EVOLVINGLearning from the past. Redefining the future.Annual Report for the American Gastroenterological Association, AGA Institute and AGA Foundation

AGA

Dear colleague,

Nicholas F. LaRusso , MD, AGAF Mark Donowitz, MD, AGAFPresident, AGA Institute Chair, AGAJune 2007 – May 2008 June 2007 – May 2008

In recent years, AGA has invested significant time, energy andintellect contemplating how the field is evolving…

What technologies will influence patient care?

What areas of research are ripe for discovery?

What will the GI training program, lab and practicelook like 10 or 20 years down the road?

We have convened the best minds in gastroenterology to consider these and many, many more questionswith the goal of developing innovative programs that support gastroenterologists.

Without question, gastroenterology can evolve to have a great future. As the field changes, so does the AGA,growing and finding new ways to secure a bright future for members. Our comprehensive programs supportthose who work in all aspects of gastroenterology — scientists, clinicians, students, trainees, nursepractitioners and physician assistants, practice managers, and our international colleagues. AGA considersthe perspectives of all constituents in the interdependent GI community and develops programs that advancethe field as a whole.

The accomplishments in this report are thanks to the hundreds of members who serve on our committeesand task forces, attend educational sessions and DDW, participate in advocacy efforts, support the AGAFoundation, and read and contribute to our journals. Thanks to all in the gastroenterology community whohave contributed to the AGA’s success, and who will work with us as we continue to evolve and advance thescience and practice of gastroenterology.

Sincerely,

CONTENTSAGA Achievements

Future Trends...........................................2Patient Care .............................................4Research ..................................................8Public Policy ............................................12Education & Training ..............................16International ............................................20

AGA and AGA InstituteStrategic Plan ...........................................22AGA Membership....................................24Financial Report ......................................25Industry Partners......................................25Recognition Award Recipients .................26Leadership ...............................................27

AGA Foundation ........................Overview .................................................30Awards.....................................................36Donor Honor Roll ...................................38

AGA & AGA Institute Staff .....................45

Annual Report: June 2007 – May 2008A Publication of AGA Institute PressCopyright © 2008 by the AGA Institute. All rights reserved.

FUTURE TRENDSThe AGA Institute is

leading the way to helpensure that membersare prepared for theever-changing field

of medicine andgastroenterology. It is ofurgent importance thatthe AGA Institute notonly keep abreast of

current circumstances,but look ahead to

determine how pendingsituations may impact

gastroenterologyin the future.

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Adopting an Altruistic Focus“The neediest of Americans currently receive

20th century medicine, if any at all, at the dawn ofthe 21st century. I know we can do better, and Iknow the AGA can help,” said Nicholas F.LaRusso, MD, AGAF, president AGA Institute.Noting that the AGA is the oldest, largest andbest-resourced sub-specialty organization in GImedicine, Dr. LaRusso challenged leadership toconsider how we can put resources to work in atruly altruistic fashion.

The board committed to being what Dr. LaRussocalls “a professional society with a social conscience.”

The AGA is working on a number of fronts:➠ An audacious proposal to organize a volunteer

colorectal cancer detection initiative for individ-uals who can’t afford to pay for this procedure.The AGA Institute is exploring partnershipswith organizations that can help connectpatients in need with gastroenterologists willingto provide colonoscopies on a volunteer basis.

➠ Expanded international programs includecontribution of usable, surplus endoscopes andof physician time and expertise to developingcountries. A grant was given to start develop-ment of new educational paradigms for GItraining in under-resourced African countries.

➠ Education for school-aged children about scienceand health to help stem the obesity epidemic.

A member survey on altruism/volunteerism willbe fielded to the membership to gauge members’interest in altruistic activities.

Addressing Challenges Faced byAcademic Medicine

In February 2008, the AGA Institute published areport inGastroenterology, “The Best of Times andthe Worst of Times: Sustaining the Future ofAcademic Gastroenterology in the United States,” toaddress new challenges faced by the academicgastroenterology community, including political andeconomic pressures causing financial hardship,workforce shortages, and erosion of research andteaching support. The report concluded thatacademic gastroenterology divisions face severechallenges from political and economic influencesand that divisions must adapt to changing health-care needs in order to successfully maintain theirresearch and educational missions.

Recommendations included:➠GI divisions may need to be run more like busi-

nesses, and division leaders may need leadershipand business training. Divisions may also

consider investing in new procedural systems,including new information technology, ambula-tory endoscopy units and concierge medicine.

➠ GI fellowship training will need to be modi-fied for trainees seeking academic or prac-tice careers, including more technical skill-specific programs. Programs may identifysynergies with other medicine fellowshipsand collaborate to deliver training, such asquality, ethics and research standards.

➠ Divisions will need to focus on improvingfaculty retention and workforce issues by usingnew technologies and flexible policies to meetstaff and divisional needs. Directors need toplace special emphasis on hiring a diversefaculty and cultivate promising young profes-sionals through development of researchopportunities and community outreach.

➠ The AGA Institute should continue to supportdivisions by properly educating and trainingmembers, advocating for greater federalfunding, fostering career tracks for researchersand professional educators, and encouraginginterest in and helping reduce potential barriersamong students and trainees to careers inacademic gastroenterology.

Assessing the Future of TrainingIn March 2008, the AGA Institute convened a

consensus conference on the future of gastroenter-ology training programs to assess how recentchanges to the economic, social, educational andresearch environment have challenged traditionaltraining and practice paradigms, and discusspotential strategies for coping with these challenges.During the conference, expert consensus panelistsdiscussed topics such as:

➠ What will patients and society at large needand expect from the GI specialty (as awhole) in 2013 and beyond, especially ascompared with the present?

➠ How should GI training programs accom-modate the demographic and attitudinalchanges in the U.S. population and, espe-cially, in young physicians?

➠ How should changes in science and technologybe incorporated into GI training programs?

➠Whatdo thenational organizations that guidetraining and certification thinkGI training shouldbe?

➠ Can GI training programs help ensure theeconomic viability of GI practice?

The results of the consensus panel discussionswill be the subject of a report expected to bepublished in Gastroenterology in fall 2008.

Although the future forgastroenterology appearsbright, the nature ofclinical practice may bealtered dramatically byadvances in biomedicalresearch and technology,changes in populationdemographics, and health-

care economics. The AGA Institute worksdiligently to scan the horizon for changes and toprepare members and trainees to meetcontinually evolving challenges.

—Kenneth R. McQuaid, MD, AGAF,professor of clinical medicine at the

University of California, San Francisco;director of gastrointestinal endoscopyand acting chief at the San Francisco

Veterans Affairs Medical Center

EVOLVINGTOMEET THE NEEDSOF AGA MEMBERS

Eye on Emerging TechnologiesThe Future Trends Committee and the

Committee on Practice Management andEconomics will conduct a conference in spring2009 that will examine the state of innovationin gastroenterology and encourage thedevelopment of new technologies relevant tothe field.

We will bring together gastroenterologistsinterested in new technology, companyrepresentatives, investors interested in newmedical technologies, and officials fromreimbursement and regulatory agencies.

They will consider topics such as what isinvolved in developing innovative devices andhow to get them approved and reimbursed.

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PATIENT CAREIn response to rapidlyevolving screeningand care measures,technologies, and

reimbursement issues,the AGA Institute is

providing the tools andupdated information

gastroenterologists needto best take care

of patients and managetheir practices.

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Evaluating CT Colonography’sRole in Patient Care

Guided by the principle that gastroenterologistsshould be able to use and manage any technologythat can enable them to provide better patient care,the AGA Institute leads the way in the evaluationof emerging technologies such as CT colonography.With the best interest of patients in mind, we aremonitoring this technology, creating trainingstandards for performance of the study, andadvocating for reimbursement codes. AGA notesthat colonoscopy is the gold standard for thedetection and prevention of colorectal cancer.

The AGA Institute issued minimum trainingstandards and requirements necessary for gastro-enterologists’ involvement in CT colonography,which were published in Gastroenterology inSeptember 2007. Additionally, in March 2008, theAGA Institute convened the first of a series ofcourses to educate gastroenterologists about thecurrent state of CT colonography and how it can beimplemented into the gastroenterologist’s practice.Additional courses, including hands-on trainingcourses, are planned for 2008 and 2009.

The AGA recently expressed its support to CMSfor the coverage of screening CT colonography forMedicare beneficiaries, performed by adequatelytrained gastroenterologists or other physicians,provided that CMS requires the followingconditions be met:

➠ Establishment of CT colonography stan-dards that incorporate the three critical

factors known to impact test performanceincluding: the technology that is used,adequate training of the physician who isproviding the service and the reporting of allpolyps in a standardized format.

➠ Creation of certification programs, whichwould ensure physicians have achieved andmaintained competency in reading and inter-preting CT colonography scans, and that anyfacility that offers CT colonography employsappropriate technology and safety measuresfor doing so.

➠ Definition of appropriate episodes of care,which acknowledge that, as a cathartic bowelprep is necessary with CT colonography, apatient with a positive CT colonographyfinding could be referred for a colonoscopy onthe same day, with both tests performed duringan “episode-based” period of CT colonog-raphy screening coverage. The AGA Institutebelieves this is the optimal model for inclusionof CT colonography from the perspective ofpatient efficacy, quality and resource consump-tion. Gastroenterologists are well equipped toprovide this seamless model of care.

In addition to these conditions, the AGA notedthat the decision as to whether to removediminutive and small polyps identified on CTcolonography — or to implement a surveillanceapproach — should be an informed decision madebetween the patient and their physician.

Fighting Restrictive SedationPayment Policies

In February and March 2008, the AGA workedwith a number of health insurers to delayimplementation of policies that would haverestricted the use of an anesthesia professional instandard upper or lower endoscopic procedures,including colonoscopy, for average-risk patients.The AGA Institute commends these organizationsfor listening and responding to our concerns.

We are dedicated to working with allstakeholders involved — gastroenterologists,surgeons, primary care providers, anesthesiologistsand others — to provide clear recommendations tophysicians, patients, purchasers and payersregarding the appropriate use of sedation forendoscopic procedures. The AGA will work toensure that payer policies do not pose a barrier topatients receiving medically necessary colorectalcancer screening and endoscopic services.

The AGA encourages practitioners to develop astructured sedation protocol suited to the needs oftheir patients and practice, as noted in the “AGAInstitute Review of Endoscopic Sedation” publishedin the August 2007 issue ofGastroenterology.Ourcommitment to patients is that they have access tomedically necessary technologies, pharmaceuticalsand services delivered by the appropriately trainedhealth-care professional, to ensure that they undergocolorectal cancer screening and other endoscopicprocedures in an environment that promotes safety,patient comfort and quality of care.

Supporting New ColorectalCancer Screening Guidelines

In March 2008, new consensus colorectalcancer screening guidelines were published bythe American Cancer Society, the AmericanCollege of Radiology and the U.S. Multi-SocietyTask Force (comprised of the AGA Institute,ACG and ASGE); the guidelines appeared in theMay 2008 issue of Gastroenterology. Theguidelines stated for the first time that theprimary goal of colorectal cancer screening iscancer prevention. Previous guidelines gaveequal weight to tests for detecting cancer andpreventing cancer. By removing polyps from thelarge bowel, colonoscopy is the only screeningtest that also prevents colorectal cancer.

The panel of experts representing the societieslisted above added two new tests as options: stoolDNA (sDNA) and CT colonography.

The expert panel also concluded that anyproposed colorectal screening test that has not beenshown in the medical literature to detect themajority of cancers present at the time of testingshould not be offered to patients for colorectalcancer screening, including some types of previouslyendorsed guiaic-based stool tests.

Developing SoundPerformanceMeasures

As part of our significant commitment to qualityin practice, the AGA Institute remains activelyinvolved in the development and adoption ofclinical performance measures. Measures related tocolonoscopy surveillance have been developed thisyear by the Endoscopy and Polyp SurveillancePerformance Measures Work Group, a joint effortof the AGA Institute, ASGE, AMA Physician

Participants in theMarch 2008 AGA Institute courseCT Colonography – What Gastroenterologists Need to Know:

Imaging and the Digestive Disease Practice received hands-ontraining in the use of several different workstations

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Consortium for Performance Improvement (r)(PCPI) and the National Committee for QualityAssurance (NCQA). CMS proposed the inclusionof one of the measures (surveillance colonoscopyintervals in patients with adenomatous polyps) inthe 2009 PQRI program. That proposal wascontingent on AQA adoption of the measure byAug. 31, which did occur.

Measures developed in 2007 for themanagement of hepatitis C were considered andendorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF) in2008. Consistent with NQF's endorsement, thesingle 2008 PQRI measure for hepatitis A and Bvaccinations in patients with hepatitis C was revisedinto two separate measures for the 2009 PQRI..

Helping Members BetterManage Their Practices

The AGA Center for GI Practice Managementand Economics answered approximately 2,000questions through the coding and billing answerline and completed 16 consultations and trainingsessions at gastroenterology offices across thecountry this year.

Together with the AGA Institute Press, the centerpublished two new books to assist gastroenterologypractices. Policies & Procedures for the GI Practiceis a resource to help members create or refinepolicies and procedures that are individualized fortheir practice to ensure that they are maximizing theefficiency, cost-effectiveness and compliance of theirwork. Specifically for solo and small-to-midsizedpractices, this resource contains sample policies andprocedures modeled on those from successful GIpractices across the country.

TheAGA Institute/PAHCSGastroenterologyCodingManual is a valuable training guide for thenovice and a reliable reference for the moreexperienced coder. Updates include new codes for

2008, GI-relevantprocedure codes withusage guidelines andexpandedexplanations oncoding conventions,how to codeoperative reports,coding specificanatomy/terminology anddetails on compliancestandards.

The AGA Institute partnered with theProfessional Association of Healthcare CodingSpecialists (PAHCS) and McVey Associates, Inc.,to provide a certification program for GI coders.Gastroenterology coders can become certified bythe AGA Institute and PAHCS by sitting for the GICoding Specialist exam, scheduled in sevenlocations around the country this year.

In August 2007, the third-annual course for mid-level providers, Principles of Gastroenterology forthe Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant,presented mid-level providers with the latest GI-specific clinical and practice management

instruction. The course provided 11 additionalsessions, which covered an even wider range of GIissues and practice opportunities — from the role ofthe mid-level provider as hospitalist to theevaluation and management of viral hepatitis to thelatest information about pay-for-performance andits impact on gastroenterology.

Digestive Disease Week ® (DDW) 2008 markedthe sixth annual Practice Administrators’ Course,which was very well received. The course wasrestructured to offer a greater variety of sessionsand speakers, allowing attendees to hear theperspectives from many different physicians.

Educating PatientsThe AGA Institute is committed to furthering the health of patients and their families by fostering

the dissemination of information and resources on the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases.To that end, the AGA Institute, through Foundation funding, updated anddeveloped a series of 18 patient education guides and three instructionalDVDs. All patient guides are available in English and Spanish, with selecttopics in Chinese and Vietnamese. Topics include:

Celiac DiseaseCirrhosis of the Liver*

Colorectal CancerConstipationFood Allergies & IntolerancesGallstonesHeartburn & Reflux Disease*

HemorrhoidsInflammatory Bowel DiseaseIrritable Bowel SyndromePancreatitisPeptic Ulcer DiseasePreparing for a Colonoscopy* ‡

Preparing for a Capsule Endoscopy ‡

Preparing for an Upper GI Endoscopy ‡

Viral Hepatitis*

Gas in the Digestive TractWhat is a Gastroenterologist?* Guides available in Chinese and Vietnamese ‡ DVDs available

Additionally, education campaigns focused on important issues surrounding non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ulcerative colitis. More information is available onlineat www.gastro.org/patient.

AGA Institute Press Refocuses on PatientsThe AGA Institute Press Advisory Board selected three titles to publish for patients in the coming

year, beginning with “Your Healthier Child: Practical, Proven Ways to Reduce Childhood Obesity.”The other two books will focus on IBD self-management and IBS symptoms self-management.Under the direction of the newly formed Publications Committee, the advisory board was expandedto include dietitian and nurse educators in addition to gastroenterologists and hepatologists.

Helping Members Find EHRs

The federal government is actively promotingand encouraging the use of electronic healthrecords (EHR) as one mechanism to improve thequality of health care. To assist AGA members inidentifying which EHR may be appropriate fortheir practice, the AGA Institute makes the MSPEHR Selector available to members at adiscounted rate. This interactive tool allows usersto identify EHR products that match theirpractice characteristics and needs.

The AGA Institute hosted a DDW session onevaluating EHRs for GI practices. The session, inaddition to its educational focus, provided feed-back to the panel, underscoring the importance oftheir efforts to identify key criteria and standardsfor EHR in gastroenterology practices. The AGAInstitute plans to develop specific tools andresources for members to address the unique issuesgastroenterology practices face related to EHR.

Developing Practical andUseful Guidelines

The AGA Institute published four medicalposition statements in Gastroenterology this year:

➠ Review of Endoscopic Sedation (August 2007)➠ Standards for Gastroenterologists for

Performing and Interpreting Diagnostic CTColonography (September 2007)

➠ Technical Review on ObscureGastrointestinal Bleeding (November 2007)

➠ Technology Assessment on Image-Enhanced Endoscopy (March 2008)

After careful review, the medical positionstatement development process was revised thisyear to include greater rigor in the scientific andevidence base of the practice recommendations.The new guidelines development process takesinto account the role and use of guidelines, theiraudience, how topics are prioritized, and howthey are linked to AGA Institute quality activities/pay for performance. A medical position panel(made up of an author, a community-based GI, aprimary care physician, a payer, a surgeon [ifapplicable], a patient/patient advocate and agastroenterologist with expertise in health-servicesresearch) will take a technical review and write aclinical practice recommendation. The goal is tomake the guidelines more practical and useful byincluding guideline tools that include algorithmsthat can be easily accessed for patient care.

The AGA Institute has played an integral role in the evolution of my careerin gastroenterology. As a long-time member who is a clinician-academician andpractitioner, I have been able to work at the highest levels of the organizationand participate in physician and patient education programs. This level ofrecognition has given me the opportunity to contribute to national digestivediseases initiatives in education, research and patient care and education.

