found at gastro.org, but be sure to keep an eye out for advocacy emails, AGA eDigest, and social media, so you do not miss your opportunity to take action on timely issues. AGA encourages its members to share letter writing campaigns with their colleagues, as well as posting them on social media.
Meetings with members of Congress. In-person meetings are an excellent opportunity to share with your representatives in Congress, or their staff, how the issues that impact gastroenterology affect you, your patients, and your practice. AGA has a plethora of resources to help you set up such meetings, including up-to-date issue briefs, tips and tricks for productive meetings, and webinars on how to host an on-site visit. AGA staff is always more than happy to help you arrange a meeting either in Washington, D.C., or in your home state. If you are interested in arranging such a meeting, please contact AGA Public Policy Coordinator Jonathan Sollish, at jsollish@gastro.org or 240-482-3228.
AGA PAC. AGA PAC is a voluntary, nonpartisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA. It is the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society, and its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions. AGA PAC supports candidates who support our policy priorities, such as fair reimbursement, cutting regulatory red tape, supporting patient protections, and access to specialty care, and sustained federal funding of digestive disease research. If you are interested in learning more, contact AGA Government and Political Affairs Manager Navneet Buttar, at nbuttar@gastro.org or 240-482-3221.
Congressional Advocates Program. This grassroots program is aimed at establishing a stronger foundation for our current and future advocacy initiatives by creating state teams to work on advocacy on the local, state, and national levels. Participation can include a wide variety of activities, ranging from creating educational posts on social media to meeting with members of Congress. Members of the Congressional Advocates Program are mentored and receive advocacy training by AGA leadership and staff. Participating members receive an AGA Congressional Advocate Program Certificate, a Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) badge ribbon, policy badge on the AGA Community, and recognition on AGA’s website. Applications for the next cycle will be released in 2019.
Introducing the AGA Future Leaders class of 2020
AGA has announced the 18 early career physicians and scientists selected to participate in its Future Leaders Program, which was created in 2015 to provide a pathway for leadership development within AGA for early career physicians and scientists who have the potential to make a significant impact on the specialty. These 18 participants will embark on an 18-month-long program designed to develop the skills necessary to become future leaders in the AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases.
“The 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders represents the next generation of leaders in our field,” said Darrell S. Pardi, MD, MSc, AGAF, co–program chair for the AGA Future Leaders Program. “Along with my cochair, Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, and the esteemed mentors and faculty participating in this program, we look forward to cultivating these rising stars who stand out for their current achievements, commitment to advancing the field, and potential for future success.”
Class of 2020 Future Leaders
- Christen Klochan Dilly, MD, MEHP, Indiana University School of Medicine and Roudebush VA Medical Center
- Daniel Freedberg, MD, MS, Columbia University
- Wendy A. Henderson, PhD, National Institutes of Health
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Animesh Jain, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Avinash Ketwaroo, MD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Bharati Kochar, MD, MSCR, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- David Leiman, MD, MSHP, Duke University Medical Center
- James Lin, MD, City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte
- Michelle Long, MD, Boston Medical Center
- Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Miguel Malespin, MD, Tampa General Hospital
- Simon C. Mathews, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Karthik Ravi, MD, Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)
- Florian Rieder, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School
- Christina Twyman-Saint Victor, MD, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
- Ryan Ungaro, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
View Future Leader Bios
The AGA Future Leaders Program will kick off with the AGA Leadership Development Conference March 8-10, 2019, at the Hilton Rockville Executive conference center in Rockville, Maryland, and will continue through Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the course of the program, participants will work closely with AGA mentors on projects linked to AGA’s Strategic Plan.
Learn more about the AGA Future Leaders Program.
Sessions at DDW® 2019 designed for fellows and early career GIs
AGA has an agenda of special sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2019 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.
With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Visit AGA University for a full list and additional details.
- AGA Postgraduate Course Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19
- Introduction to GI Practice: A Trainee Boot Camp, Monday, May 20, 10-11:30 a.m.
- AGA Board Review CourseMonday, May 20, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
- Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement ProjectsMonday, May 20, 2-3:30 p.m.
