Dear Friends,
The prevailing theme of this issue is “Success.” I have learned that “success” is personal and personalized. What “success” looked like 10, or even 5, years ago to me is very different from how I perceive it now; and I know it may be different 5 years from now. My definition of success should not look like another’s — that was the best advice I have gotten over the years and it has kept me constantly redefining what is important to me and placing value on where I want to allocate my time and efforts, at work and at home.
This issue of The New Gastroenterologist highlights topics from successful GIs within their own realms of expertise, offering insights on advancing in academic medicine, navigating financial wellness with a financial adviser, and becoming a future leader in GI.
Dr. Judy A. Trieu
In this issue’s clinically-focused articles, we spotlight two very nuanced and challenging topics. Dr. Sachin Srinivasan and Dr. Prateek Sharma review Barrett’s esophagus management for our “In Focus” section, with a particular emphasis on Barrett’s endoscopic therapy modalities for dysplasia and early neoplasia. Dr. Brooke Corning and team simplify their approach to pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in our “Short Clinical Reviews.” They suggest validated ways to assess patient history, pros and cons of various diagnostic tests, and stepwise management of PFD.
Navigating academic promotion can be overwhelming and may not be at the forefront with our early career GIs’ priorities. In our “Early Career” section, Dr. Vineet Rolston interviews two highly accomplished professors in academic medicine, Dr. Sophie Balzora and Dr. Mark Schattner, for their insights into the promotion process and recommendations for junior faculty.
Dr. Anjuli K. Luthra, a therapeutic endoscopist and founder of The Scope of Finance, emphasizes financial wellness for physicians. She breaks down the search for a financial adviser, including the different types, what to ask when searching for the right fit, and what to expect.
Lastly, this issue highlights an AGA program that invests in the development of leaders for the field — the Future Leaders Program (FLP). Dr. Parakkal Deepak and Dr. Edward L. Barnes, along with their mentor, Dr. Aasma Shaukat, describe their experience as a mentee-mentor triad of FLP and how this program has impacted their careers.
If you are interested in contributing or have ideas for future TNG topics, please contact me (tjudy@wustl.edu), or Danielle Kiefer (dkiefer@gastro.org), managing editor of TNG.
Until next time, I leave you with a historical fun fact because we would not be where we are now without appreciating where we were: Dr. C.G. Stockton was the first AGA president in 1897, a Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine at the University of Buffalo in New York, and published on the relationship between GI/Hepatology and gout in the Journal of the American Medical Association the same year of his presidency.
Yours truly,
Judy A. Trieu, MD, MPH
Editor-in-Chief
Interventional Endoscopy, Division of Gastroenterology
Washington University in St. Louis