—Joanne A. P. Wilson, MD, FACP, AGAF,professor of medicine, gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center

EVOLVING TOMEET THE NEEDSOF AGA MEMBERS

The Patient CenteredMedical Home

A fundamental change in care delivery andreimbursement, the Patient Centered MedicalHome (PCMH) is being promoted by primary carephysicians as a way to better manage care forpatients. While the concept of the PCMH is in itsinfancy, it has gained widespread support by theprimary care societies. Its impact will be betterunderstood as demonstrations evolve and provideus with data. The AGA Institute is activelyinvestigating this proposed practice andreimbursement paradigm and will monitor thisinitiative and its impact on GI.

CMS will institute a PCMH demonstrationproject in 2009, commercial insurers in severalstates have announced PCMH projects andMinnesota has adopted a PCMH model forstate employees.

The focus of PCMH, as is the case with qualitymeasures, will be on the five chronic illnesses ofthe elderly — hypertension, diabetes, heartdisease, asthma and mood disorders — as theyare responsible for almost half of the annual costof health care. It is unlikely that gastroenterologypractices will become a PCMH, given that mostprovide consultative services and do not have theresources to provide comprehensive, longitudinalcare. However, there are no obvious barriers for agastroenterology practice becoming a PCMH.There is a risk to gastroenterology practices thatdo not meet quality and efficiency measures. Withenhanced data collection, insurers can provide theprimary physician with information regarding thequality of care of the specialist and compareperformance with national and regionalstandards. It is very likely that this informationwill influence the choice of specialist.

Emerging Issues andTechnologies

As the medical climate evolves, the AGAadvocates for gastroenterologists. We willcontinue proactive outreach to payers to impactclinical policies that may affect members,including new technologies and sedation issues.We are developing a framework for a formaltechnology assessment process to identify thepotential impact new technologies will have onGI practice.

ReimbursementAs always, the AGA Institute will advocate for

new CPT codes to enable gastroenterologists tobe adequately reimbursed for the work theyperform with patients. We will maintain ouractive role with the RUC, including advocatingfor a permanent seat for GI, with CMS and thePCMH demonstration project workgroups.

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RESEARCHThe AGA Institute is

committed to acomprehensive approach

to fostering thegastroenterologicalresearch endeavor,

including funding forresearch, support foryoung researchers,and policies thataffect the funding

and conduct of research.

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Molding the FutureResearch Landscape

In a landmark event for GI research, theNational Commission on Digestive Diseases atNIH provided a first glance at their long-rangeplan for digestive diseases research in 2007. TheAGA proposed creation of the Commission,which spent a year and a half evaluating thestate of the science in digestive diseases andidentifying areas of research challenge andopportunity. The Commission’s draft planrepresented the enormous intellectual firepowerof more than 75 AGA members who served asappointed members to the Commission and asparticipants in Commission working groups.

For the AGA, the draft report was a majormilestone to celebrate in our long-standing,multifaceted advocacy campaign for increasedfunding for biomedical research. As we allrecognize, we are literally on the brink of majorscientific advances in several key areas ofdigestive disease research. In other areas, we lackeven a basic understanding of the cause ofdisease. For these reasons, the AGA worked withour champions in Congress to propose theNational Commission on Digestive Diseases. TheCommission report will outline areas ofopportunity for discovery, but we will needCongress to provide the funds necessary topower the research engine.

The Commission leadership draws from thebest in the field, including many AGA members.The appointed members are:

Stephen P. James, MD (Director)Bruce R. Bacon, MDBarbara L. Bass, MD, FACSRichard S. Blumberg, MD, AGAFJohn M. Carethers, MD, AGAFMaurice A. Cerulli, MD, AGAFEugene B. Chang, MDMitchell B. Cohen, MDMargaret M. Heitkemper, PhD, RNJane M. HoltDavid A. Lieberman, MDNancy J. Norton, BSPankaj J. Pasricha, MDDaniel K. Podolsky, MD, AGAFKenton M. Sanders, PhDRobert S. Sandler MD, MPH, AGAFJoanne A. P. Wilson, MD, AGAF

Developing New ResearchFunding Paradigms

The AGA added two new research fundingopportunities, offered a symposium oncollaborations with industry and provided fundsfor young investigators to attend DigestiveDisease Week® (DDW) in 2008.

➠ Consortium Planning Grants – The purpose ofthe planning grants are to reduce barriers andpromote the collaboration of two or moreresearchers from different institutions in theorganization of research consortia that willlead to solving targeted issues in gastroenter-ological and hepatological health, disease andtreatment. Three grants of $10,000 each wereawarded in November 2007 to work groupsof two or more investigators, for use inassisting in the preparation of collaborativeinter-institutional research proposals.

➠ CTC Planning Grants – Similar in purposeand design to the Consortium PlanningGrants, CTC Planning Grants aim to reducebarriers and promote the collaboration of twoor more researchers from different institutionsor within the same institution. The focus ofresearch funded, however, is that which willlead to innovations in understanding theoptimal use of CT colonography and the rolegastroenterologists should play in CT colonog-raphy. Two grants of $10,000 each wereawarded in April 2008.

➠ Student Abstract Prizes – To stimulateinterest in gastroenterology research careersthrough competition and recognition, 10travel awards are given to high school,college, graduate and medical studentswhose submitted abstracts were chosen bythe AGA Institute to be presented duringDDW. The three best student abstractssubmitted receive a $1,000 prize and allprize recipients are acknowledged at theNIH/PhD reception during DDW.

➠ Collaboration “How To” Held at DDW –Geared toward providing information onhow to broker research opportunitiesbetween industry and academia, How toCollaborate with Industry: Finding NewOpportunities in an Unstable FundingEnvironment offered real-life experiences ofsuccessful partnerships. Speakers providingtheir perspectives and advice included anindustry scientist, an entrepreneur and anAGA academic researcher.

Securing IncreasedFunding for VA Research

The AGA supports increased funding for theVA Medical and Prosthetics Research Programsince its programs support digestive diseaseresearch and other cutting-edge science that willbenefit our nation’s veterans and the entirepopulation.

As a member of the Friends of VeteransAdministration (FOVA), the AGA supportedincreasing funding for the VA Medical andProsthetics Research Program to $480 millionfor fiscal year 2008, a $68 million increase overthe previous year.

Both the House and Senate approved theFOVA funding recommendations in theirappropriations bills and $480 million for the VAwas ultimately included in the final bill passed byCongress and signed by the president.

Advocating for Researchon the Plight of the YoungInvestigator

In the past century, physician-scientistsproduced many scientific breakthroughs thathave translated to advancements in clinicalpractice. However, the number of physicianspursuing careers as scientists/researchers is notkeeping pace with the national need for thisresearch, while, at the same time, the averageage of physician-scientists is rising. Recent datahas shown that the negatives outweigh thepositives for physician-scientists to undertake ascientific career.

The AGA believes it is essential for a highlyrespected academic research organization, suchas the Institute of Medicine, to conduct athorough analysis of the current problems andissues surrounding the recruitment and retentionof physician-scientists and to recommend long-term solutions.

The AGA has urged the IOM to conduct astudy and explore solutions for implementationat the NIH and academic institution levels, bothfor K and R01 funding. The greatest attritionrate for physician-scientists occurs during thetransition from K to R01 funding and whenattempting to renew the first R01 grant or obtaina second R01 grant.

There is also no clear national policy todetermine how limited research funds should be

distributed between young investigators whorepresent the future and establishedinvestigators who are currently conductingclinically important studies.

Acknowledging Contributorsto Research

The Research Service Award recognizes anindividual who has dedicated considerable timeand/or expertise and significantly impacted theadvancement of gastroenterological scienceand research.

This award is presented only when anexceptional candidate is brought to theattention of the selection committee, whichmust provide unanimous consent. The awardwas given to Mushtaq A. Khan, DVM, PhD,chief of Digestive and Respiratory SciencesIntegrated Review Groups and the scientificreview officer for the Clinical and IntegratedGastrointestinal Pathobiology Study Section atthe Center for Scientific Review at NIH.

Overcoming Flat NIHFunding Through 2009

In light of the likelihood of flat funding forNIH through 2009, AGA will continue tosupport gastroenterological research with avariety of grants and awards and advocateCongress to provide the funds necessary topower the research engine. Interested grant andaward applicants should check the AGAFoundation’s Web site — www.fdhn.org — fordeadlines and application procedures. Readmore about the AGA Foundation for DigestiveHealth and Nutrition’s commitment to researchfunding beginning on page 30. Read moreabout AGA’s advocacy efforts and AGA PACon page 12.

Recruiting and Retaining YoungPhysician-Scientists

March 13 and 14, 2009, AGA and AASLDwill offer the third annual Academic SkillsWorkshop in Phoenix. This unique workshopis designed to assist junior faculty and trainees

with outstanding potential for careers inindependent basic science or clinical researchrelated to gastroenterology and hepatology tobetter understand the academic process anddevelop skills that will help them succeed in thehighly competitive academic environment. Theworkshop offers one-on-one mentoringsessions with a faculty mentor based on theirresearch project. In addition, participants willhave the opportunity to meet with other facultyduring the workshop to discuss their research.

In conjunction with the Academic SkillsWorkshop, the third annual AttractingMD/PhD Students into GastroenterologyWorkshop will be held. During this one-dayprogram, MD/PhD students will attend a seriesof lectures and interactive discussions that willemphasize the broad spectrum of GI researchopportunities and demonstrate howgastroenterology can cultivate their particularareas of research interests, such as oncology,infectious disease, immunology, nutrition,geriatrics, gender impact, etc. The programalso allows ample time for students to networkwith senior and junior GI faculty attending theAcademic Skills Workshop.

The support that I have received from the AGA Foundation truly impactedthe success of my career. I have been lucky enough to receive two grants fromthe AGA that have had huge benefits in helping me evolve my career.

My research team has since received funding for our work from both theNIH and the VA and I owe our present success to the impact of the AGA’sFunderberg Award. The AGA awards came at critical times in my career andprovided massive leverage for my research.

Research awards from AGA are clear life changers for those of us seekingproductive academic careers.

—James R. Goldenring, MD, PhD, AGAF,Paul Sanger professor of surgery and

cell and developmental biology,Vanderbilt University and the Nashville VAMedical Center

TO MEET THE NEEDSOF AGA MEMBERS

Mushtaq A. Khan, DVM, PhD, receives theResearch Service Award from AGA Institute President

Nicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAF

EVOLVING

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Gastroenterology Leads the FieldGastroenterology remains the most prominent

gastroenterology- and hepatology-related journal in the field,again ranking first among gastroenterology journals and in the top1 percent of all biomedical journals (number 81). The journalmaintained a high impact factor* (11.7), above that ofHepatology, Gut and the American Journal of Gastroenterologyin 2007, the most recent year for which the numbers are available.In addition, the journal’s immediacy factor, which measures howquickly the average article is cited during the year in which it waspublished, remained among the highest.

Articles submitted to Gastroenterology again experienced adecrease in decision turnaround time — now within 23 days afterbeing submitted. Once accepted, articles in press are indexed onPubMed and posted to the newly redesigned journal Web sitewithin two weeks of acceptance. New content was introduced inthe form of “perspectives” — mini reviews from prominentmembers. Journal layout was refreshed with the inclusion of lineart, custom covers and illustrations, and an increase of colorfigures throughout the journal.A special 13th issue of Gastroenterology that focused on end-stageliver disease was published in May.

Clinical Gastroenterology and HepatologyReceives Great First Impact Factor

In five full years, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology(CGH) has made a significant impact on gastroenterology practice.

A readership survey found that 100 percent of readers feel thejournal has direct relevance to their medical practice or scientificwork. Furthermore, 85 percent of readers chose the journal as one oftheir top four clinical journals and 66 percent reported makingchanges in their practice as a result of reading CGH.

In its first eligible year, CGH received an impact factor of 5.5 for2007, ranking it eighth among more than 50 gastroenterology- andhepatology-related journals.

A record low turnaround time for acceptance decisions wasachieved (14 days), while submissions again increased, reaching 807— a 6 percent increase from 2006. New content was added toenhance the scope of the journal, including: Brief Communications,Clinical Imaging, Perspectives, Abstracts from Around the World,Endoscopy Corner and State-of-the-Art articles. Line art and customcovers augmented the design of the journal.

Both journals now offer seamless access for members from theAGA Web site to the journal Web sites.

AGA Institute Journals

*The impact factor is calculated by dividing the number of current year citations to the source itemspublished in that journal during the previous two years.

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PUBLIC POLICYDespite this being a

challenging time for themedical profession, the

AGA maintains an ongoingand prominent presenceon Capitol Hill, which

helps us secure severalpositive outcomes for thefield of gastroenterology.

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Fighting for Fair ReimbursementThe sustainable growth rate formula (SGR),

which dictates the annual updates to physicianreimbursements under Medicare, is an extremelyflawed system. As in years past, withoutcongressional intervention, physicians werescheduled to receive a 10 percent pay cut inJanuary 2008.

The AGA believes it is time for a new systemand Congress must take action on a long-termremedy. The AGA worked with leaders of thekey health committees in both the House andSenate throughout the year as they sought tocraft a solution to the Medicare physicianpayment crisis. AGA members met inWashington with more than 70 Congressionaloffices and members from around the countrysent hundreds of letters to lawmakers throughAGA’s online advocacy system.

After contentious negotiations, the House andSenate agreed to a scaled back six-month patchto prevent the scheduled 10 percent cut frombeing implemented and provided physicians witha 0.5 percent update through June 30, 2008.Subsequently, on July 16, 2008, Congresssuccessfully overrode a presidential veto of theMedicare bill (HR 6331), securing an 18-monthphysician reimbursement fix by extending theJune 2008 rates through the end of the year andproviding a 1.1 percent increase in 2009. Theoverride reversed the 10.6 percent reduction inphysicians’ Medicare fees that went into effecton July 1, 2008.

AGA is pleased that Congress was able to takeaction to provide an 18-month remedy to theproposed cuts and at least a 1.1 percent updatethrough 2009. Although the AGA would prefer along-term solution to this fundamentally flawedMedicare update formula, this action will allowthe new Congress and administration next yearto work toward a more equitable solution.

The AGA remains committed to fighting for afair and equitable payment system forgastroenterologists and will continue to workwith our Congressional champions and the newadministration on its implementation.

Battling for IncreasedNIH Funding

In 2007, the AGA supported the Ad HocGroup for Medical Research’s recommendations

that Congress increase NIH funding by 6.7percent in fiscal year (FY) 2008. The AGA andthe entire medical research community united toadvocate for the increased funding, despite thefiscal challenges facing Congress and thedisagreements between Congress and the Bushadministration. AGA members met withlawmakers to advocate for increased fundingand nearly 150 lawmakers heard from AGAmembers via e-mail.

Ultimately, Congress passed and the presidentsigned an appropriations package with a 0.046percent increase in NIH funding. The AGA issteadfastly committed to increasing funding fordigestive disease research at the NIH. As anactive member of the Ad Hoc Group for MedicalResearch, AGA will support and advocate for a$1.9 billion increase in the NIH budget, whichequals the rate of biomedical inflation plusroughly 3 percent, a total increase of 6.5 percent.The AGA believes that restoring NIH funding toits post budget-doubling levels would get NIH“back on track.”

Securing IncreasedFunding for VA Research

The AGA supports increased funding for theVA Medical and Prosthetics Research Programsince its programs support digestive diseaseresearch and other cutting-edge science that willbenefit our nation’s veterans and the entirepopulation. As a member of the Friends ofVeterans Administration (FOVA), the AGAsupported increasing funding for the VA Medicaland Prosthetics Research Program to $480million for FY 2008, a $68 million increase overthe previous year.

Both the House and Senate approved theFOVA funding recommendations in theirappropriations bills and $480 million for the VAwas ultimately included in the final bill passed byCongress and signed by the president.

The AGA supports FOVA’s recommendationsof an increase of $75 million for the VA researchprogram in FY 2009, for a total funding level of$555 million. This proposal reflects the projectedincrease with biomedical research inflation, ascalculated by the Biomedical Research andDevelopment Price Index, of 3.7 percent. Justmaintaining funding levels for FY 2009 willrequire $17.8 million more than FY 2008.

Supporting the NationalCommission on DigestiveDiseases

The National Commission on DigestiveDiseases at NIH, a concept that the AGAproposed, released a draft Research Plan inFebruary 2008. The Commission spent the lastyear and a half evaluating the state of the sciencein digestive diseases and identifying areas ofresearch challenge and opportunity. For theAGA, this was a major milestone to celebrate inour long-standing, multifaceted advocacycampaign for increased funding for biomedicalresearch. While some additions and revisions arenecessary, the commission’s Research Plan willoutline areas of opportunity for discovery, butwe will need Congress to provide the fundsnecessary to power the research engine.

The AGA convened an expert group to reviewand provide collective comments on the draftresearch plan. We intend to prioritize theCommission recommendations and advocate thatCongress increase funding for digestive diseasesresearch. The final Research Plan is anticipated inlate 2008. We hope that this important documentwill help guide the direction of NIH-supporteddigestive disease research initiatives — andhopefully those of other digestive disease researchgroups — for the next decade.

Connecting Members andLawmakers

The CapWiz•XC™ system — available atwww.gastro.org/advocacy — enables AGAmembers to directly contact their elected officialsabout the issues of most importance to them.

Securing Language to CorrectColorectal Cancer ScreeningDeductible

When the AGA discovered that the DeficitReduction Act of December 2005, which includesa waiver of the Medicare Part B deductible forbeneficiaries for colorectal cancer screenings, waspoorly written, we immediately lobbied Congressto correct the inequity. The current law impliesthat the deductible is waived for Medicarebeneficiaries receiving a colorectal cancerscreening, but is no longer waived if a polyp orlesion is found and removed, which we believewas never the original intention of the law.

In 2007, the AGA worked with the House Waysand Means Committee’s health subcommittee ChairPete Stark, D-CA, and his staff to include languageto correct this inequity in a larger Medicare package.Unfortunately, the Senate did not take action on itsMedicare package and this provision was notincluded in the legislation that passed Congress.

The AGA continues to advocate for inclusion ofthis important technical correction to thecolorectal cancer screening deductible in a largerMedicare package that Congress will be crafting in2008 to address the physician payment cut andother issues. The AGA will push for this policy tobe corrected so that more Medicare beneficiarieswill take advantage of this lifesaving benefit.