- GI in the Digital Age, Monday, May 20, 4-5:30 p.m.
DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge
Included with the cost of DDW registration, trainee and early career GI attendees have access to this lounge in the Sails Pavilion. It’s a great way to meet and network with peers from around the world over a cup of coffee and will feature new programming in 2019. Meet with experts to have your questions answered about practical issues of career choice, contracting, or how to write a manuscript.
Meet a rising star in fecal incontinence research
The AGA Research Foundation offers its flagship grant, the AGA Research Scholar Award, to the most promising early career investigators. Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is no exception. We’re thrilled to highlight Dr. Staller – a 2016 AGA Research Scholar Award winner – as our AGA Research Foundation researcher of the month.
The Staller lab’s AGA-funded project is specifically focused on the risk factors for fecal incontinence, which have not been well studied. One in 10 women over age 80 suffers from this debilitating condition. Dr. Staller looked at the lifestyles and dietary factors of female study participants in research databases to determine whether they were predisposed to developing fecal incontinence beyond the usual risk factors such as childbirth, which can cause injury to the pelvic floor, and diabetes. Dr. Staller believes that understanding and modifying risk factors could decrease the chance of women developing this condition, or could even prevent it.
With his AGA Research Foundation grant, Dr. Staller found that consumption of dietary fiber in higher quantities, and an increase of moderate exercise up to a point, lowered the risk of developing fecal incontinence. “This tells us that not only is fiber healthy but also preventative to fecal incontinence,” he said.
Dr. Staller says that he became interested in this area of study after patients, who were getting excited about their impending retirement or enjoying their retirement years, developed this life-altering condition. His compassion for his patients inspired him to study the factors leading to fecal incontinence, which will likely become more prevalent as the U.S. population ages.
Dr. Staller is using the baseline data from his AGA Research Foundation grant to support his application for a 5-year NIH grant designed to help young investigators learn new research skills to further their careers.
“This is the next step in my career,” he said. “If I didn’t have the AGA Research Foundation grant, I don’t know if the opportunity would be there for me to go on to the next level. The AGA grant gives you the opportunity to get that baseline data so you can become a competitive applicant for longer-term grants.”
Another benefit of Dr. Staller’s AGA Research Foundation grant: It got him involved with AGA. In March 2019, Dr. Staller joined the new class of AGA Future Leaders, AGA’s competitive leadership development program designed to prepare early career GIs for future leadership roles in AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases. The program kicked off at AGA’s inaugural leadership development conference.
“It is a true honor to participate in the AGA Future Leaders Program. During the AGA Leadership Development Conference, we learned concrete tips about effective leadership strategies across the spectrum of GI practice from research to clinical practice. Among our mentors were prominent researchers, clinical innovators, and division and department heads from across the U.S. – there was no shortage of inspiration. Perhaps most importantly, I was able to form what I hope to be career-long connections with both my fellow future leaders program participants and our mentors,” he said.
Dr. Staller’s qualifications as a clinician and researcher of bowel issues are put to good use as a father of two boys, ages 4 and 6, who are at the peak of the potty humor stage.
“They’re interested in the GI tract as well,” Dr. Staller said with a laugh. “My mom likes to say I never got out of the potty phase and made it a career. It’s important to feel comfortable talking about these uncomfortable topics. That’s what people want from their physician. If you can talk about this and the physician doesn’t bat an eyelash, that’s a good setup to have a good therapeutic relationship.”
‘Put your own oxygen mask on first’
Takeaways from the leadership conference stress the importance of self-care, emotional intelligence and remaining optimistic.
“Leadership 101: Put your own oxygen mask on first @DarwinConwell #AGAleads #AGAForward @AmerGastroAssn”– Dr Michelle T. Long (@DrMTLong)
The inaugural Leadership Development Conference combined participants from three AGA programs for a weekend of networking, mentorship and mapping out goals and initiatives.
Attendees included the 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders and mentors, Women’s Leadership Conference participants, and mentors and scholars of the new AGA FORWARD Program, an National Institutes of Health–funded initiative that supports underrepresented minority physicians and scientists.