Members Advocatingon Behalf of GI

On Sept. 27 & 28, 2007, nearly 40 AGAmembers from around the country traveled toWashington, DC, to participate in AGA’sAdvocacy Day program. Participants visited morethan 70 congressional offices to lobby on behalf oftheir colleagues and profession in areas of greatimportance to the future of gastroenterology.

Member advocates’ key messages were:➠ Fix the Medicare physician reimbursement

formula.➠ Stop cuts to ambulatory surgery center

reimbursements.➠ Support increased funding for NIH.➠ Study issues associated with recruiting and

retaining physicians for careers in science.The AGA wishes to thank Advocacy Day

attendees for taking the time out of their busyschedules to come to Washington to advocate onbehalf of their colleagues and patients.

AGA members attending Advocacy Dayinclude: John Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF; DamianAugustyn, MD, AGAF; Kim Barrett, PhD, AGAF;J. Sumner Bell, III, MD; Henry Binder, MD,AGAF; Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, AGAF;Sheila Crowe, MD, AGAF; Peter Donaldson, MD;Mark Donowitz, MD, AGAF; Ronald Fogel, MD,AGAF; Lisa Gangarosa, MD, AGAF; Carla

Ginsburg, MD, MPH, AGAF; Ira Goldman, MD,AGAF; Gail Hecht, MD, AGAF; Stephen Hiltz,MD, AGAF; Courtney Houchen, MD; ColinHowden, MD, AGAF; Barry Kisloff, MD, AGAF;Mark Kogan, MD, AGAF; Lawrence Kosinski,MD, AGAF; John Kuemmerle, MD, AGAF;Nicholas LaRusso, MD, AGAF; Linda Lee, MD,AGAF; Andrew Leiter, MD, PhD; CharlesLightdale, MD, AGAF; John Lyons, MD; RahulNayak, MD; Lena Palmer, MD; Andrea Reid,MD; William Rowe, MD; Robert Sandler, MD,MPH, AGAF; Jessica Shah, MD; Rupam Sharan,MD; Vignesh Shivakumar, MD; Ned Snyder, MD,AGAF; Gopi Vasudevan, MD, AGAF; DavidWeinberg, MD, MSc, AGAF; C. Mel Wilcox, MD;and Cindy Yoshida, MD, AGAF.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, spoke to AGA Advocacy Day attendees

The AGA played a criticalrole in my development at thebeginning of my research morethan 20 years ago through aresearch grant awardproviding two years offunding, enabling me tosuccessfully compete for NIHsupport. I hope that the AGA

continues its strong and unwavering support ofresearch related to digestive diseases. I have beenvery pleased to have had the opportunity to helpthe AGA evolve and formulate its positionsupporting research and to help deliver thismessage to members of Congress in Washington.

—Andrew B. Leiter MD, PhD,professor of medicine, Department of

Medicine/Division of Gastroenterology,University of Massachusetts Medical School

TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AGA MEMBERSEVOLVINGKeeping GI Issues in Front of Lawmakers

AGA is working hard to make sure that the interests of gastroenterology are heard by the nation’sleaders. This year promises to be an extremely challenging period since, historically, very little isaccomplished in Congress during an election year. However, the AGA will continue to be aggressive inour advocacy efforts on behalf of members and gastroenterology. We have a growing number ofprograms and services to facilitate member involvement in AGA’s advocacy efforts, such as WashingtonAdvocacy Days and CapWiz, the AGA’s online advocacy tool that helps members communicate easilywith the legislators’ offices.

The AGA will prepare to work with the new administration and Congress to ensure they are versedon the issues affecting gastroenterologists. Our longstanding advocacy goals remain an improved andequitable Medicare physician payment formula and increased funding for digestive disease research atNIH. We also will work to ensure that the report from the National Commission on Digestive Diseasesresults in an action plan that lays a blueprint for NIH and other medical organizations for research indigestive diseases.

In 2009, a new occupant in the White House and what promises to be a significantly changedCongress will provide a new set of opportunities and challenges for gastroenterology and all of medicine.Policymakers are already preparing for a reinvigorated Congress and are laying the groundwork fordeliberations on major health-care reform initiatives. The AGA is making preparations to be activelyinvolved in these health-care debates and to ensure that the interests of gastroenterologists are heard.

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The AGA Political Action CommitteeAGA PAC, the Political Action Committee of the AGA,

has emerged as a respected entity in Washington and hashelped solidify AGA as a recognized political force onCapitol Hill. The mission of the AGA PAC is to givegastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and amore effective voice in policy discussions that affect thescience and practice of gastroenterology. We work withAGA members to achieve our common goals by supportingcandidates who take action on issues important togastroenterologists, providing a forum to state our case toCongress, and establishing direct relationships betweengastroenterologists and members of Congress.

As of April 2008, the AGA PAC exceeded its goal forreceipt of contributions from AGA members; however,

member participation must grow to support ourfundraising and policy goals. The AGA PAC mustcontinue its maturation process in order for the programto be a formidable presence in electoral politics.

The AGA PAC Board of Advisors has set aggressive goalsin the areas of member participation, fundraising and inhelping to elect a cadré of legislators in Washington who areattentive to the science and practice of gastroenterology.

More than $150,000 has been raised since the inceptionof AGA PAC. Based on the contribution guidelines createdby the Board of Advisors in 2007, the PAC madecontributions to 47 Senate and House members totaling$54,000. These contributions have been targeted in abipartisan manner to legislative champions who areleaders on key health-related committees.

Fighting for the Future of GIThe AGA PAC is the only political action committeesupported by a national gastroenterology society.Every step we take is designed to strengthen thefuture of your practice, your research and yourlivelihood.

AGA PACworks to➠ Obtain reasonable Medicare

reimbursement rates.➠ Increase federal funding for

biomedical research.➠ Encourage medical liability reform.➠ Ease regulatory burdens on

gastroenterologists.

Sen. Max Baucus MTRep. Shelley Berkley NVRep. Roy Blunt MOSen. Sherrod Brown OHRep. Michael C. Burgess TXRep. Dave Camp MIRep. Lois Capps CASen. Benjamin L. Cardin MDSen. Norm Coleman MNSen. Susan M. Collins MERep. Rosa DeLauro CTRep. John D. Dingell MIRep. Eliot Engel NYRep. Bart Gordon TN

Rep. Gene Green TXSen. Tom Harkin IARep. Steny H. Hoyer MDRep. Jesse Jackson Jr. ILSen. Tim Johnson SDRep. Ron J. Kind WISen. Mary Landrieu LARep. Jim Matheson UTRep. David R. Obey WIRep. Frank Pallone Jr. NJRep. Earl Pomeroy NDRep. Charles B. Rangel NYSen. Jack Reed RISen. Pat Roberts KS

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV WVRep. Michael J. Rogers MIRep. Bobby Rush ILSen. Ken Salazar CORep. Allyson Y. Schwartz PARep. John B. Shadegg AZSen. Gordon Smith ORSen. Arlen Specter PARep. Fortney H. Stark CARep. Mike Thompson CARep. Chris Van Hollen Jr. MDHon. Mark Warner VARep. Henry A. Waxman CA

Name State Name State Name State

Recipients of AGA PAC Contributions

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EDUCATION&TRAININGAGA Institute’s online

and in-personeducational programsconstantly evolve to

offer members the mostconvenient means of

obtaining the informationthey need, on their own

schedule, and in the waysmost useful to them.

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Providing Innovative LifelongLearning and Online Education

This year marked the launch of an ambitiousprogram to recast AGA Institute online educa-tional content in a modern, member-centricfashion. This process involved developing GILEARN (GI Lifelong Education And ResourceNetwork), which includes a new learner-centeredsearch tool and online Personal Learning Portfolio(PLP). Soon, new online Self-Assessment Moduleswill join other resources on GI LEARN.

The PLP, which tracks members’ learning activ-ities and generates a transcript of CME creditsand board certification progress, aids personallearning management with links to state require-ments for license re-registration, entry of externalCME credits and tracking of point-eligible activi-ties toward ABIM Maintenance of Certification.The PLP features an educational “home” formember-initiated individual learning interests,where they capture citations, files and documents.

In order to allow members to obtain the infor-mation they need, when they need it, the AGAInstitute also offered a number of online educa-tional resources, many of which offer CME credit,including:

➠ Sedationfacts.org – A new educationalresource focused on all aspects of GI sedation.Keep abreast of new developments in seda-tion agents, administration and monitoringtechnologies, and regulations.

➠ Virtual UC Clinic – Take your clinical deci-sion-making skills for a test drive through thisunique, interactive and educational programthat includes three patient case simulators.

➠ NP/PA Course Online – Contains five presen-tations from the AGA Institute’s third annualcourse for mid-level providers nurse practi-tioners and physician assistants.

➠ 2008 AGA Institute Spring PostgraduateCourse Online Sessions – Gastroenterologyand Hepatology 2008: Challenges andControversies.

➠ C.A.R.E.S. Cases Online – A series of casestudies designed to help educate health-careprofessionals on new developments in themanagement of hepatitis C.

➠ AGA Institute Conversation Series –Provocative discussions among experts on themost compelling issues within GI.

➠ AGA Institute Cases Online – A series ofinteractive teaching cases to providegastroenterologists with timely evidence-based medical education.

➠TheGut.org – Offering GI professionals greaterand easier access to external CME programming.

Maintaining AGA’sExcellence at DDW®

The 12 sections and 25 volunteer members of theAGA Institute Council developed 200 symposia forDigestive Disease Week® (DDW), including 75 invitedspeaker symposia and 125 research and topic forafeaturing roughly 650 oral presentations of abstracts.

Nearly 4,800 scientific abstracts were submittedto the AGA Institute for presentation at DDW. Withthe oversight of the Council, abstract programmingalone commanded the combined efforts of 440reviewers from dozens of nations, who devoted anestimated 1,500 hours in December and January toreview and score the abstracts.

In a closely related area of effort, the Councilgathered disclosures of industry relationships for allDDW speakers and moderators. For the first time,all authors on all abstracts provided disclosures. Thismonumental undertaking was followed by fullreview of all disclosed relationships for potentialconflict of interest to enforce the highest level ofintegrity in presenting scientific research and findingsthrough education at DDW.

Offering High-QualityYear-Round Education

This year, the AGA Institute defended its CMEprogram and performance in practice standards aspart of the quadrennial reaccreditation process,consisting of 15 CME file audits, a self-study reportand a face-to-face interview at the AccreditationCouncil for Continuing Medical Education.

The AGA Institute certified nine live instructor-led courses across the country, offering a total of132 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Thesecourses were attended by more than 9,413 physi-cian learners. An additional 118 CME credits weredesignated for online education. Altogether, theAGA Institute provided 16,353 CME credits tophysician learners of its high-caliber programming.

Almost 3,000 Attended AnnualSpring Postgraduate Course

Held during DDW 2008, Gastroenterology andHepatology 2008: Challenges and Controversiesfocused on complicated and contentious areassurrounding major GI and liver disorders, such asCT colonography, NAFLD, IBD, gut microflora andprobiotics, and hepatocellular carcinoma screening.Experts in the field discussed diagnostic, pathogeneticand treatment-related issues pertaining to topicspresented and addressing a relevant controversy.

Special Conference onGI Response to Injury

Blending both basic and clinical sciences, theGastrointestinal Response to Injury (GIRI) confer-ence integrated multiple GI diseases and physiolog-ical responses into the unified theme of mucosalresponse to injury. Attendees heard renowned scien-tists examine how the gut is injured by and respondsto harmful substances, microbes, immune mediatorsand acid-pepsin, and how these responses relate tochronic inflammatory conditions.

GIRI represents one of a series of annual,typically single-topic scientific symposia developedby the AGA Institute Council to provide targeted,high-quality education outside of their work onbehalf of DDW.

Investing in Future Generations ofGastroenterologists

➠ Fostering Excellence Thru Annual GI TrainingExam: In its fourth year — the second withcomputer-based administration — theGastroenterology Training Examination(GTE®) is a formative exam that helps fellowsand training programs gauge their progress.Statistical analysis has shown that the resultsare consistent and psychometrically valid.

Additionally, GI training directors report thatthe exam is a useful tool for assessing theprogress of their fellows. This year, 973fellows from 139 programs sat for the exam.

➠ Fulfilling Our Promise to Support theMatch: The Match continues successfullyin the third year of its return, but requiresthe ongoing support and commitment ofthe GI academic/training community. Atotal of 339 positions were offered from153 programs. Of these, 143 programs (93percent) filled 328 (97 percent) positionsacross the basic science research, clinical,clinical investigator research and researchtracks for positions beginning July 2009.The AGA Institute and our sister GI soci-eties are committed to encouraging partici-pation in the Match as a more equitablesystem for fellow recruitment.

➠ Investing in the Future of GI: The AGAInstitute’s Investing in the Future program isdesigned to provide qualified applicants withdedicated programming and mentoringopportunities during DDW by providingtravel scholarships and special programmingfor both GI fellows interested in a career inIBD clinical research and internal medicineresidents who are interested in pursuing a GIcareer. Fifteen fellows participated in the IBDprogram and 25 residents took part in theinternal medicine program. The connectionsthey were able to make with both mentorsand colleagues ranked among the highlightsfor participants in both groups.

ReleasedNewGastroSlidesUnitThe AGA Institute developed a new set of

images for its GastroSlides library titled Currentand Emerging Gastrointestinal EndoscopicImaging. With more than 542 images, including63 video clips, this unique slide set is comprised ofsections on: endoscopic image enhancement, video-capsule endoscopy(VCE), endoscopicultrasonography(EUS) and endo-scopic retrogradecholanigo-pancre-atography (ERCP).The GastroSlides library has more than 3,000slides on a variety of GI and liver disease topics,which are available for purchase individually or viaan annual subscription.

Newand Relevant Education, theClinical Congress Returns

Jan. 23-25, 2009, in Las Vegas (The VenetianHotel), the AGA Institute’s Clinical Congress ofGastroenterology and Hepatology, will present atwo-day, in-depth review of the major clinicaltopics faced in the field today. More relaxed andinformal than other large clinical meetings, theCongress will provide unparalleled access to thefield’s most respected experts who will updateand expand your knowledge of GI’s mostchallenging issues, such as CT colonography,acute pancreatitis, functional bowel diseases andmore. Designed by GI clinicians for GI clinicians,the Congress will explore new developments inthe detection, management and treatment of avariety of GI and liver disorders that willimmediately impact your practice. Up to 23 AMAPRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ can be earnedthrough participation.

GI LEARN ExpandsIn the next step for GI LEARN, GI self-

assessment modules (SAMs) will replace andcompletely modernize DDSEP. Certified forCME credit and approved for ABIMMaintenance of Certification points, GI SAMswill exploit the technical capabilities that onlineplatforms offer (graphics, videos, links) andreorganize the content according to adultlearning principles. GI SAMs will allow fordevelopment of the personal learning portfolio,providing members with ongoing self-development as well as needs assessment toguide further study. A series of eight modules isprojected, beginning with IBD and GI bleeding.

Foundation Offers First FrestonConference

In September 2009 in Chicago, the first in theJames W. Freston Single Topic Conference seriesfor gastroenterology research, supported by anendowment from Takeda Pharmaceuticals to theAGA Foundation, will be held. The conference,Celiac Disease: Broadening Horizons, willfeature speakers representing diverse fields,including international participants and offerCME credit.

The conference topic is selected through acompetitive process administered by the AGAInstitute Council. Read more about this onpage 31.

Task Force on Training ConvenesIn order to develop the AGA Institute’s

position and policies on customized trainingand to develop and coordinate a set of tactics toimplement those positions, a task force oncustomized training will be convened in thecoming year. This is a complex and highlynuanced issue: organizationally, it involvesACGME, ABIM, the other GI societies andACP-ASIM; substantively, it involveshepatology — the most advanced, in terms ofprocess, of the areas of concentrated training —and operationally, it will have to accommodatea variety of institutional models; one size willnot fit all. Additionally, the task force will lookat existing data from burden-of-disease studiesand population demographics to develop aninternal manpower assessment in light of newtraining paradigms.

The AGA Institute has been an important resource in the evolution of mycareer development. Each step has been incredibly influential in reinforcing thebelief that I could become an academic pediatric gastroenterologist and helpedprovide me access to mentors and resources to help along the way. The depth ofresources available is unsurpassed. I hope to help return the debt by serving tohelp young gastroenterologists at important formative stages in their career.

—D. Brent Polk, MD, AGAF, dean’s professor of pediatrics and cell and developmentalbiology; chief, pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition; director,

Digestive Disease Research Center, Vanderbilt University and Children’s Hospital

EVOLVING TOMEET THE NEEDSOF AGA MEMBERS

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Keep UpWith The Latest NewsThe AGA Institute provides its membership with cutting-edge information for clinicians,

academicians, trainees, practice managers and mid-level providers through a variety of publications.

AGA PerspectivesA bi-monthly magazine that provides an opinion forum for noted

gastroenterologists to debate today’s most controversial topics in thescience and practice of gastroenterology, AGA Perspectives is written byand for AGA members.

AGA eDigestA weekly e-mail newsletter that provides members with the latest news

affecting the science and practice of gastroenterology, AGA eDigest allowsmembers to quickly navigate the news.

GI & Hepatology NewsEach month, the official newspaper of the AGA Institute covers the

news, breakthroughs and changes in health policy of greatest significance togastroenterologists and hepatologists. The editorial board completes thiscoverage with expert commentary and opinion designed to enrich, broaden andbalance the stories.

www.Gastro.orgWe designed our Web site to help members find useful information fast. Major

topics are broken down into easy-to-navigate sections, minimizing time spent lookingfor the information you need.

GI Quality and Practice Management NewsJointly published by the AGA Center for GI Practice Management and Economics

and the AGA Center for Quality in Practice, this monthly newsletter providesmembers with current information about quality-related issues, coding changes andgovernment regulations, and advice on how to successfully manage a practice.

AGA Today in MedicineThis daily e-mail broadcast brings members hand-picked articles on essential

industry news from hundreds of top sources.

GI Insights Radio Show/ PodcastThe channel for medical professionals brings you educational news and information

on satellite radio, online and on-demand. GI Insights, broadcast through ReachMDXM 157, features top gastroenterologists discussing today’s issues. Each week a newtopic will air twice per day for the first week it is released. AGA members receive freeaccess to the broadcasts online from the ReachMD Web site and as podcast downloadsfrom the AGA Web site.

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INTERNATIONALIn recent years, the

AGA Institute has workedto bolster our global

presence by creating arobust network of GIsocieties around theworld. International

collaborations with sisterGI societies have

expanded our educationalscope, and research

exchanges support theglobal dialogue aboutscientific discovery.

Brought Together Leaders of theWorld’s GI Societies

In what has become a popular annual event, theAGA convened an International LeadershipColloquium at Digestive Disease Week® 2008(DDW) in San Diego. In attendance were represent-atives from national societies in Japan, Spain, Russia,Korea, Germany, Canada, Argentina and Italy, aswell as those representing regional groups, such asUnited European Gastroenterology Federation(UEGF), Pan American Congress, Asia PacificDigestive Week (APDW) and the African MiddleEast Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE).

Fostering InternationalResearch Exchange

At DDW, the AGA Institute Research ScholarAwardees and their counterparts from Europe,“Rising Stars,” come together to present theirresearch projects to a panel of senior researchers.With the goal of fostering international researchcollaboration and communication, the AGAInstitute and the Association of National Europeanand Mediterranean Societies of Gastroenterologyhave made a commitment to convening a forum ofyoung scientists twice yearly. A similar program isunder development for United EuropeanGastroenterology Week (UEGW) in Vienna in 2008.

Tested “Buddy”SystematDDW®

Recognizing that DDW is a large — and somesay overwhelming — meeting, the AGA Institutepaired well-known U.S. thought leaders (byexpertise) with their counterparts and younginvestigators from other countries to act asmentors while at DDW. Four such pairingsoccurred this year with GIs from Russia andRomania.

Held Innovative DDW®Sessions➠ Annually, AGA invites presenters from

UEGW to present their best papers at DDWand, in exchange, the best of AGA at DDW ispresented at UEGW. The session at this year’sDDW was standing-room only.

➠ The AGA Institute and the WorldGastroenterology Organization held a jointsession on “Training the Gastroenterologistsof the Future: A Global Perspective.”

➠ Speakers were convened for a global healthsession focusing on “The Changing Face ofHepatitis B as a Result of PopulationMigration.”

Increasing Global MembershipInternational membership in the AGA grew by

8 percent in 2007. More than one in five AGAmembers reside outside the U.S.

Following the trend set in previous years, themost international members hail from Canada,Mexico, Australia, Great Britain and theNetherlands.

Educational SessionsSpan the Globe

➠ AGA Institute/British Society of Gastro-enterology – Sept. 4 & 5, 2007, London

➠ AGA Institute/United EuropeanGastroenterology Federation, AGA InstituteSession at United European GastroenterologyWeek – Oct. 27-31, 2007, Paris

➠ Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología– Nov. 17-22, 2007, Leon, Mexico

➠ AGA Institute/Israel Association ofGastroenterology – Feb. 7 & 8, 2008, Israel

➠ AGA Institute/Russian GastroenterologySociety – March 3-6, 2008, Moscow

➠ AGA Institute/Falk Foundation– March 14 & 15, 2008, Hang Zhou

➠ AGA Institute/German Society of Digestiveand Metabolic Diseases – April 25-27, 2008,Berlin

The AGA Institute has mademe more aware of the need topartner with other organizationsat a global level for improvinggastrointestinal health in theworld. The opportunity to co-direct a postgraduate course inSpain exposed me to leaders in thefield in another country, giving me

the opportunity to exchange ideas and foster newrelationships. The AGA is evolving by continuing itsefforts to proactively reach out to internationalgastroenterologists for participation in representing theassociation in its different venues and activities.

—Esther A. TorresMD, AGAF,MACP,MACG, professor andchair of medicine, University of Puerto Rico School ofMedicine

EVOLVING TOMEET THE NEEDSOF AGA MEMBERS

Upcoming Meetings➠ AGA Institute/Indian Society of

Gastroenterology –Nov. 15-18, 2008, Bangalore

➠ AGA Institute/AsociaciónMexicana de Gastroenterología –Nov. 15-20, 2008, Veracruz,Mexico

➠ Pan American Congress –Nov. 2008, Santiago, Chile

➠ AGA Institute/Association Españolade Gastroenterología –Nov. 20-21, 2008, Zaragoza, Spain

➠ AGA Institute/Société NationaleFrançaise de Gastroentérologie –March 2009, Paris

Gijs Van den Brink, Akhil Maheshwari, Alex Ford,Henry Binder, Rolf Hultcrantz and Frances Bazzoli sharedan open discussion during the RSA-RS session at DDW

AGA hosted several speakers from UEGW to presenta summary of the best papers from the Paris meeting

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THE ORGANIZATIONOurMission:

To Advance theScience and Practiceof Gastroenterology

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STRATEGIC PLANCore Commitments

➠ AGA is committed to expanding the scienceof gastroenterology, by actively pursuingsupport for research, education and trainingto improve understanding of the causes,prevention, treatment and cure of digestivediseases.

➠ AGA is committed to furthering excellence inthe practice of gastroenterology, by fosteringinnovation and ensuring that practice is scien-tifically based, fairly compensated andprovides quality care and value to patients.

➠ AGA is committed to furthering the health ofpatients and their families by fostering thedissemination of information and resourceson the diagnosis and treatment of digestivedisease.

AGA Strategic Directions➠ AGA will continually identify new forces

affecting the science and practice of gastro-enterology and will be a leader in guiding thedevelopment of the field.

➠ AGA will foster the discovery of new knowl-edge and the application of knowledge andtechnology to ensure the highest qualitypatient care.

➠ AGA will expand its public policy efforts toenhance the field of gastroenterology and theeconomics of clinical practice and research.

➠ AGA will work to ensure the future vitality ofthe science and practice of gastroenterologythrough a sustained commitment to traineesand young professionals.

➠ AGA will broaden and enhance its educa-tional offerings to be responsive to theevolving diversity, scope and needs ofgastroenterology research and practice.

➠ AGA will foster international scientificresearch and collaboration and will dissemi-nate new scientific and clinical informationworldwide.

Operating Principle➠ AGA will develop the organization,

governance, communication systems andresources required to achieve its missionand move forward with its plan.

Why Two Organizations?In the summer of 2005, the AGA reorganized into two non-profit

organizations: the American Gastroenterological Association, a 501(c)6organization, and the AGA Institute, a 501(c)3 organization.

The reorganization allowed the AGA to develop a political actioncommittee, or PAC, to help increase our political activity and effectivenesson behalf of our members. The AGA PAC is the only PAC supported by anational gastroenterology society.

Under this reorganization, the AGA administers all membership andpublic policy activities, while the AGA Institute runs the organization’spractice, research and educational programs, and supports the Foundationfor Digestive Health and Nutrition and Digestive Disease Week®

Administration.

– Membership– Public Policy

The AGA AGAPAC

AGA Institute– Future Trends– Patient Care– Trainees/Young GIs– Education– International

– Publications– Practice Management– Quality– Research Policy

AGAFoundationfor Digestive Health& Nutrition

– Research Funding

DDW®

– DigestiveDisease Week®

Administration

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MEMBERSHIPMembership GrowthMembers by Type

Member .............................................62%International Member .....................18%Trainee Member...............................10%Affiliate Member ..............................7%Senior Member ................................3%

Members by Professional Activity

Private Practice ...............................44%Clinical Academic Practice............23%Basic Research................................9%Clinical Research.............................3%Academic Research........................1%Administrative ..................................1%Multiple Professional Activities ....19%

Members by Gender

Male.............................................79%Female.........................................21%

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

17,177

16,161

15,340

15,079

10,000

14,310

In MemoriamThe AGA honors the

memories of members whopassed away in the last year.

Jose L. Chavez-Vasquez, MD

Ray E. Clouse, MD

Richard Doll, MD

Leonard S. Gottlieb, MD, MPH

Olafur Gunnlaugsson, MD

Peter D. Klein, PhD

Carroll Moton Leevy, MD

Li-Ching Liang, MD

Willem Gysberrus Linscheer, MD, PhD

William H. Mahood, MD

Arthur Naitove, MD

Robert Grover Phillips, MD

Richard J. Reitemeier, MD

Robert A. Sanowski, MD

Harold Paul Schedl, MD, PhD

Rudi Schmid, MD, PhD, AGAF

Eberhard Schmidt-Sommerfeld,MD, PhD

Eric A. Shapiro, MD

Tummala Suryanarayana, MD

Robert D. Wilber, MD

25

*Unaudited. Final audited financial statementswill be available on or after Sept. 30, 2008.

Note: The above is a consolidation of the AGAand AGA Institute financial statements. In 2007,AGA and AGA Institute changed the fiscal year-ends fromMay 31 toMarch 31 for strategic plan-ning and operational efficiency. Therefore, theaboveStatement of Activities reflects 10monthsof operations from June 2007 through March2008. For the 12 months ending May 2008,operating results were projected to be$22,105,381 total revenue, $21,432,160 totalexpenses, and a $673,221 increase in net assets.The new fiscal year began on April 1, 2008.

FINANCES

Industry PartnersPharmaceutical device and health-care companies support the AGA Institute in a variety of ways, including advertising in our publications and support for

Digestive Disease Week®. We would like to acknowledge the following companies for support of our educational and Foundation programs in 2007–2008.

Abbott: Investing in the Future Programs at DDW 2008

AstraZeneca: Academic Skills Workshop and AGA

Foundation Research Awards

Centocor Inc.: Principles of Gastroenterology for the NursePractitioner and Physician Assistant 2007

Eisai, Inc. and PriCara, a Unit of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Masters Awards in

Gastroenterology

Elsevier: CT Colonography Course

EZ EM: CT Colonography Course

GE Healthcare: CT Colonography Course

Given Imaging: IGA/AGA Institute Joint Meeting on IBS

gMed: Lunch for Administrator’s Course at DDW2008

Median: CT Colonography Course

MedicSight: CT Colonography Course

MGI Pharma and Eisai, Inc.: AGA President’s Dinner

Nestle: Fellows Nutrition CoursePfizer Inc.: Appropriate Use of NSAIDs Consumer

Education Program

Philips Healthcare: CT Colonography Course

Procter & Gamble: IGA/AGA Institute Joint Meeting on IBS

Roche: Hepatitis C Survey

Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.: CME Cafe and Case Studies

and Ulcerative Colitis Patient Education Resources

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: AGA Foundation

Geriatric Awards Program and IGA/AGA Institute Joint

Meeting on IBS

Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.: IGA/AGA Institute JointMeeting on IBS; ReachMDSatellite

Radio Programming—GI Insights andTakeda Endowmentfor the JamesW. Freston Single Topic Conference

TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.: AGA eDigest; AGA

Foundation Research Awards; AGA Perspectives;

Focused Clinical Updates; GERD Survey; Patient

Education Materials on Gastrointestinal Disorders; andPrinciples of Gastroenterology for the Nurse Practitioner

and Physician Assistant 2008

TeraRecon, Inc.: CT Colonography Course

Viatronix: CT Colonography Course

Vital Imaging: CT Colonography Course

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals: Board Review Book

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION*As of March 31, 2008

ASSETSCash and cash equivalents $12,112,712Receivables 2,322,350Prepaid expenses and deposits 525,836

Total current assets 14,960,898

Pledges receivable 600,141Investments 16,686,088Property and equipment, net 6,904,620Other assets 4,185

Total long-term assets 24,195,034TOTAL ASSETS $39,155,932

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSAccounts payable and accrued expenses $775,307Bond payable – current 170,000Deferred dues 3,370,949Other deferred obligations 3,227,431

Total current liabilities 7,543,687

Bond payable 5,620,000Other long-term liabilities 1,094,865

Total long-term liabilities $6,714,865TOTAL LIABILITIES 14,258,552

Unrestricted net assets $21,614,633Temporarily restricted net assets 3,282,747

Total net assets $24,897,380TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $39,155,932

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES*For the Ten Months Ending March 31, 2008

OPERATING REVENUEMembership dues $3,874,976Programs 10,537,836Contributions 23,259Other 171,559Net assets released from restrictions 0TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE 14,607,630

OPERATING EXPENSESPrograms 7,502,077Public affairs 761,738Member services 462,225Other 565,613Management and general 4,440,961Fundraising 192,214TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE 13,924,828

NET OPERATING INCOME 682,802

NON-OPERATING ACTIVITIESInvestments (556,547)Depreciation (310,450)

TOTAL NON-OPERATING ACTIVITIES (866,997)

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS (184,195)

NET ASSETS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 25,081,575

NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR $24,897,380

REVENUES

69% Programs

26%Dues

1%Other

4%Investments

EXPENSES

68% Programs

32%Generaland Admin

26

RECOGNITION AWARDSJulius Friedenwald Medal

Martin Brotman, MD, AGAFCalifornia Pacific Medical Center,San FranciscoThe 2008 Julius Friedenwald

Medal, which is the AGA’s highesthonor, was presented to MartinBrotman, MD, AGAF, presidentand chief executive officer ofCalifornia Pacific Medical Centerin San Francisco.

This award, presented annuallysince 1941, recognizes a physicianfor lifelong contributions to the fieldof gastroenterology. Dr. Brotmanhas provided his expertise to severalmedical organizations, includingservice as president and numerousother appointments for the AGA

and AGA Institute. With his financial acumen, international insights, qualitymeasurement strategies, and keen interest in supporting clinicians andresearchers, Dr. Brotman has led the AGA, and the AGA Institute has gaineda lifelong steward.

Distinguished Achievement AwardJohn G. Forte, PhD, AGAFUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe AGA awarded the 2008 Distinguished

Achievement Award to John G. Forte, PhD, AGAF,professor of cell biology and physiology at the Universityof California, Berkeley. The award honors an individualwho has made a major specific accomplishment in clinicalor basic research in gastro-enterology or an allied fieldthat advances gastroenterology. Thanks to his more than 40 years at theforefront of research, Dr. Forte has given the world a lifetime of pioneeringand pivotal investigations.

DistinguishedMentor AwardMichael Field, MDColumbia University, New YorkThe AGA honored Michael Field, MD, professor

emeritus of medicine and physiology at ColumbiaUniversity, New York, with its Distinguished MentorAward, which recognizes an individual for his or herachievements as an outstanding mentor over a lifelongcareer. For those fortunate to have studied with Dr. Field,they know that his passion for science, sharpness and creativity of mind, andhis open-mindedness have combined to leave them with a legacy of inspiration.

Distinguished Clinician AwardsCharles J. Lightdale, MD, AGAF, FASGE, MACGNew York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University

Medical Center, New YorkThe first of two Distinguished Clinician Awards

honors Charles J. Lightdale, MD, AGAF, FASGE,MACG, for exemplifying leadership and excellence in thepractice of gastroenterology. Dr. Lightdale is a professorof clinical medicine at Columbia University College ofPhysicians and Surgeons and director of the clinical research division ofdigestive and liver diseases at New York- Presbyterian Hospital/ColumbiaUniversity Medical Center, New York.

Ronald J. Vender, MD, AGAF, FACGYale University Medical Center, New Haven, CTLeadership and excellence also characterize the second

Distinguished Clinician Award honoree, Ronald J. Vender,MD, AGAF, FACG. Dr. Vender is the chief of gastro-enterology, medical director of the Digestive Disease Centerand program director of the GI fellowship program at theHospital of St. Raphael, as well as a clinical professor ofmedicine at Yale University Medical Center, New Haven,CT. Dr. Vender also is the co-founder and managing partner of the Gastroenter-ology Center of Connecticut, a progressive, nationally recognized GI practice.

Distinguished Educator AwardFrancis M. Giardiello, MDThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,

BaltimoreThe AGA presents its Distinguished Educator Award

to Francis M. Giardiello, MD, for his achievements as anoutstanding educator over a lifelong career. Dr. Giardiellois a professor of medicine, oncology and pathology at TheJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.He also is the director of the Hereditary Colorectal Clinic and Registry andthe John G. Rangos Sr. chair in adult medicine.

Research Service AwardMushtaq A. Khan, DVM, PhDNational Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MDThe AGA Research Service Award, which was

established in 2006, is presented to Mushtaq A. Khan,DVM, PhD. The award recognizes an individual who hassignificantly advanced gastroenterological science andresearch. Dr. Khan is chief of Digestive and RespiratorySciences Integrated Review Groups and the scientificreview officer for the Clinical and Integrated Gastrointestinal Pathobiology(CIGP) Study Section at the Center for Scientific Review at NIH.

27

LEADERSHIPAGA Institute Governing Board

Nicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAFPresident

Robert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAFPresident-elect

Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFVice President

Damian H. Augustyn, MD, AGAFSecretary/Treasurer

Mark Donowitz, MD, AGAFMichael Camilleri, MD, AGAFCarla H. Ginsburg, MD, MPH, AGAFPeter J. Kahrilas, MD, AGAFAnil K. Rustgi, MDMichael L. Weinstein, MD

Councillors

AGA Institute board members also comprise the boards of theAGA and the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition.

Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAFFoundation Chair

Mark Donowitz, MD, AGAFAGA Chair

David A. Peura, MD, AGAFFoundation Vice Chair, Corporate Gifts

Board members: Front row, left to right: Weinstein, Kahrilas, Sandler, Donowitz, LaRusso, HechtBack row, left to right: Camilleri, Augustyn, Ginsburg, Rustgi. Not pictured: Cohen, Peura

Clinical PracticeWilliam D. Chey, MD, AGAF, Section ChairNicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, AGAF, SectionViceChair

Esophageal Gastric &Duodenal DisordersMae F. Go, MD, Section ChairRichard M. Peek Jr., MD, AGAF, Section Vice Chair

Gastrointestinal OncologyVincent W. Yang, MD, PhD, Section ChairJohn Carethers, MD, AGAF, Section Vice Chair

Growth Development & AgingMark E. Lowe, MD, PhD, Section ChairEric Sibley, MD, PhD, Section Vice Chair

Hormones Transmitters, GrowthFactors & their ReceptorsHelen E. Raybould, PhD, Section ChairCatia Sternini, MD, Section Vice Chair

Imaging & Advanced technologyGregory G. Ginsberg, MD, AGAF, Section ChairGlenn M. Eisen, MD, MPH, AGAF, Section Vice Chair

Immunology Microbiology &Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesWilliam J. Sandborn, MD, AGAF, Section ChairR. Balfour Sartor, MD, Section Vice Chair

Intestinal DisordersMarshall H. Montrose, PhD, Section ChairGary D. Wu, MD, Section Vice Chair

Liver & BiliaryRichard M. Green, MD, AGAF, Section ChairFrank A. Anania, MD, AGAF, Section Vice Chair

Motility & Nerve Gut InteractionEmeran A. Mayer, MD, Section ChairGianrico Farrugia, MD, AGAF, Section Vice Chair

Nutrition & ObesityDeborah C. Rubin, MD, AGAF, Section ChairAlan L. Buchman, MD, MSPH, AGAF, SectionVice Chair

Pancreatic DisordersRandall K. Pearson, MD, Section ChairRodger A. Liddle, MD, Section Vice Chair

AGA Institute Council Sheila E. Crowe, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACG, AGAF Chair

28

Clinical Practice & QualityManagementJohn I. Allen, MD,

MBA, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2007-May 2010)

Deborah RobinCommittee Staff Liaison

Harry R. Aslanian, MDStephen J. Bickston, MD, AGAFJoel V. Brill, MD, AGAFMarcia I. Canto, MD, MHSRichard H. Davis, Jr., PA-CMark H. DeLegge, MD, AGAFKenneth Devault, MDStephen W. Hiltz, MD, AGAFPeter J. Kahrilas, MD, AGAFLinda A. Lee, MD, AGAFKimberly M. Persley, MDJohn A. Schaffner, MDJoanne A. P. Wilson, MD, AGAF

Education & TrainingRichard S. Blumberg, MD

Committee Chair(June 2007-May 2010)

E. Ashley MeesAllison Waxler

Committee Staff Liaisons

Clara Abraham, MDCarl L. Berg, MDGeoffrey L. Braden, MD, AGAFSheila E. Crowe, MD, AGAFKerry B. Dunbar, MDLaurie N. Fishman, MD, AGAFFred S. Gorelick, MDC. Prakash Gyawali, MD, MRCP,

AGAFKenneth D. Ingram, PA-CDavid A. Katzka, MDEllen Li, MD, PhDJane E. Onken, MDDarrell S. Pardi, MD, AGAFAnil K. Rustgi, MDRichard E. Sampliner, MD, AGAFJonathan P. Terdiman, MDMiguel A. Valdovinos, MD, AGAF

EthicsMark S. McPhee,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2005-May 2008)

Stacie GalliceCommittee Staff Liaison

Peter A. Banks, MD, AGAFC. Richard Boland, MD, AGAFJonathan E. Clain, MDWalter J. Hogan, MD, AGAFBarbara H. Jung, MDMitchell L. Schubert, MD, AGAFNed Snyder, III, MD, AGAF

Future TrendsTimothy C. Wang,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2005-May 2008)

Michael Stolar, PhDCommittee Staff Liaison

Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAFFabio Cominelli, MD, PhDDavid E. Fleischer, MDRobert M. Glickman, MD, AGAFJames M. Gordon, MDDavid Limsui, MDKenneth R. McQuaid, MD, AGAFMarshall H. Montrose, PhDPankaj J. Pasricha, MDDon W. Powell, MD, AGAFWilliam A. Rowe, MDWilliam J. Sandborn, MD, AGAFAndrea Todisco, MD, AGAF

InternationalHenry J. Binder,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2006-May 2009)

Dianne BachCommittee Staff Liaison

Fernando Azpiroz, MD, PhD, AGAFEugene B. Chang, MDJudy H. Cho, MDJohn Del Valle, MD, AGAFLisa M. Gangarosa, MD, AGAFGail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFPeter R. Holt, MD, AGAFRichard H. Hunt, MD, AGAFMauricio Lisker-Melman, MDAnna S. Lok, MD, AGAFDouglas R. Morgan, MD, MPHEsther A. Torres, MD, AGAFRichard A. Wright, MD, AGAF

Practice Management &EconomicsJoel V. Brill, MD, AGAF

Committee Chair(June 2007-May 2010)

Jennifer ConteCommittee Staff Liaison

James Aisenberg, MDJohn I. Allen, MD, AGAFPeter S. DonaldsonLawrence S. Kim, MDMark H. Kogan, MD, AGAFLawrence R. Kosinski, MD, AGAFMark V. Larson, MDStephen A. McClave, MD, AGAFWilliam J. Ravich, MDMichael L. Weinstein, MDMaurits J. Wiersema, MDAtif Zaman, MD

PublicationsMichael Camilleri,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2007-May 2010)

Christine CharlipCommittee Staff Liaison

Damian H. Augustyn, MD, AGAFColin W. Howden, MDRodger A. Liddle, MDCharles J. Lightdale, MD, AGAFAnil K. Rustgi, MDHelen M. Shields, MD, AGAFMichael B. Wallace, MD, MPHC. Mel Wilcox, MD

Research PolicyJames M. Anderson,

MD, PhDCommittee Chair(June 2006-May 2009)

David A. Brenner, MDCommittee Vice Chair,Research AwardsAdministration

Wykenna VailorCommittee Staff Liaison

Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAFMary K. Estes, PhDGianrico Farrugia, MD, AGAFJames R. Goldenring, PhD, AGAFHarry B. Greenberg, MDGail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFStephen P. James, MDGene D. LeSage, MD, AGAFAlan D. Levine, PhDDebra G. Silberg, MD, PhDPomila Singh, PhD, AGAFScott B. Snapper, MD, PhDPhillip I. Tarr, MDJohn A. Williams, MD, PhD

AGA Institute Committees, Liaisons &Members

29

AuditMark S. McPhee,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2005-May 2008)

Lynn RobinsonThomas Serena

Committee Staff Liaisons

C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAFMichael Camilleri, MD, AGAFGregory L. Eastwood, MDCarla H. Ginsburg, MD, MPH,

AGAFDavid A. Peura, MD, AGAF

Executive CompensationNicholas F. LaRusso,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2007-May 2008)

Thomas SerenaCommittee Staff Liaison

Damian H. Augustyn, MD, AGAFGregory L. Eastwood, MDGail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFRobert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF

Finance & OperationsDamian H. Augustyn,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2006-May 2010)

Thomas SerenaCommittee Staff Liaison

Mark Donowitz, MD, AGAFGregory L. Eastwood, MDIra S. Goldman, MD, AGAFGail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFJ. Thomas LaMont, MD, AGAFNicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAFRobert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAFIan L. Taylor, MD, PhD, AGAF

NominatingDavid A. Peura,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2007-May 2008)

Maureen SavalCommittee Staff Liaison

Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAFRandall W. Burt, MD, AGAFDavid E. Cohen, MD, PhD, AGAFJ. Gregory Fitz, MDDavid A. Lieberman, MDWilliam H. Perlow, MDD. Brent Polk, MD, AGAFAndrea E. Reid, MD, MPH

AGA PAC Boardof AdvisorsRalph A. Giannella,

MD, AGAFCommittee Chair(June 2006-May 2009)

Anne MarcklingerCommittee Staff Liaison

Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAFJ. Sumner Bell, III, MDDonald R. Campbell, MD, AGAFLisa M. Gangarosa, MD, AGAFIra S. Goldman, MD, AGAFMartin L. Greene, MD, AGAFJ. Thomas LaMont, MD, AGAFGopikrishnan Vasudevan, MD,

AGAFCynthia M. Yoshida, MD, AGAF

Ronald P. Fogel, MD, AGAF,Ex-Officio

Damian H. Augustyn, MD, AGAF,Treasurer

Thomas Serena, MBA, CPA,Assistant Treasurer

Public Affairs & AdvocacyRonald P. Fogel, MD, AGAF

Committee Chair(June 2006-May 2009)

Michael RobertsCommittee Staff Liaison

Peter S. Buch, MD,AGAF

Robert Burakoff, MD, AGAFRichard F. Corlin, MDDeborah A. Fisher, MDCarla H. Ginsburg, MD, MPH,

AGAFCourtney W. Houchen, MDSanjay B. Jagannath, MDMichael P. Jones, MD, AGAFAndrew B. Leiter, MD, PhDG. Richard Locke, III, MDAndrea E. Reid, MD, MPHRobert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAFGopikrishnan Vasudevan, MD,

AGAFShivakumar Vignesh, MDDavid S. Weinberg, MD, MSc,

AGAF

AGA Committees, Liaisons &Members

30

THE FOUNDATIONIn a difficult funding

environment, donors to the AGAFoundation fill a special nichein ensuring advances in the

science and practice ofgastroenterology.

This year, the Foundation forDigestive Health and Nutritionprovided nearly $3 million indigestive disease researchgrants primarily by fundingyoung investigators to helpthem establish independent

careers in GI research.

31

Continuing to Grow the AGAFoundation Endowment

The Foundation is committed to increasing ourresearch endowment in order to expand the scopeof our research awards program to meet the needsof present and future researchers.

AGAMembers Are MajorContributors to the Foundation

The Foundation is especially grateful for thegenerous gifts from more than 4,300 AGAmembers in support of gastrointestinal research.Donations from AGA members currently supportnearly $1 million of the Foundation’s yearly $3million research funding commitment.

The Foundation is also thankful for thesupport given by patients, foundation grants andthe pharmaceutical industry. The combinedcontributions from AGA members, patients,foundation and industry leaders fund promisingyoung investigators and enhance the field withbold research investments. The cumulativesuccesses of all AGA Foundation research awardrecipients ultimately translate into newer andbetter tools to help patients and to advanceresearch in the field.

$1 Million Gift ForFunderburg Awards

In 2007, the sons of the late R. Robert andSally D. Funderburg made a new gift thatenabled the Foundation to double in size, from$50,000 to $100,000, the AGA Foundation R.Robert and Sally D. Funderburg Research Awardin Gastric Biology Related to Cancer. The awardprovides research funding to an investigatorworking on novel approaches in gastric cancer,whose efforts will enhance the fundamentalunderstanding of the disease process andultimately contribute to a cure.

“My brothers Alex, Hugh and I are veryproud of the caliber of researchers theFunderburg award has supported to date,” saidRob Funderburg, chairman of AlpineBancorporation, Inc. and president of the R.Robert and Sally D. Funderburg CharitableTrust. “We hope that increasing the amount ofthe award will speed research that will ultimatelylead to a cure for gastric cancer.”

Since the first Funderburg Award in 1992,there has been a “dramatic improvement” in theunderstanding and treatment of gastric cancer,according to 1996 award recipient Anil K.Rustgi, MD. “The Funderburg family and theAGA can be very proud; this investment hastranslated into an impact that could never havebeen imagined.”

In order to facilitatecontinued advancesand collaboration inthe field of gastriccancer biology, theFoundation sponsoreda conference forrecipients of theFunderburg Award onApril 19, 2008, inWashington, DC.Conference attendeesdiscussed recentadvances in the field ofgastric cancer biology.A summary reportoutlining major goalsand challenges to thenext phases of gastriccancer research will bepublished later thisyear.

Leading Industry Contributors

In 2007, TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.completed its final payment toward a $5 millionrestricted research grant. This grant funded thecore awards of the AGA Ten Year Research Planover a three-year period.

The Foundation received a $2 million unrestrictedcontribution from AstraZeneca which allowed theFoundation to expand the number of awardsprovided to researchers and gave the Foundation theability to promptly address critical needs, such asbridging grants for mid-career investigators.

$3 Million Takeda EndowmentEstablished JamesW. FrestonSingle Topic Conference

Takeda Pharmaceuticals provided a $3 milliongift to establish the Takeda Endowment Fundwithin the AGA Foundation’s overall endowment.Interest earned from the fund will provide supportfor an annual AGA Institute single topicconference, which will be named in honor offormer AGA President and past AGA FoundationChair, James W. Freston, MD, PhD, AGAF.

“This contribution will make the science ofgastroenterology stronger,” said FDHN Chair,

Sidney Cohen (left), MD, AGAF, AGA Foundation Chairman, presentsKohei Ueda, Takeda, a gift for its funding of the AGA Foundation-Takeda Endowment

for the JamesW. Freston Single Topic Conference

$7,000

$8,300,000

May 2003

May 2008

Endowment growth over the six years from founding.

32

In a highly competitive process, the Foundation awarded Research Scholar Awards to seven outstandingyoung gastroenterologists whose work holds promise to make significant strides in the field of gastrointestinalresearch.

The prestigious Research Scholar Awards offer each scientist a total award of $225,000 to help support his orher research over a three-year period. The goal of the Research Scholar Awards is to guarantee the perpetuationof strong science through the encouragement of young physician investigators and ultimately to improve patientcare through digestive diseases research. A recent report indicated that more than 92 percent of AGA FoundationResearch Scholar Award recipients have continued in academic gastroenterology research careers.

The Research Scholar Awards program was launched in 1984 to provide crucial early support toinvestigators who show promise in academic gastroenterological research. The program’s premiserecognized that resources awarded early on could provide a stable platform from which future researchfunding would be derived. During and after their time as an AGA research scholar, recipients have madeimportant contributions to the field of gastroenterology and many former award recipients have gone on tohold distinguished appointments in major medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

Since 1984, the AGA and its Foundation has awarded more than $19 million to fund 155 researchscholars and has provided a total of $30 million in grant funding.

Seven Research Scholar Awardees Provided Critical Funding

Edda Fiebiger, PhDStudies on the Role of IgE-Fc-epsilon-RI-mediated Immune Responses in the

Gastrointestinal TractChildren’s Hospital, Boston

Lara Gawenis, PhDTransepithelial HCO3 -

Transport in Murine Proximal ColonUniversity of Utah

Kirsten Sadler-Edepli, MMSC, PhDUsing Zebrafish to Uncover the Role of theUnfolded Protein Response in Steatosis

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

YukoMori-Akiyama, MDThe Role of SOX9 in the Intestinal Epitheliumand in Colorectal Cancer Progression

The University of TexasM. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Richard J. Saad, MD(Designated RSA Related to Geriatrics)

The Differences in PhysiologicMechanismsUnderlying Chronic Constipation in ElderlyVersus Younger Adults with Constipation

University of Michigan

Michael Volk, MD, MScPhysician and Patient Decision-Making About

Organ Quality in Liver TransplantationUniversity of Michigan

Pradipta Ghosh, MB, BS, MDTheRoleofGproteinsandGIV/Girdin inCell

Migration: Implications inColonCancerMetastasesUniversity of California San Diego

33

Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAF. “We are extraordinarilypleased and appreciative of Takeda’s philanthropicinvestment in the field of gastroenterology. Thisendowment grant differs from education grantsthat, while very important, usually representsupport for a single event or project. The TakedaEndowment Fund will provide support for theJames W. Freston Conferences in perpetuity.Consequently, we are very excited about the long-term positive health outcomes that the TakedaEndowment Fund will foster.”

The conferences will bring together gastro-intestinal scientists to discuss important scientificissues relevant to the practice of gastroenterology.Because understanding of basic concepts in medicalscience often precedes advances in translationalresearch and improvements in patient care, theTakeda Endowment Fund will support efforts toimprove patient health in the years ahead.

“As part of Takeda’s strong commitment tosociety, we have a long history of supportingscience and medical education as we pursue ourmission of promoting better health for individualsand progress in medicine,” said Nancy Joseph-Ridge, MD, president, Takeda Global Researchand Development Center, Inc. “We believe that

with the development of the James W. FrestonSingle Topic Conferences, we are able to bettercontribute to the gastro-intestinal practice andbring forth new ideas and discoveries to benefitthe well-being of patients.”

The first conference, Celiac Disease: BroadeningHorizons, will be held in September 2009.

Regional Boards SupportAGA Foundation

Regional Physician Advisory Boards, whichexist in cities throughout the country, serve as theFoundation’s grassroots representation in localcommunities. Regional board members reach outto patients and fellow physicians in an ambitiouseffort to generate support for GI research. Thisincludes helping to fund the renowned ResearchScholar Awards, which have advanced the careersof hundreds of gifted young investigators ingastroenterology and hepatology.

In describing the influence that doctors canhave on potential contributors, former FoundationChair James W. Freston, MD, PhD, AGAFobserved: “Clinicians represent a large body of

influential persons with enormous persuasivepotential. We can positively affect the funding linkbetween research and advances in clinical medicinebecause we are in the best position to bringimportant funding opportunities to the attentionof potential donors through our unique, close andoften personal relationships with former patientsand others.”

Every year, the AGA Foundation recognizes a group of individuals for theircontributions to digestive disease health. The individuals so honored participatein a program to raise funds for the Foundation’s research awards program.This highly successful partnership between exemplary AGA members and theircolleagues, friends and families has helped grow the Foundation’s researchendowment from $7,000 in 2003 to $8.3 million today.

In 2008, the Foundation honored the 24 women scientists, many arepictured below. They hail from throughout the U.S. as well as Australia,

Canada, England, France, Hong Kong, Kenya, South Africa and Taiwan.Representing some of the finest educational and medical institutions inthe world, they have contributed immeasurably to the body ofknowledge about digestive diseases, its basic science, clinical outcomesand translational medicine.

The honorees joined together to help fund the Sara Jordan ResearchScholar Award, named for Sara Jordan, MD, PhD, an early-20th centuryscientist, accomplished physician and role model for all who followed herinto digestive diseases. Dr. Jordan was the first woman president of the AGA,

serving two terms in 1942 and 1943. She was anoutstanding gastroenterologist and a foundingmember of the prestigious Lahey Clinic inBoston.

Nearly 400 individuals and companiescontributed toward the Sara Jordan ResearchScholar Award, a $225,000 three-year start-up grant that was presented to YukoMori-Akiyama, MD, of the University ofTexas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Hercurrent research focus is “The role of SOX9in the intestinal epithelium and in colorectalcancer progression.”

The honorees and donors were feted at a galareception held on May 18, 2008, in San Diego,during Digestive Disease Week® 2008.