“Got to meet one of my tweeps heroes today! She’s even more awesome in real life!! #AGALeads #WomenInMedicine #WomenInGI @drfolamay @AmerGastroAssn” – Dr Aline Charabaty (@DCharabaty)
“Dr. Boland (Lynch syndrome) discussing career success in an ever changing scientific environment #AGALeads #AGAForward” – Eric J. Vargas M.D. (@EricJVargasMD)
“7 AGA Presidents, moderated by Dr. Anandasabapathy on Pathways to Leadership and Overcoming Challenges of the Era Presidential Panel @AmerGastroAssn Leadership conference program @SeragHashem @BCMDeptMedicine @KanwalFasiha @Aketwaroo @richashukla84” – Ruben Hernaez (@ruben_hernaez)
The event coincided with International Women’s Day, giving Women’s Leadership Conference attendees the chance to celebrate their journeys and grow into leadership roles with other #WomenInGI.
“#AGALeads #womenleadershipconference #womeninGI #InternationWomensDay with some amazing ladies in GI!! @AmerGastroAssn @AlisonGoldinMD @ibddocmaria @joanwchen” – ReezwanaCMD (@reezwanc)
“#AGAleads #WomeninGI women negotiating in a group are perceived favorably-Ellen Zimmerman, MD”
– Fazia Mir-Shaffi, MD (@Faiziya) March 9, 2019
“What I learned at @AmerGastroAssn #womeninGI Leadership course (after waiting a bit to see what stuck w me)
1. If you say yes to a request, you’re saying yes to doing it well.
2. Knowing your limitations will serve you better than being great at everything” – Laura Targownik (@UofM_GI_Head)
Aline Charabaty Pishvaian, MD, shared some takeaways in the AGA Community forum (community.gastro.org) about challenges women in GI face – a breakout discussion from the Women’s Leadership Conference.
View more insight and takeaways from participants on Twitter using #AGALeads.
Dr. Vaibhav Wadhwa advocates for step therapy reform in Florida
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD, met with Ms. Laurie Flink, deputy district director for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), to discuss AGA’s legislative priorities.
Dr. Wadhwa thanked Ms. Flink for Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s support of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Screening Act and NIH funding. Dr. Wadhwa also mentioned that Rep. Wasserman Schultz is not a cosponsor of the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act and explained in detail about why this is an important resolution that needs to be passed.
Dr. Wadhwa gave examples of patients from his own practice and discussed the challenges they face. Ms. Flink was very interested in hearing about patients with chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) not being able to get the appropriate regimen because of the barriers created by step therapy. Ms. Flink was very appreciative of the visit and stated that these in-person visits along with personal stories about these issues go a long way in helping congressional offices understand the implications that these bills have.
Ms. Flink assured Dr. Wadhwa that she will raise these points with Rep. Wasserman Schultz and will discuss cosponsoring the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act once it is reintroduced.
Dr. Wadhwa is a fellow at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, and is the AGA Congressional Advocates Program state leader for Florida. He is interested in therapeutic endoscopy and advocating for appropriate reimbursement for endoscopic procedures.
How to get involved in advocacy
Interested in advocacy but not sure how or whether you have time in your busy schedule? AGA has an array of options for how you can be active in advocacy. Some take as little as 5 minutes.
Letter writing. AGA uses GovPredict, an online advocacy platform that allows members to contact their representatives in Congress with just a few clicks. AGA develops messages on significant pieces of legislation, key efforts in Congress, or on issues being advanced by federal agencies that have a great impact on gastroenterology. AGA’s ongoing letter writing campaigns can always be found at gastro.org, but be sure to keep an eye out for advocacy emails, AGA eDigest, and social media, so you do not miss your opportunity to take action on timely issues. AGA encourages its members to share letter writing campaigns with their colleagues, as well as posting them on social media.