Honoring AGAWomen In Science

Front row, left to right: Christine Ann Cartwright, MD; Sheila Crowe,MD, AGAF; Susan Amber Cummings,MD, AGAF; JoanneM.Donovan,MD, PhD; Barbara B. Frank,MD; Gail A. Hecht, MD,MS, AGAF; Susan J. Henning, PhD, AGAF; Shelly Chi-Loo Lu,MD; JuanitaLynnMerchant, MD, PhD; LopaMishra,MD; Kim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAF. Back row, left to right: Anna Suk-Fong Lok,MD, AGAF; AnnOuyang,MBBS, AGAF; Dawn Provenzale,MD,MS; Helen E. Raybould, PhD, BSc; Ellen J. Scherl-Harbus,MD, AGAF; HelenM. Shields,MD, AGAF; Yvette Taché, PhD, AGAF; Joanne A. PeeblesWilson,MD, AGAF; Jacqueline L.Wolf, MD, AGAF; Teresa L.Wright, MD; YukoMori-Akiyama,MD; Sidney Cohen,MD, AGAF. Honorees not pictured: AnnaMaeDiehl, MD; Rosemarie Louise Lucianin Fisher, MD;Carla H. Ginsburg,MD,MPH, AGAF

AGA Foundation Regional Board Chairs Mark McPhee, MD,AGAF, (Kansas City, MO) and Seymour Sabesin, MD (Chicago)

34

AGA Legacy SocietyIncludes GI Luminaries

The AGA Legacy Society was created by theAGA Foundation to honor individuals whosegenerous charitable gifts advance the science andpractice of gastroenterology and hepatology.

The membership list of the AGA Legacy Societyreads like a history of modern American gastroenter-ology. The names include Martin Brotman, MD,AGAF; Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAF; John Farrar,MD, AGAF; James Freston, MD, PhD, AGAF;Ralph Giannella, MD, AGAF; Alan Hofmann, MD,AGAF; Joseph Kirsner, MD, PhD, DSci, AGAF;William Silen, MD, AGAF; and Marvin Sleisenger,MD, AGAF. All are recipients of the JuliusFriedenwald Medal presented in recognition oflifetime service to gastroenterology. Other formerAGA presidents who are members of the LegacySociety include Donald Castell, MD, AGAF; EmmetKeeffe, MD, AGAF; and David Peura, MD, AGAF.

The society now numbers some 43 individualsand couples, with names added each month. It takesits own name from the rich legacy of discovery andpatient care that has characterized the science andpractice of gastroenterology in recent years. As inmany fields of endeavor, gastroenterologists todaystand on the shoulders of giants. It is a legacy thatowes everything to those investigators and mentorswhose genius and tireless devotion have created agreat medical specialty.

Through their own foresight and generosity,members of the Legacy Society share a desire toguarantee long-term support for digestive diseaseresearch. Donations from society members helpeducate future scientists and clinicians, inspiregifted young doctors to choose gastroenterology asthe focus of their life’s work, fund digestive diseaseresearch, and educate the public generally aboutdigestive health and nutrition.

“Education is the central goal of the AGAFoundation and its Legacy Society,” observesdistinguished member, Marvin Sleisenger, MD,AGAF. “The AGA and its Foundation areessential to the continuation of the pursuit ofexcellence in clinical practice and education andresearch in gastroenterology.”

Bearing out Dr. Sleisenger’s words, the AGA andits Foundation have awarded more than $34 millionto more than 430 recipients over the past 20 years.

AGA Foundation awards are often all thatstands between a promising research career and adivergent pathway for a young physician. “Thefunding environment today remains as challengingas ever,” notes RSA recipient Kenneth Yu, MD. “Ihave a number of friends and colleagues who haveleft the academic arena in large part due to theirinability to secure adequate funding to support theirpromising research projects.” Dr. Yu’s award wasmade possible by a generous donation from LegacySociety members Eric, Michael and RonnySchwartz of California.

Some Legacy Society members are second-generation donors to the AGA. The Funderburgfamily of Illinois is represented today by Rob andCathy Funderburg. Rob’s parents, the late R.Robert and Sally D. Funderburg, are memorializedas members of the Legacy Society for theirgenerous, early contributions to the Foundation.

The significance of Legacy Society membershipcan best be summed up in the words of currentAGA Foundation Chair Sidney Cohen, MD,AGAF: “The field of gastroenterology has beenvery good to so many of us over the years. It isonly appropriate that we contribute to ourcontinued success by enabling the next generationto participate in the enormous researchachievements that we have enjoyed.”

Donors may join the AGA Legacy Society bypledging to contribute $25,000 or more in cashor securities within a five-year period, or byproviding for a contribution of $50,000 or morethrough a planned gift such as a bequest, acharitable trust, a gift of life insurance or others.

Benefits of membership in the society includepermanent listing in the Membership Roll of Honoron the Legacy Society Memorial at the AGA nationaloffice building in Bethesda, MD, listing in the annualreport and other publications, an invitation to theannual Benefactor’s Dinner, a framed Legacy Societycertificate, and an FDHN lapel pin. For moreinformation, visit www.fdhn.org/legacysociety.

Unless otherwise designated, gifts fund theresearch endowment.

Legacy Society Donors John G. Moore, MD, andMargie andJamesW. Freston, MD, PhD, AGAF

Legacy Society Members KironMoy Das, MD, PhD, AGAF,and Kamala Das, MD

AGA Foundation Vice Chair and Legacy Society MemberDavid A. Peura, MD, AGAF, speaks at theMingei Museum dinner

AGA Foundation Chair and Legacy Society MemberSidney Cohen, MD, AGAF, with wife, Lois

35

The AGA Legacy SocietyThe AGA Foundation gratefully honors its most generous individual donors, the AGA Legacy Society.

John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAFand Carolyn Allen

Harriette and Jeffrey Aron, MD

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Baerg

Andrew and Virginia Barnes

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Barnes

Joel V. Brill, MD

Farron and Martin Brotman, MD

June and Don Castell

William Y. Chey, MD, DSc

Sidney and Lois Cohen

Kiron Moy Das, MD, PhDand Kamala Das, MD

Carol M. Dreher

John Thruston Farrar, MD

Shirley and Miles Fiterman

Carol and Ronald Fogel

Dr. and Mrs. James W. Freston

R. Robert and Sally Funderburg

Rob and Cathy Funderburg

Thomas P. and Susan Gage

Joe Garrett

Ralph A. Giannella, MD

Vay Liang W. Go, MDand Frisca L. Yan-Go, MD

Ann and Robert Greenberg

Alan Hofmann, MD, FRCP, AGAFand Heli Hofmann

Sean E. Hunt, MD

Emmet B. Keeffe, MD, MACP, AGAF

Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD

John G. Moore, MD

Dr. Uma Murthy

Stephen Jacob Pandol, MD

David and Kristin Peura

Jill Roberts

Anil K. Rustgi, MD

Vinod K. Rustgi, MD

Seymour M. Sabesin, MDand Marcia L. Sabesin

Robert and Dale Sandler

Ellen Scherl, MD

Eric, Michael, and Ronny Schwartz

William and Ruth Silen

Lenore R. Sleisengerand Marvin H. Sleisenger, MD

Stuart and Cynthia Spechler

Joel and Elizabeth Stinson

Reg and Margaret Strickland

*Donor names are listed according to donor’s preference

At all points of mycareer, the AGAFoundation has beenthere for me — as awoman in GI, aresearcher and aclinician. Receivingthe AGA FoundationFunderburg Research

Award in Gastric Biology was a wonderfulcatalyst to my career and a turning point thathas allowed me to bring my current academicinstitution $27 million in NIH researchfunding. The Foundation’s strong leadershipand staff has been a critical influence inconnecting leaders in gastroenterology,women, scientists and clinicians. TheFoundation has successfully built a powerfulresearch awards program that is forwardlooking for gastroenterology.

—LopaMishra, MD, professor and vice chairfor research, distinguished professor of surgical

sciences, Georgetown University

TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AGA MEMBERSEVOLVINGResearch in the 22nd Century— A $50 Million Endowment

The AGA Foundation currently provides almost $3 million each year for research awards to more than70 deserving investigators. Most of this funding is derived from charitable gifts donated by supportivecompanies and generous individuals. In the last five years alone, more than 4,000 AGA members havemade contributions to the Foundation.

Scientific advances in gastroenterology and hepatology in the years ahead will require that theFoundation’s investment in research be sustained and even increased. To ensure the stability of its basefunding for research — despite any possible ups or downs in annual fundraising revenues — the AGAFoundation is committed to establishing a $50 million permanent research endowment. $8.3 million hasalready been raised.

“This is our true legacy for the future,” observes Foundation chair Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAF. “Theseyoung researchers who receive Foundation grants will help create the science on which the practices oftomorrow will be based. Some of the grants already given are being quickly applied by these brilliantawardees to create diagnostic tests and treatments, which will find their way into our doctors’ officeswithin a few short years. We will not allow any potential gap in funding to disrupt this essential researchpipeline. That is where the endowment comes in.”

The AGA Foundation will continue to appeal to industry and individuals to continue their generous annualgiving in support of the research awards program. In addition, it will seek exceptional gifts to continue to buildthe permanent research endowment. Many of these gifts will come in the form of planned gifts includingcharitable bequests and charitable trusts.

Donors of such gifts will be recognized with membership in the AGA Legacy Society, the organizationwhich honors the foundation’s most generous contributors and friends. In many instances, the portion ofthe overall endowment given by these individuals will be named in perpetuity for the donor, as will theawards funded from that portion of the endowment. “The recent scientific history of our specialty hasbeen stunning,” says Dr. Cohen. “The future will be even better.”

36

Research Scholar AwardsEdda Fiebiger, PhD

Children’s Hospital, BostonStudies on the role of lgE-Fc-epsilon-RI-mediated immune

responses in the gastrointestinal tract

Laura Gawenis, PhDUniversity of Utah, Salt Lake CityTransepithelial HCO transport in murine proximal polon

Kirsten Sadler-Edepli, MMSC, PhDMount Sinai School of Medicine, New YorkUsing zebrafish to uncover the role of the unfolded

protein response steatosis

Michael Volk, MD, MScUniversity of Michigan, Ann ArborPhysician and patient decision-making about organ

quality in liver transplantation

Pradipta Ghosh, MD (Mentors Award)University of California San DiegoThe role of G proteins and GIV/Girdin in cell migration:

implications in colon cancer metastases

Yuko Mori-Akiyama, MD (Sara Jordan Award)The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,HoustonThe role of SOX9 in the intestinal epithelium and in

colorectal cancer progression

Designated Research Scholar Awardin Geriatric GastroenterologyRichard Saad, MD

University of Michigan, Ann ArborThe differences in physiologic mechanisms underlying

chronic constipation in elderly versus younger adultswith constipation

Translational Research AwardGlenn Furuta, MD and Steven Ackerman, PhD,

University of Colorado, Denver, School of MedicineUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoNovel assessment of esophageal remodeling and fibrosis

in eosinophilic esophagitis

Castell Esophageal ClinicalResearch AwardJohn Clarke, MD

Johns Hopkins University, BaltimoreMechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity in patients with

functional heartburn and chest pain of presumedesophageal origin

Fellowship to Faculty TransitionAwardsStacy Kahn, MD

University of ChicagoHeat shock proteins and probiotics: mechanisms of host

defense in rotavirus infection

Christoph Osterreicher, MDUniversity of California, San DiegoTranscriptional regulation of ACE2 and role of its

product Ang1-7 in liver fibrogenesis

Andres Roig, MDUniversity of Texas Southwestern, DallasCancer progression of normal human colonic epithelial

cells

Florin Selaru, MDJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, BaltimoreCholangiocarcinoma: molecular characterization based on

microRNA arrays

Anisa Shaker, MDWashington University School of Medicine, St. LouisEpimorphin regulation of colonic epithelial proliferation

and role in carcinogenesis

Bridging GrantsEfi Kokkotou, MD, PhD, DSc

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, BostonMelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) as a novel

mediator of intestinal inflammation

Emiko Mizoguchi, MD, PhDMassachusetts General Hospital, BostonRole of mammalian chitinases in inflammatory

bowel disease

Liya Qiao, PhD, MSVirginia Commonwealth University, RichmondNeurotrophins and neuropeptides in colon and bladder

hypersensitivity

Andrea Todisco, MD, AGAFUniversity of Michigan Medical Center, Ann ArborRegulation and function of sonic hedgehog

signaling in the stomach

Shahid Umar, PhDUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonβ-Catenin/NF-κB in hyperplasia/neoplasia of

colonic crypts: chemoprevention

Designated Outcomes Award inGeriatric GastroenterologyCharles Kahi, MD, MSc

Indiana University School of Medicine, IndianapolisPrevention of colorectal cancer in elders:

a case-control study

Laura Ellyn Targownik, MD, MSHSUniversity of Manitoba, WinnipegA prospective evaluation of the effect of proton pump

inhibitors on bone mineral density

Graduate Student AwardsSusan Huftless, SM

Johns Hopkins University, BaltimorePrenatal and early life predictors of pediatric-onset

inflammatory bowel disease

Lauren Walters, BSVanderbilt University, Dublin, OHModifying effects of Phox2B in enteric development in the

Sox10 DOMmodel of Hirschsprung’s disease

Pilot GrantsAndrew Chan, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital, BostonA pilot study of genetic risk factors for

gastrointestinal bleeding

Anne Hutson, PhDBaylor College of Medicine, HoustonMicroRNAs associated with cell lineage fate of small

intestinal epithelial cells

Susan Uprichard, PhDUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoAssessment of in vivo selectable replicon for developing

mouse models of HCV replication

Centocor International ResearchFellowship in GastrointestinalInflammation and ImmunologyAtsushi Sakuraba, MD

University of ChicagoRole of TLR 6 in IL-10 regulation and IBD

2008 AGA Foundation Award Recipients

37

Funderburg Research ScholarAward in Gastric BiologySheila Crowe, BSc, MD, AGAF

University of Virginia, CharlottesvilleRole of AP Endonuclease-1/Redox factor-1 in regulation of

the gastric epithelium: implications for gastriccarcinogenesis

AGA Institute ConsortiumPlanning GrantsEugene Chang, MD

University of ChicagoA multicenter, multidisciplinary, systems biology platform

for discovery in inflammatory bowel diseases

JeanMarie Houghton, MD, PhD, AGAFUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School, WorchesterImaging the influx and engraftment of mesenchymal stem

cells in the inflamed gastric mucosa

Michael Nathanson, MD, PhDYale University, New Haven, CTDevelopment and validation of a multiphoton endoscope

for surveillance studies of patients with Barrett’sesophagus

Sponsored ResearchSymposium AwardSheila Crowe, BSc, MD, AGAF

University of Virginia, CharlottesvilleMicrobes and Mucosal Immunity – 2008

AGA Institute CTC Planning GrantGerald Dryden, MD, MSPH

University of Louisville, Louisville, KYA novel visualization approach for enhancing small lesion

detection with virtual colonoscopy and evaluatingutility of gastroenterologist interpretation

Paul Limburg, MD, MPHMayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MNEvaluation of integrated inter-disciplinary strategies for

optimal application of CT colonography as a primarytest option for colorectal cancer screening

Fellow Abstract PrizesEngda Hagos, PhD

Emory University, AtlantaMouse embryonic fibroblasts null for the kruppel-like

factor 4 alleles are genetically unstable

Jiri Kalabis, MD, PhDUniversity of Pennsylvania, PhiladelphiaEndothelins stimulate proliferation and survival of

human colonic goblet cells through both ETAand ETB receptors

AGA Institute InternationalTravel AwardsMarc Besselink, MD

University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, NetherlandsGastrointestinal permeability and infectious complications

in acute pancreatitis; a prospective multicenter study

Eyal Sagiv, PhD, MDTel Aviv Medical Center and Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv, IsraelUnraveling novel mechanisms by which the CD24

onoconogen serves as a target for colorectal andpancreatic cancer treatment via down regulation bymonoclonal antibodies or siRNA

Rustgi International Travel AwardsMichael Selgrad, MD

University of Magdeburg GermanyMagdeburg , GermanyJC Virus infects the enteric glia of patients with chronic

idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Daniel Worthley, MBBSRoyal Brisbane and Women’s HospitalHertston, AustraliaHuman gastric cancer-associated fibroblast-like cells are

derived from the bone marrow

Amber AlhadeffUniversity of Pennsylvania

Devin BoeUniversity of Chicago

Gregory BotwinUniversity of California San Diego

Jeeyeon ChaUniversity of Cincinnati

Gayah DeSilvaUniversity of Michigan

Yonah EstersonUniversity of Pennsylvania

Christie GutierrezUniversity of Pennsylvania

Christina HammWashington University St. LouisSchool of Medicine

Aaron HechtUniversity of Chicago

Archana KantetiUniversity of Illinois at Chicago

Shivani KatyalUniversity of Illinois at Chicago

Michael KimUniversity of Cincinnati

Richard LiJohns Hopkins UniversitySchool of Medicine

Yunzhou LiVirginia Commonwealth University

Joy LiuUniversity of Florida

Claudia LopezUniversity of California San Diego

Nirosha MahendraratnamJohns Hopkins Hospital

Christina MosherWashington UniversitySchool of Medicine

Stephanie OwyangUniversity of Michigan

Emmanuel ObusezCleveland Clinic Lerner College ofMedicine at Case Western ReserveUniversity

Michelle PeissUniversity of Chicago

Jessica ShiuUniversity of Maryland Baltimore

Hannah TurnerUniversity of Chicago

Dima AlkawwasMichigan State University

Jasmine BahramiSamual Lulenfield Research Institute/Mt Sinai Hospital

Caroline CobineUniversity of Nevada School of Medicine

Carrie CoughlinWashington University School of Medicine

Mathieu DarsignyUniversité de Sherbrooke

Jessica GierutUniversity of Illinois

Shiji Ishii, MDUsaka University Graduate School of Medicine

Caitlin O’MahoneyNational University of Ireland

Kelli VanDussen, MSUniversity of Michigan

Dan Yu, MDUniversity of Chicago

Student Abstract Prize Student Research Fellowship Award

38

AGA Foundation for Digestive Health & Nutrition Supporters

$7,000,000 PlusTAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

$3,000,000 to $6,999,999AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LPTakeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.