Meetings with members of Congress. In-person meetings are an excellent opportunity to share with your representatives in Congress, or their staff, how the issues that impact gastroenterology affect you, your patients, and your practice. AGA has a plethora of resources to help you set up such meetings, including up-to-date issue briefs, tips and tricks for productive meetings, and webinars on how to host an on-site visit. AGA staff is always more than happy to help you arrange a meeting either in Washington, D.C., or in your home state. If you are interested in arranging such a meeting, please contact AGA Public Policy Coordinator Jonathan Sollish, at jsollish@gastro.org or 240-482-3228.
AGA PAC. AGA PAC is a voluntary, nonpartisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA. It is the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society, and its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions. AGA PAC supports candidates who support our policy priorities, such as fair reimbursement, cutting regulatory red tape, supporting patient protections, and access to specialty care, and sustained federal funding of digestive disease research. If you are interested in learning more, contact AGA Government and Political Affairs Manager Navneet Buttar, at nbuttar@gastro.org or 240-482-3221.
Congressional Advocates Program. This grassroots program is aimed at establishing a stronger foundation for our current and future advocacy initiatives by creating state teams to work on advocacy on the local, state, and national levels. Participation can include a wide variety of activities, ranging from creating educational posts on social media to meeting with members of Congress. Members of the Congressional Advocates Program are mentored and receive advocacy training by AGA leadership and staff. Participating members receive an AGA Congressional Advocate Program Certificate, a Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) badge ribbon, policy badge on the AGA Community, and recognition on AGA’s website. Applications for the next cycle will be released in 2019.
Introducing the AGA Future Leaders class of 2020
AGA has announced the 18 early career physicians and scientists selected to participate in its Future Leaders Program, which was created in 2015 to provide a pathway for leadership development within AGA for early career physicians and scientists who have the potential to make a significant impact on the specialty. These 18 participants will embark on an 18-month-long program designed to develop the skills necessary to become future leaders in the AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases.
“The 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders represents the next generation of leaders in our field,” said Darrell S. Pardi, MD, MSc, AGAF, co–program chair for the AGA Future Leaders Program. “Along with my cochair, Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, and the esteemed mentors and faculty participating in this program, we look forward to cultivating these rising stars who stand out for their current achievements, commitment to advancing the field, and potential for future success.”
Class of 2020 Future Leaders
- Christen Klochan Dilly, MD, MEHP, Indiana University School of Medicine and Roudebush VA Medical Center
- Daniel Freedberg, MD, MS, Columbia University
- Wendy A. Henderson, PhD, National Institutes of Health
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Animesh Jain, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Avinash Ketwaroo, MD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Bharati Kochar, MD, MSCR, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- David Leiman, MD, MSHP, Duke University Medical Center
- James Lin, MD, City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte
- Michelle Long, MD, Boston Medical Center
- Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Miguel Malespin, MD, Tampa General Hospital
- Simon C. Mathews, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Karthik Ravi, MD, Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)
- Florian Rieder, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School
- Christina Twyman-Saint Victor, MD, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
- Ryan Ungaro, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
View Future Leader Bios
The AGA Future Leaders Program will kick off with the AGA Leadership Development Conference March 8-10, 2019, at the Hilton Rockville Executive conference center in Rockville, Maryland, and will continue through Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the course of the program, participants will work closely with AGA mentors on projects linked to AGA’s Strategic Plan.
Learn more about the AGA Future Leaders Program.
Sessions at DDW® 2019 designed for fellows and early career GIs
AGA has an agenda of special sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2019 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.
With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Visit AGA University for a full list and additional details.
- AGA Postgraduate Course Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19
- Introduction to GI Practice: A Trainee Boot Camp, Monday, May 20, 10-11:30 a.m.
- AGA Board Review CourseMonday, May 20, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
- Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement ProjectsMonday, May 20, 2-3:30 p.m.
- GI in the Digital Age, Monday, May 20, 4-5:30 p.m.
DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge
Included with the cost of DDW registration, trainee and early career GI attendees have access to this lounge in the Sails Pavilion. It’s a great way to meet and network with peers from around the world over a cup of coffee and will feature new programming in 2019. Meet with experts to have your questions answered about practical issues of career choice, contracting, or how to write a manuscript.
Meet a rising star in fecal incontinence research
The AGA Research Foundation offers its flagship grant, the AGA Research Scholar Award, to the most promising early career investigators. Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is no exception. We’re thrilled to highlight Dr. Staller – a 2016 AGA Research Scholar Award winner – as our AGA Research Foundation researcher of the month.
The Staller lab’s AGA-funded project is specifically focused on the risk factors for fecal incontinence, which have not been well studied. One in 10 women over age 80 suffers from this debilitating condition. Dr. Staller looked at the lifestyles and dietary factors of female study participants in research databases to determine whether they were predisposed to developing fecal incontinence beyond the usual risk factors such as childbirth, which can cause injury to the pelvic floor, and diabetes. Dr. Staller believes that understanding and modifying risk factors could decrease the chance of women developing this condition, or could even prevent it.
With his AGA Research Foundation grant, Dr. Staller found that consumption of dietary fiber in higher quantities, and an increase of moderate exercise up to a point, lowered the risk of developing fecal incontinence. “This tells us that not only is fiber healthy but also preventative to fecal incontinence,” he said.
Dr. Staller says that he became interested in this area of study after patients, who were getting excited about their impending retirement or enjoying their retirement years, developed this life-altering condition. His compassion for his patients inspired him to study the factors leading to fecal incontinence, which will likely become more prevalent as the U.S. population ages.
Dr. Staller is using the baseline data from his AGA Research Foundation grant to support his application for a 5-year NIH grant designed to help young investigators learn new research skills to further their careers.
“This is the next step in my career,” he said. “If I didn’t have the AGA Research Foundation grant, I don’t know if the opportunity would be there for me to go on to the next level. The AGA grant gives you the opportunity to get that baseline data so you can become a competitive applicant for longer-term grants.”
Another benefit of Dr. Staller’s AGA Research Foundation grant: It got him involved with AGA. In March 2019, Dr. Staller joined the new class of AGA Future Leaders, AGA’s competitive leadership development program designed to prepare early career GIs for future leadership roles in AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases. The program kicked off at AGA’s inaugural leadership development conference.
“It is a true honor to participate in the AGA Future Leaders Program. During the AGA Leadership Development Conference, we learned concrete tips about effective leadership strategies across the spectrum of GI practice from research to clinical practice. Among our mentors were prominent researchers, clinical innovators, and division and department heads from across the U.S. – there was no shortage of inspiration. Perhaps most importantly, I was able to form what I hope to be career-long connections with both my fellow future leaders program participants and our mentors,” he said.
Dr. Staller’s qualifications as a clinician and researcher of bowel issues are put to good use as a father of two boys, ages 4 and 6, who are at the peak of the potty humor stage.
“They’re interested in the GI tract as well,” Dr. Staller said with a laugh. “My mom likes to say I never got out of the potty phase and made it a career. It’s important to feel comfortable talking about these uncomfortable topics. That’s what people want from their physician. If you can talk about this and the physician doesn’t bat an eyelash, that’s a good setup to have a good therapeutic relationship.”
‘Put your own oxygen mask on first’
Takeaways from the leadership conference stress the importance of self-care, emotional intelligence and remaining optimistic.
“Leadership 101: Put your own oxygen mask on first @DarwinConwell #AGAleads #AGAForward @AmerGastroAssn”– Dr Michelle T. Long (@DrMTLong)
The inaugural Leadership Development Conference combined participants from three AGA programs for a weekend of networking, mentorship and mapping out goals and initiatives.
Attendees included the 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders and mentors, Women’s Leadership Conference participants, and mentors and scholars of the new AGA FORWARD Program, an National Institutes of Health–funded initiative that supports underrepresented minority physicians and scientists.