$1,000,000 to $2,999,999June and Donald O. Castell, MD TrustMiles & Shirley Fiterman FoundationR. Robert and Sally D. Funderburg

Charitable Trust

$225,000 - $999,999Association of Specialty ProfessorsThe Eucalyptus FoundationThe Bernard L. Schwartz Foundation, Inc.GlaxoSmithKlineProcter & GambleSucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

$50,000 - $224,999Andrew and Virginia BarnesBristol Myers SquibbDr. and Mrs. James W. FrestonHealth Monitor NetworkJanssen Pharmaceutical Products, L.P.Johnson & Johnson/Merck Consumer

Pharmaceuticals Co.Merck U.S. Human HealthJill RobertsSchering-Plough FoundationJoel and Elizabeth Stinson

$25,000 - $49,999John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF

and Carolyn AllenDr. and Mrs. Richard BaergMr. and Mrs. Robert C. BarnesThe Eli and Edythe L. Broad FoundationFarron and Martin Brotman, MD, AGAFWilliam Y. Chey, MD, DSc, AGAFJohn Thruston Farrar, MD, AGAFCarol and Ronald Fogel, AGAFThomas P. and Susan GageRalph A. Giannella, MD, AGAF

Vay Liang W. Go, MD, AGAFand Frisca L. Yan-Go, MD

Alan Hofmann, MD, FRCP, AGAF,and Heli Hofmann

Sean E. Hunt, MDEmmet B. Keeffe, MD, MACP, AGAFJoseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, AGAFDr. Uma MurthyOlympus Medical Charitable FoundationDavid and Kristin PeuraAnil K. Rustgi, MDVinod K. Rustgi, MDSalix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Robert and Dale SandlerWilliam and Ruth SilenLenore R. Sleisenger and

Marvin H. Sleisenger, MD, AGAFReg and Margaret StricklandEstate of Dwight and Ruth Wilbur

$10,000 - $24,999Banke Agarwal, MDAnonymousSidney and Lois CohenNicholas V. Costrini, MD, PhD, AGAF

James F. Kruidenier, MDJ. Thomas Lamont, MD, AGAFJake C. Lennard Jr., MDDrs. Joan and Jeffrey MatthewsCraig J. McClain, MD, AGAFMark S. McPhee, MD, AGAFRoberts IBD CenterSeymour M. Sabesin, MD and

Marcia L. SabesinTadataka Yamada, MD, AGAFSiaka I. Yusuf, MD

Nezam H. Afdhal, MDJames E. Allison, MDSteven M. Altschuler, MDHelmut V. Ammon, MD, AGAFBernard Aserkoff, MDTak Yee Aw, PhDMichael T. Bader, MDParendra P. Banker, MD, AGAFA. Sidney Barritt, III, MDRichard A. Baum, MDCurtis A. Baum, MDHoward W. Baumann, MDMarc E. BeckerRabinder S. Bhogal, MDThomas J. Borody, MD, AGAFJonathan Braun, MD, PhDRobert V. Buccini, MDTed Edward Bynum, MDMichael Camilleri, MD, AGAFJohn R. Carlson, MD, FACPOliver W. Cass, MDCharles J. Catalano, MDSuresh T. Chari, MDLorenzo Childress Jr., MDRam Chuttani, MDGeorge and Susan CohonJames G. Corasanti, MD, PhD

Gary L. Cornette, MDC. Raymond Cottrell, MDHowell Crawford, MDKimberly A. Cusato, MDRukan Daccak, MDDouglas Dalke, MDKironMoyDas,MD,PhD, AGAF

andKamalaDas,MDRobert E. DeCoux Jr., MDThomas J. Devers, MDAnthony J. DiMarino Jr., MD, AGAFJoanne M. Donovan, MD, PhDMark Donowitz, MD, AGAFMark C. Dooley, MDPeter B. Ernst, DVM, PhDHerbert Falk, MDMarc A. Fallah, MDRichard M. Farleigh, MDCarrie J. Folse, MDAmy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, FACPThomas Frieling, MDDavid Fromm, MDRichard C. Gardner, MDDonald C. Gerhardt, MD, AGAFB. William Ginsberg, MDJoseph P. Glaser, MDBarbaraandStephenE.Goldfinger,MD

John L. Gollan, MD, PhD, AGAFRaj K. Goyal, MDAnn and Robert GreenbergNorton J. Greenberger,MD, AGAFJack Grider, PhDKenn E. Griffith, MDBarney J. Guyton, Sr., MDJoel E. Hade, MDSusan J. Hagen, PhDFrank A. Hamilton, MD, MPHWilliam D. Heizer, MDColin A. Helman, MDJohn H. Helzberg, MD, AGAFSusan J. Henning, PhD, AGAFMartin F. Heyworth, MDPeter R. Holt, MD, AGAFUlrich Hopfer, MD, PhDIrving Weinstein FoundationSteven H. Itzkowitz, MD, AGAFD. F. Jackson, III, MDSteven Jacobsohn, MDJohn W. Jendrzejewski, MDKevin M. Jenkins, DORaja M. Kaikaus, MDDrs. Judy and Paul A. KantrowitzJohn J. Kelly, MD, AGAFEve Kirschner, MD

Michael M. Kline, MDThomas E. Knuff, MDByron E. Kolts, MDCharles S. Lieber, MD,MACP, AGAFJohn R. Lobitz, MDBilly W. Long, MD, AGAFJoseph W. Longacher, MDRandal B. Macurak, MDRobert D. Mathieson, MDJack L. Mauldin, MDRobert P. McCabe Jr., MDSallie & Denis McCarthy, MD,

PhD, AGAFLopa Mishra, MDR. Michael Molloy, MDDavid A. Morowitz, MDSteven F. Moss, MBBSManabu Murakami, PhDYoshinobu Namihira, MD, FACGStephen Jacob Pandol, MDJoseph L. Perrotto, MD, FACPJoseph P. Phillips, MDDaniel K. Podolsky, MD, AGAFCharalabos Pothoulakis, MDDon W. Powell, MD, AGAFEdward J. Prokipchuk, MDRon E. Pruitt, MD

Eamonn M. Quigley, MDJean-Pierre Raufman, MDYvonne Romero, MDDavidM.Roseman,MD, FACP,AGAFSoraya A. Ross,MDMelvin B. Saltzman, MD, FACOIDr. and Mrs. Robert H. SchapiroElliot H. Schuman, MDRobert L. Seegers, MDFergus Shanahan, MDHoward I. Sherman,MDRichardM. Skibba,MDRodger A. Sleven, MDEdward A. Slosberg, MDBernard F. Smith, MDEthel L. and Jack Soterakis, MDHiroshi Takahashi, MD, PhDKeith B. Taylor, MDThendara FoundationUnited Way of the National

Capital AreaUniversity of Nebraska

Medical CenterGeorge E. Welch, MDM. Michael Wolfe, MD, AGAFWallace C. Wu, MD

The AGA Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition salutes the cumulative and generous support of corporate,individual and foundation donors as of May 31, 2008.

$5,000 - $9,999

Legacy Society Members Farron andMartin Brotman, MD, AGAF, at the2008 AGA Foundation Dinner

39

M. Khalouck Abdrabbo, MDMarc AbramowitzParviz D. Afshani, MD, AGAFGiuseppe Aliperti, MDTyron Alli, MDKim M. Almodovar, MDDavid H. Alpers, MD, AGAFJ. J. Alva, MD, FACP, AGAFRafael Amaro, MDShirish A. Amin, MD, AGAFKris Anand, MDRobert P. Anderson, PhD, FRACPM. Sawkat Anwer, PhDRichard AparoR. Brent Archibald, MDVijay Arya, MDPurna Atluri, MDKofi Atta-Mensah, MDDamian H. Augustyn, MD, AGAFDennis L. Avner, MDAndrejs E. Avots-Avotins,MD, PhD,

AGAFAlfred L. Baker, MDMarwan A. Balaa, MDDavid H. Balaban, MD, AGAFJohn A. Balint, MD, FRCPAnthony V. Baratta Jr., MDSuraia B. Barclay, MDRobert W. Barton, MDNathan M. Bass, MD, PhDJ. Sumner Bell, III, MDMichael D. Bender, MDGordon D. Benson, MDHarold Berenzweig, MDMarc J. Bernstein, MDDr. and Mrs. Joel BessoffHenry J. Binder, MD, AGAFDesmond H. Birkett, MDJohn T. Bjork, MDAndres T. Blei, MDGary S. Bochna, MDC. Richard Boland, MD, AGAFUlrich Bolder, MDSteven H. Bollinger, MDHerbert L. Bonkovsky, MDMarna P. BorgstromBrian P. Bosworth, MDEdmund Bourke, MDGeoffrey BowersJames J. Boylan, MD, FACPRandall E. Brand, MD, AGAFWilliam T. Brand Jr., MDDavid S. Brandenburg, MDRichard I. Breuer, MD, AGAFJoel V. Brill, MD, AGAFW. Scott Brooks Jr., MDErica A. Brotschi, MDRandal L. Brown, MD

Carole A. Buckner, MDHarry D. Burack, MDJerome M. Burke, MDTheodore Burns, MDRandall W. Burt, MD, AGAFPaul E. Buse, MDWarren G. Butt, MDMichael J. Cahalane, MDAntonio Caos, MDEdward L. Cattau Jr., MDJohn P. Cello, MD, AGAFCho-Yu Chan, MDMary F. Chan, MDKota L. Chandrasekhara, MDEugene B. Chang, MDKyong-Mi Chang, MDMichael P. Chase, MDSteve T. Chen, MDRamsey Cheung, MDWilliam D. Chey, MD, AGAFDavid ChisholmYong Hwan Choi, MDSohail A. Choudhri, MD, AGAFRaphael S. Chung, MDJackie Chuong, MDJames A. Clifton, MD, AGAFRay E. Clouse, MDArthur E. Cocco, MDMitchell B. Cohen, MDJonathan A. Cohn, MD, AGAFJeffrey L. Conklin, MDFernando A. Contreras, MDJeffrey S. Cooley, MDCarolyn and JamesN. Cooper,MDDavid J. Costigan, MDAndres Cowley, MDMichael E. Cox, MDJonathan F. Critchlow, MDSheila E. Crowe, MD, AGAFRobert B. Cucinotta, MDSusan Amber Cummings, MDAlbert J. Czaja, MD, AGAFRobert E. Dale, MDStuart H. Danovitch, MD, AGAFRudolph G. Danzinger, MD,

FRCSCCharles A. Dasher, MDNicholas O. Davidson, MDHaile T. Debas, MDMark H. DeLegge, MD, AGAFVincent A. DeLuca Jr., MDTimothy B. Denzler, MDDepartment of Surgery, Wayne

State UniversityArun K. Dhand, MD, AGAFRobert H. Diamond, MDRichard B. Doyle, MDRaymondN.DuBois,MD,PhD,AGAF

The Duke University School ofMedicine

Thomas Dunzendorfer, MDJ. William DuVal Jr., MD, AGAFRobert E. Dye, MDJonathan C. Ellis, MDCharles O. Elson, MDMary K. Estes, PhDEdward J. Feldman, MDRobert and Dawn FellerGeorge Ferenczi, MD, MBAJose Fernandez-Checa, PhDMichael Field, MDStephen F. Finn, MDDr. and Mrs. Vittorio FiorenzaPaul G. Fishbein, MD, AGAFLeslie Fisher, MDRobert S. Fisher, MDRosemarie L. Fisher, MDMartin H. Floch, MD, AGAFDr. and Mrs. Michael FogelAnthony Foong, MDBarbara B. Frank,MD, FACG, FASGEMichael W. Fried, MDLawrence S. Friedman,MD, AGAFScott L. Friedman, MD, AGAFHarold Frucht, MDTakando Fujii, MDHerbert Y. Gaisano, MDDr. and Mrs. George N.

GalifianakisK.P. Ganeshappa, MDFrancisco J. Garcia-Torres, MDMary L. Garren, MDMichael M. Gaspari, MDGastrointestinal Associates, PALauren B. Gerson, MD, MScProdyot Ghosh, MDJon D. Gibson, MDTuvia Gilat, MDCarla H. Ginsburg,MD,MPH, AGAFRobert G. Gish, MDGary Gitnick, MDGlaxoSmithKline FoundationNancy GlynnGeorge S. Goetz, MDHoward K. Gogel, MDMichael J. Goldberg, MD, AGAFGerald D. Goldman, MDMelvin S. Goldstein, MD, AGAFRobert H. Goo, MDJeffrey I. Gordon, MD, AGAFFred S. Gorelick, MDF. William Green Jr., MDHarry L. Green, MDHarry B. Greenberg, MDMartin L. Greene, MD, AGAFRoger L. Greenlaw,MD, FACG,AGAF

Alan J. Greenwald, MD, AGAFPeter B. Gregory, MDDan Griffin, MDSeymour Grossman, MDAlfred Guarino, MDBirgirGudjonsson, FACP, FRCP,AGAFRakesh Gupta, MD, AGAFLawrence E. Gurian, MD, AGAFPaul H. Guth, MDJeffrey L. Hallett, MDAlbena D. Halpert, MDCharles H. Halsted, MD, AGAFOleh Haluszka, MDKlaus E. Hampel, MDKyung H. Han, MDPhilip D. Hanna, MDSamuel P. Harrington, MDLucinda A. Harris, MDRichard F. Harty, MD, AGAFRobert C. Heading, MDGail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAFAndrew M. Heiner, MDJoseph M. Henderson, MDRaymond Herber, MDKevin J. Herlihy, MDDouglas M. Heuman, MD, AGAFHexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc.Toshifumi Hibi, MD, PhD, AGAFWilliam K. Hirota, MDBasil I. Hirschowitz, MD, AGAFLee J. Hixson, MDFirmin C. Ho, MDSamuel B. Ho, MDDavid M. Hockenbery, MDKent C. Holtzmuller, MDWillemijntje A. Hoogerwerf, MDLawrence Horowitz, MDColin W. Howden, MD, AGAFDouglas A. Howell, MDHenry H. Hsu, MD

Mark D. Hughes, MDWai Mo HuiDouglas K. Hyde, MDMutsuhiro Ikuma, MD, PhD, AGAFJohn M. Inadomi, MD, AGAFMahmoud Issa, MDSamuel H. Iwata, MDSwaminath K. Iyer, MDRyo Izutani, MDSudarshan R. Jadcherla, MDRichard and Lana JennettCraig A. Johanson, MDPaul A. Johnson, MDRonald Joseph, MDSitaraman Jyotheeswaran, MDDr. Lyn Sue KahngLeonard E. Kane, MDHarold P. Kaplan, MDNeil Kaplowitz, MDAlan J. Karp, MDPhilip O. Katz, MDJohn E. Kellow, MDCiaran P. Kelly, MDJames M. KemperJane E. Kennedy, MDThomas J. Kenney Jr., MDSophia J. Khan, MDMukul Khandelwal, MDChang Duck Kim, MDChoon K. Kim, MDDavid D. Kim, MDYoung S. Kim, MD, AGAFMartin G. Kistin, MDLlew L. Kitchin, MDJosephW. Kittinger, III, MD, AGAFEero Ossian Kivilaakso, MDRobert G. Knodell, MDTamsin Ann Knox, MD, AGAFStacey Kocan-McCormickKevin K. Koffel, MD

$1,000 - $4,999

Frank Hamilton, MD, Banke Agarwal, MD, with Legacy SocietyMember Vay LiangW. Go, MD, AGAF

40

Frederick J. Kogan, MD, PhDRalph E. Koldinger, MDIan M. Koontz, MDKris V. Kowdley, MDKen Kozawa, MDMichael Kozower, MDEdward L. Krawitt, MDMichael D. Kreines, MD, AGAFJohn F. Kuemmerle Jr.,MD, AGAFVinayak S. Kulkarni, MDJohn H. Kwon, MD, PhDAngel Lanas, MD, PhDDavid W. Landau, MDStephen J. Lanspa, MDNicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAFPeter Layer, MD, PhD, AGAFKonstantinos N. Lazaridis, MDDarrell J. Lee, MDSang-in Lee, MDT. Jack Lee, MDFlorence LefcourtPaul B. Lesser, MDArnold Levin, MDDouglas S. Levine, MDGary M. Levine, MDRobert A. Levine, MD, AGAFJoel D. Levinson, MDLeonard Little Jr., MDPaul Ljubich, MDWinson Lo, MDCharles J. Loewe, MDEdward V. Loftus Jr., MDAnna S. Lok, MD, FRCP, AGAFWilliam B. Long, MDRichard N. Lopatin, MDLoyola University Medical Center,

Division of GastroenterologyShelly C. Lu, MDBradley P. Mackler, MD

Willis C. Maddrey, MD, AGAFJohn E. Madsen Jr., MDHughD.Mai,MD,AGAF,FACG,FASGEGabrielMakhlouf,MD, PhD, AGAFPeter F. Malet, MDFlavio D. Manela, MDMichael J. Manley, MDDavid M. Margolis, MDChristopher R. Marino, MDLester I. Marion, MDJay W. Marks, MDBarry J. Marshall, MD, AGAFJohn Marshall, MDIgnatius Marsidi, MDMasud Mehran FoundationSuzanne M. Matsui, MDMarshall E. McCabe, III, MDWilliam H. McCray Jr., MDThomas P. McGahan, MDThomas McGarrity, MDLee McHenry, MDCarolyn McIvor, MDKenneth R. McQuaid, MD, AGAFMick S. Meiselman, MD, AGAFSherman M. Mellinkoff, MDJane S. Melnick, MDClifford S. Melnyk, MDNicolo Merendino, PhDKathryn W. Mettler, MDGeorge W. Meyer, MDKyriakos M. Michaelides, MDFrancis D. Milligan, MDAlbert D. Min, MDKannappan Mohan, MDMarshall H. Montrose, PhDJames R. Moore, MDStanley A. Morrison, MDPeter M. Mowschenson, MDMuenster/Germany IBD Group

Narayanachar S. Murali, MD,FACP, FACG

Karnam S. Murthy, MDMilton G. Mutchnick, MD, AGAFSreenivasaR.Nakka,MD,FACP,AGAFGeorge NanicheAshok K. Narang, MD, PABarbara Nath, MDHenry P. Nathan, MD, AGAFMichael H. Nathanson, MD, PhDVictor J. Navarro, MDRobert L. Neidich, MDMatteo Neri, MDNew York Society For Gastro-

intestinal EndoscopyMindie H. Nguyen, MDNorthern New Mexico Gastro-

enterology Associates, PADrs. Lisa and Anders NybergPaul A. Offit, MDJeremiah V. Ojeaburu, MDCalvin E. Olson, MDBishr Omary, MD, PhDThomas F. O’Meara, MDColm O Morain, MDFrederick H. Opper, MDRoy C. Orlando, MDEdward S. Orris, MDNobuhide Oshitani, MDAnn Ouyang, MBBS, FACP,