“Got to meet one of my tweeps heroes today! She’s even more awesome in real life!! #AGALeads #WomenInMedicine #WomenInGI @drfolamay @AmerGastroAssn” – Dr Aline Charabaty (@DCharabaty)
“Dr. Boland (Lynch syndrome) discussing career success in an ever changing scientific environment #AGALeads #AGAForward” – Eric J. Vargas M.D. (@EricJVargasMD)
“7 AGA Presidents, moderated by Dr. Anandasabapathy on Pathways to Leadership and Overcoming Challenges of the Era Presidential Panel @AmerGastroAssn Leadership conference program @SeragHashem @BCMDeptMedicine @KanwalFasiha @Aketwaroo @richashukla84” – Ruben Hernaez (@ruben_hernaez)
The event coincided with International Women’s Day, giving Women’s Leadership Conference attendees the chance to celebrate their journeys and grow into leadership roles with other #WomenInGI.
“#AGALeads #womenleadershipconference #womeninGI #InternationWomensDay with some amazing ladies in GI!! @AmerGastroAssn @AlisonGoldinMD @ibddocmaria @joanwchen” – ReezwanaCMD (@reezwanc)
“#AGAleads #WomeninGI women negotiating in a group are perceived favorably-Ellen Zimmerman, MD”
– Fazia Mir-Shaffi, MD (@Faiziya) March 9, 2019
“What I learned at @AmerGastroAssn #womeninGI Leadership course (after waiting a bit to see what stuck w me)
1. If you say yes to a request, you’re saying yes to doing it well.
2. Knowing your limitations will serve you better than being great at everything” – Laura Targownik (@UofM_GI_Head)
Aline Charabaty Pishvaian, MD, shared some takeaways in the AGA Community forum (community.gastro.org) about challenges women in GI face – a breakout discussion from the Women’s Leadership Conference.
View more insight and takeaways from participants on Twitter using #AGALeads.
Dr. Vaibhav Wadhwa advocates for step therapy reform in Florida
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD, met with Ms. Laurie Flink, deputy district director for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), to discuss AGA’s legislative priorities.
Dr. Wadhwa thanked Ms. Flink for Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s support of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Screening Act and NIH funding. Dr. Wadhwa also mentioned that Rep. Wasserman Schultz is not a cosponsor of the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act and explained in detail about why this is an important resolution that needs to be passed.
Dr. Wadhwa gave examples of patients from his own practice and discussed the challenges they face. Ms. Flink was very interested in hearing about patients with chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) not being able to get the appropriate regimen because of the barriers created by step therapy. Ms. Flink was very appreciative of the visit and stated that these in-person visits along with personal stories about these issues go a long way in helping congressional offices understand the implications that these bills have.
Ms. Flink assured Dr. Wadhwa that she will raise these points with Rep. Wasserman Schultz and will discuss cosponsoring the Restoring the Patient’s Voice Act once it is reintroduced.
Dr. Wadhwa is a fellow at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, and is the AGA Congressional Advocates Program state leader for Florida. He is interested in therapeutic endoscopy and advocating for appropriate reimbursement for endoscopic procedures.
How to get involved in advocacy
Interested in advocacy but not sure how or whether you have time in your busy schedule? AGA has an array of options for how you can be active in advocacy. Some take as little as 5 minutes.
Letter writing. AGA uses GovPredict, an online advocacy platform that allows members to contact their representatives in Congress with just a few clicks. AGA develops messages on significant pieces of legislation, key efforts in Congress, or on issues being advanced by federal agencies that have a great impact on gastroenterology. AGA’s ongoing letter writing campaigns can always be found at gastro.org, but be sure to keep an eye out for advocacy emails, AGA eDigest, and social media, so you do not miss your opportunity to take action on timely issues. AGA encourages its members to share letter writing campaigns with their colleagues, as well as posting them on social media.
Meetings with members of Congress. In-person meetings are an excellent opportunity to share with your representatives in Congress, or their staff, how the issues that impact gastroenterology affect you, your patients, and your practice. AGA has a plethora of resources to help you set up such meetings, including up-to-date issue briefs, tips and tricks for productive meetings, and webinars on how to host an on-site visit. AGA staff is always more than happy to help you arrange a meeting either in Washington, D.C., or in your home state. If you are interested in arranging such a meeting, please contact AGA Public Policy Coordinator Jonathan Sollish, at jsollish@gastro.org or 240-482-3228.
AGA PAC. AGA PAC is a voluntary, nonpartisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA. It is the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society, and its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions. AGA PAC supports candidates who support our policy priorities, such as fair reimbursement, cutting regulatory red tape, supporting patient protections, and access to specialty care, and sustained federal funding of digestive disease research. If you are interested in learning more, contact AGA Government and Political Affairs Manager Navneet Buttar, at nbuttar@gastro.org or 240-482-3221.
Congressional Advocates Program. This grassroots program is aimed at establishing a stronger foundation for our current and future advocacy initiatives by creating state teams to work on advocacy on the local, state, and national levels. Participation can include a wide variety of activities, ranging from creating educational posts on social media to meeting with members of Congress. Members of the Congressional Advocates Program are mentored and receive advocacy training by AGA leadership and staff. Participating members receive an AGA Congressional Advocate Program Certificate, a Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) badge ribbon, policy badge on the AGA Community, and recognition on AGA’s website. Applications for the next cycle will be released in 2019.
Introducing the AGA Future Leaders class of 2020
AGA has announced the 18 early career physicians and scientists selected to participate in its Future Leaders Program, which was created in 2015 to provide a pathway for leadership development within AGA for early career physicians and scientists who have the potential to make a significant impact on the specialty. These 18 participants will embark on an 18-month-long program designed to develop the skills necessary to become future leaders in the AGA, at their home institutions, and within the field of digestive diseases.
“The 2020 class of AGA Future Leaders represents the next generation of leaders in our field,” said Darrell S. Pardi, MD, MSc, AGAF, co–program chair for the AGA Future Leaders Program. “Along with my cochair, Sheryl Pfeil, MD, AGAF, and the esteemed mentors and faculty participating in this program, we look forward to cultivating these rising stars who stand out for their current achievements, commitment to advancing the field, and potential for future success.”
Class of 2020 Future Leaders
- Christen Klochan Dilly, MD, MEHP, Indiana University School of Medicine and Roudebush VA Medical Center
- Daniel Freedberg, MD, MS, Columbia University
- Wendy A. Henderson, PhD, National Institutes of Health
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Animesh Jain, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Avinash Ketwaroo, MD, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Bharati Kochar, MD, MSCR, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- David Leiman, MD, MSHP, Duke University Medical Center
- James Lin, MD, City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte
- Michelle Long, MD, Boston Medical Center
- Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Miguel Malespin, MD, Tampa General Hospital
- Simon C. Mathews, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Karthik Ravi, MD, Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)
- Florian Rieder, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School
- Christina Twyman-Saint Victor, MD, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
- Ryan Ungaro, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
View Future Leader Bios
The AGA Future Leaders Program will kick off with the AGA Leadership Development Conference March 8-10, 2019, at the Hilton Rockville Executive conference center in Rockville, Maryland, and will continue through Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the course of the program, participants will work closely with AGA mentors on projects linked to AGA’s Strategic Plan.
Learn more about the AGA Future Leaders Program.
Sessions at DDW® 2019 designed for fellows and early career GIs
AGA has an agenda of special sessions at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2019 to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material.
With the exception of the AGA Postgraduate Course, all of the sessions are free, but you must register for DDW to attend. Visit AGA University for a full list and additional details.
- AGA Postgraduate Course Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19
- Introduction to GI Practice: A Trainee Boot Camp, Monday, May 20, 10-11:30 a.m.
- AGA Board Review CourseMonday, May 20, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
- Advancing Clinical Practice: GI Fellow-Directed Quality Improvement ProjectsMonday, May 20, 2-3:30 p.m.
- GI in the Digital Age, Monday, May 20, 4-5:30 p.m.
DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge
Included with the cost of DDW registration, trainee and early career GI attendees have access to this lounge in the Sails Pavilion. It’s a great way to meet and network with peers from around the world over a cup of coffee and will feature new programming in 2019. Meet with experts to have your questions answered about practical issues of career choice, contracting, or how to write a manuscript.