FACG, AGAFChung Owyang, MDNuri Ozden, MDLisa A. Ozick, MDSamuel C. Pace, MDJeffrey M. Palmer, PhDRobert H. Palmer, MDRifat Pamukcu, MDGuo-Zong Pan, MDIn Suh Park, MD, PhD, AGAFHarrison W. Parker, MD, AGAFPankaj Jay Pasricha, MDRig S. Patel, MDPeder J. Pedersen, MDRichard M. Peek Jr., MD, AGAFSteven R. Peikin, MD, AGAFSheila and Ole PelosoDr. and Mrs. James H. PetersenPaul R. Piccione, MDNeville Pimstone, MD, PhDC.S. Pitchumoni, MD, MPH, AGAFMr. and Mrs. Richard PodgorskiD. Brent Polk, MD, AGAFIshwari Prasad, MD, PhDMadhu Prasad, MDSteve F. Price Jr., MDLeon L. Qiao, MDJames M. Rabb, MDDr. and Mrs. Mitchell Rabkin

Edward C. Raffensperger, MDKetan G. Rana, MDDavid Rattner, MDDavid B. Rausher, MD, AGAFWilliam J. Ravich, MDVonda G. Reeves-Darby, MDPatrick T. Regan, MD, AGAFJacques Reichling, MDJong Sun Rew, MDJoel E. Richter, MDDavid R. Riedel, MDThomas H. Riley, MDJohn W. Roark, MD, AGAFGiles M. Robertson Jr., MDJohn B. Rodgers Jr., MDSuzanne Rose, MD, AGAFArnold M. Rosen, MDMark E. Rosenberg, MDBennett E. Roth, MDWilliam A. Rowe, MDPeter H. Rubin, MDChristopher Ruffini, MDRobert A. Ruffini, MDDavid B. Sachar, MD, AGAF,

FACP, MACGCarolyn L. SachsLouis S. Saco, MD, FACP, AGAFBassam Saffouri, MD, FACPRichard E. Sampliner, MD, AGAFBarry Sanders, MD, AGAFSanta Clara ValleyMedical CenterHoward Schachter, MD

Solko W. Schalm, MD, PhDBruce F. Scharschmidt, MDMichael Schemann, PhD, DScDrew Schembre, MDEllen Scherl, MDJames Scheurich, MDRafael R. Schick, MDRobert A. Schlidt, MDJason Schneier, MDDonald R. Schoch, MDClaudio D. Schteingart, PhDMitchellL.Schubert,MD,FACP,AGAFEdward H. Schultheiss, MDKonrad S. Schulze, MD, FRCPCCynthia L. Sears, MDUrsula Seidler, MD, AGAFJohn R. Senior, MDThomas E. Sepe, MD, AGAFAshwani K. Sethi, MD, MSNikunj N. Shah, MDVipul H. Shah, MDMahin Shamszad, MDPrateek Sharma, MDRosabella Shek, MDDennis D. Shen, MDStuart Sherman, MDHelenM. Shields,MD, FACP, AGAFMrs. Eileen Shields-WestJason H. Shin, MDRobert A. Silber, MDTimothy C. Simmons, MDFranz Simon, MD

D. Brent Polk, MD, AGAF, and incoming AGA Institute President-electGail A. Hecht, MD, AGAF, at the AGA Foundation Benefactors Dinner

Sheila E. Crowe, MD, AGAF, and Peter B. Ernst, DVM, at theAGA FoundationWomen in Science DDW 2008 reception.

$1,000 - $4,999 continued

41

James K. Simpson, III, MDPankaj Singh, MDSinton Family TrustLinda K. and Richard L. Smith, MDRoger D. Soloway, MD, AGAFChi Wook Song, MDMichael F. Sorrell, MDSouthwest Gastroenterology

Associates, PCStuart and Cynthia SpechlerMichael W. Stavinoha, MD, PAMichael Steer, MDGregory J. Stella, MDBerit Sternby, MD, PhDPeter D. Stevens, MDCharmaine A. Stewart, MDRobert J. Stoffa, MDB. Douglas Stokes, MDR. Douglas Strickland, MDWilliamson B. Strum, MD

John B. Sturgeon, MDMichael Sue, MDKentaro Sugano, MD, PhDSaud Suleiman, MDYasukiyo Sumino, MD, PhDErnest L. Sutton, MD, MPHKenneth G. Swan, MDThomas M. Swantkowski, MDYvette Taché, PhD, AGAFShin’ichi Takahashi,

MD, PhD, AGAFKoji Takeuchi, MDTadashi Takeuchi, MD, PhDHajime Takikawa, MD, PhDEdward J. Tapper, MDIan L. Taylor, MD, PhD, AGAFJonathan P. Terdiman, MDGeorge P. Thomas, MDRaymond M. Thomas, MDErik P. Thyssen, MD

Loyal G. Tillotson, MD, PhDNelia A. Tobey, PhDRaymond Tobias, MDJeffrey L. Tokar, MDKeith and Susan TolmanWinston C. Tom, MDJames Torosis, MDJerry S. Trier, MD, AGAFHuy N. Trinh, MD, AGAFDietmar V. Trulzsch, MDNaoky Tsai, MDDr. Gail TsimpreaUniversity of Texas Medical

BranchShiro Urayama, MDJorge M. Uribe, MD, PhDJacques Van Dam, MD, PhDRebecca W. Van Dyke, MDGary W. Varilek, MDArun Verma, MD

Mark R. Versland, MDRakesh Vinayek, MDRaju N. Vora, MDTimothy C. Wang, MD, AGAFKymberly Watt, MDJerome D. Waye, MD, AGAFJoseph L. Webster Sr., MDGerald S. Weinstein, MDWilfred M. Weinstein, MDNorman W. Weisbrodt, MDJulius Wenger, MDPeter F. Whitington, MDRobert F. Willenbucher, MDAston B. Williams, MDRichard B. Williams, MDFrederick A. Wilson, MDDouglas C. Wolf, MDJackie D. Wood, PhD, AGAFRobert Wood

F. Taylor Wootton, III, MD, AGAFWorldCom Settlement FundGary D. Wu, MDGeorge Y. Wu, MD, PhDJohn B. Wyman, MDYun Xia, MD, PhDAkinori Yanaka, MD, PhDGeorge E. Yared, MDDr. and Mrs. Yuen San YeeAnusak Yiengpruksawan, MDSei Jin Youn, MDMamoun Younes, MD, AGAFGraeme P. Young, MD, FRACPHarvey S. Young, MDJohn K. Zawacki, MDCeleste ZellerbachJeffrey D. ZientsRonald A. Zlotoff, MDMarc J. Zuckerman, MD, AGAF

$1,000 - $4,999 continued

Jeffrey A. Abrams, MDDean Abramson, MDMaria T. Abreu, MDJoseph Ahn, MDJames Aisenberg, MDJamil Akhras, MDAderonke F. Akingbola, MDImtiaz Alam, MDJoseph M. Alcorn, MDMurali Alloju, MDMohammad M. Alsolaiman, MDAmerican Institute for

Cancer ResearchDr. Rupen S. AminSharmila Anandasabapathy, MDFrank A. Anania, MD, AGAFAnonymousPeter P. Aran, MDIrwin M. Arias, MDHarriette and Jeffrey Aron, MDSanjeev Arora, MD, AGAFHarry R. Aslanian, MDAssociates in Gastroenterology, PCEvren Atillasoy, MDMartin E. Avalos, MDMatt S. Z. Bachinski, MDRuth BalisAli Banaie, MDPeter A. Banks, MD, AGAFBanks Charitable FundAbbas BaqueriCharles F. Barish, MD, AGAFJohn D. Barker Jr., MD, AGAFJamie S. Barkin, MD, AGAF

Chris and Isabelle BarnardJohn A. Barnard, MDTodd Huntley Baron Sr., MDKim E. Barrett, PhD, AGAFSrisaila Basavappa, MDWilliam M. Battle, MDTheodore M. Bayless, MD, AGAFScott Becker, MDSimon Behar, MDTom BenderTamir Ben-Menachem, MDCarolyn E. BergerM. Cecilia Berin, PhDGeoffrey Bernstein, MDRalph B. Bernstein, MDSusan A. BernsteinCarol L. Berseth, MDSanjay T. Bhat, MDManoop S. Bhutani, MDStephen J. Bickston, MD, AGAFMark and Ann BirnsTiffany M. BlakeAllen R. Blosser, MDGregory M. Bolduc, MDMerry J. BoltSomprak Boonpongmanee, MDSerhat Bor, MDIrene T. BorreeThomas R. Borthwick, MDAthos Bousvaros, MDTerry D. Box, MDDr. and Mrs. David Hayse BoydHarry E. Bray, MDScott Robert Brazer, MD

Howard L. Brensilver, MDMaria BrezinaAnnemarie BroderickSteven Brozinsky,MD, FACP, FACGKeith W. Bruninga, MDSalvatore M. Buffa, MD, AGAFRobert S. Bulat, MDEugene J. Burbige, MDAlain Burette, MDEzra B. Burstein, MDWilliam D. Buser, MDEugene Butcher, MDFloyd C. Byfield, MDDavid E. Byrd, MDAlan J. Cameron, MD, AGAFLesley L. Campbell, MDMarcia I. Canto, MDJoseph Cappa, MDJesus Carale, MDJohn M. Carethers, MD, AGAFHannah V. Carey, PhD, AGAFDavid A. Carron, MDChris Cartwright, MDFernando Centeno-Cardenas, MDCFC - Overseas AreaGregory L. Champion, MDBalu Chandra, MDRam I. Chandra, MDCharissa Y. Chang, MDLin Chang, MD, AGAFCatherine P. Cheney, MDChristopher P. Cheney, MD, PhDSteve J. Cheng, MDJames S. Chesley Jr., MD

Stefan J. Chin, MDJennifer A. ChisholmSarkis J. Chobanian, MDJayanta Roy Chowdhury, MD,

AGAFNamita Chowdhury, PhDNicholas L. Christopher, MDChe-Nan Chuang, MDAndrew B. Chun, MDAnthony M. CivaleThomas Claiborne Jr., MDRobert J. Coffey Jr., MDJerold A. Cohen, MDLawrence B. Cohen, MD, AGAFManley Cohen, MDNorman N. Cohen, MDJudith F. Collins, MDStephen M. Collins, MD

Fabio Cominelli, MD, PhDHari S. Conjeevaram, MDConnecticut Gastroenterology

Consultants, PCF. Scott Corbett, MDMaria Almira Correia, PhDMark J. Cossentino, MDPaul M. and Valerie M. Crane

DorfmanIsrael Crespo, MD, PAWilliam and Kathleen CrewsMarcia R. Cruz-Correa, MD, PhDMark J. Czaja, MD, AGAFCarl R. Dahl, MDAristotle J. Damianos, MDHershel A. Danemann, MDMyrta Daniel, MDJohn P. Day, MD

$250 - $999

(left to right) Frances Powell, Anil Vootkur, PharmD, DonW. Powell, MD, AGAF,and Don C. Rockey, MD, AGAF, with Legacy Society members Dale Sandler,PhD, and incoming AGA President Robert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF,

at the 2008 Benefactors Dinner

42

Roberto de Franchis, MDWillem J. S. de Villiers,

MD, PhD, AGAFJean-Claude Debongnie,MD, PhDRobert A. Decker, MDRobert C. Deckmann, MDArthur J. DeCross, MD, AGAFLaurie Donna DeLeve, MD, PhDMichael P. DeMarkles, MDWilliam T. Denton, MDJulius J. Deren, MD, AGAFPeter H. Deridder, MDSurinder S. Devgun, MDGhislain Devroede, MDAnna M. Diehl, MDJames W. Dimitroff, MDVivek Dixit, PhDIndrawan L. Djajapranata, MDBarbara J. DonovanMichael T. Draelos, MDRichard H. Driscoll Jr., MDDouglas A. Drossman, MD, AGAFFred Duckworth Jr., MDJean-Francois J.DuFour,MD,AGAFGareth Dulai, MD, MSHSScott A. Dulchavksy, MD, PhDAnh T. Duong, MDCharles E. Dye, MDGregory L. Eastwood, MDMartin Eastwood, MDKalman J. Edelman, MDJoseph B. Eisenach, MDSteven B. Ellison, MDGrace H. Elta, MD, AGAFKimberly S. Ephgrave, MDMichael N. Eppel, MDRomeo F. Esquivel Jr., MDMarissa A. Evans

Rebecca B. EvansRonald R. Fagin, MDJohn C. Fang, MDMing Fang, MDE. Isaac Faraji, MDMohammad Farivar, MD, FACPRichard G. Farmer, MDFrancis A. Farraye, MDDavid L. Faulk, MDKarim A. Fawaz, MDJerold Federman, MDPaolo Fedi, MDStephen M. Feinstone, MDRonald E. Feldman, MDS. D. Feldshon, MDM. Brian Fennerty, MD, AGAFStephen J. Ferney, MDGeorge D. Ferry, MD, AGAFRichard M. Ferstenberg, MDRichard A. Fieman, MDMargaret and Robert FinkJohn M. Flack, MDDavid E. Fleischer, MDGerald M. Fleischner, MDForest Laboratories, Inc.Chris E. Forsmark, MDStephen R. Freeman, MDAndrea J. Fribush, MDKeith A. Friedenberg, MDRichard J. Friedman, MDHoward P. Fritz, MDHans Fromm, MDSam R. Fulp, MDAkira Furoi, MDGlenn T. Furuta, MDN. D. Gallagher, MDGreg W. Galler, MDJames J. Galligan, PhD, AGAF

R. J. Garcia-Carrasquillo, MDRoland Garretson Jr., MDRonald D. Gaskins, MDJane M. Geders, MD, PhDAndres and Karina GelrudReinart and Eugene Gelzayd, MDLewis Genuth, MDHans Gerdes, MDDr. and Mrs. Stanford GertlerFrancis M. Giardiello, MDGeoffrey E. Gibson, MDWilliam J. Gilchrist, MD, AGAFHarvey A. Giller, DOJerald Giller, MDJ. Scott Gillin, MDConstance GilsonGregory G. Ginsberg, MD, AGAFJeffrey S. Glenn, MD, PhDFrank Glet, MDDr. and Mrs. Norman GoldbergAndrewM. Goldenberg,MD, AGAFJames R. Goldenring, MD, PhD,

AGAFJoel P. Goldfarb, MDGeorge F. Goldin, MD, AGAFIra S. Goldman, MD, AGAFGlenn L. Gordon, MD, FACP, AGAFJames D. Gorham, MD, PhDElaine R. Gossman, MDDavid Y. Graham, MDIan M. Gralnek, MDJohn F. Gray, MD, FACGPeter H. R. Green, MDRichard M. Green, MDLinda E. Greenbaum, MDLouis S. Greenbaum, PhDRonald E. Greenberg, MDNeil R. Greenspan, MDBeverley Greenwood-Van

Meerveld, PhDPhilip Grossman,MD, FACG, AGAFMoises B. Guelrud, MDSushovan Guha, MD, PhDBenjamin A. Guider Jr., MDVivek V. Gumaste, MDRajan Gupta, MDSanjeev Gupta, MDDavid M. Gutman, MDSidney Gutstein, MDWael M. Haddad, MDMartin Hahn, MDWilliam F. Hahne, MDCharles E. Hall, MDRobert A. Hammer, MDIra Hanan, MDFredric HarbusJagadeesh S. Hathwar, MDTetsuo Hayakawa, MD

HaymarketMedical Education, LPBernard A. Heckman, MD, AGAFC. A. Hedberg, MDRichard W. Hell, MDJames G. Hellerman, MDProfessor Frances HellmanThomas R. Hendrix, MD, AGAFMrs. and Mr. Mabel HerwegDonald P. Hetzel, MDRobert O. Heuckeroth, MD, PhDPeter D. Higgins, MD, PhDLeslie M. Higuchi, MDPaul C. Hiley, MDJohn P. Hinds, MDHinsdale Gastroenterology

Associates, SCHMR Health FoundationRichard A. Hodin, MDHarold P. Hoensch, MD, AGAFWalter J. Hogan, MD, AGAFDavid I. Hollander, MDKenneth M. Holt, MDDouglas E. Homoky, MDPerry Hookman, MDBrenda J. Horwitz, MDJeanMarie Houghton, MD, PhDDavid B. Hoverson, MDC. Donald Howe, MDStephen A. Howlett, MDJeannie S. Huang, MDKenneth A. Hubel, MDChristine M. Hunt, MDAlfred L. Hurwitz, MD, AGAFDavid F. Hutcheon, MDWilliam R. Hutson, MDJoanne C. Imperial, MDAnant V. Indaram, MDDavid A. Ingis, MDJames W. Innes, MDAhmad Irfan, MD

Yukimoto Ishii, MD, PhD, AGAFThomas J. Izquierdo, MDDr. Vinita JacobIra M. Jacobson, MD, AGAFPhilip E. Jaffe, MDDerek P. Jewell, MDWilma Jogunoori, PhDDavid A. Johnson, MDDorothyandKennethG.Johnson,MDDavid E. Johnston, MDJeffrey D. Jones, MDPatricia A. JordanoShobha N. Joshi, MDThomas A. Judge, MDNeil L. Julie, MDHyun Chae Jung, MDSteven L. Kadish, MDDavid R. Kafonek, MDMartin F. Kagnoff, MD, AGAFRobert C. Kaiser, MDAnthony N. Kalloo, MDDavid R. Kalman, MDArnold P. Kaplan, MD, AGAFMarshall M. Kaplan, MDJohn A. Karagiannis, MD, AGAFRobyn G. Karlstadt, MDGregory P. Karris, MDDavid M. Kastenberg, MDWilliam N. Katkov, MDJeffry A. Katz, MDJulian Katz, MDDavid A. Katzka, MDJackson H. Kaun, MDJonathan D. Kaunitz, MDDoris KellarDarlene G. Kelly, MD, PhDFredrick I. KennyAli Keshavarzian, MD, AGAFSanjiv K. Khullar, MDJoel M. Kichler, MD

$250 - $999 continued

Legacy Society Donor Uma K. Murthy, MD, withRobert A. Levine, MD, AGAF, at the AGA Foundation Benefactors Dinner

Foundation Donors Emily and J. Thomas LaMont, MD, atthe 2008 Benefactors Dinner at theMingei Museum

43

Robert S. Kiyomura, MDDr. and Mrs. Dale KlatzkerTimothy R. Koch, MDBaroukh E. Kodsi, MD, FACPRaymond S. Koff, MDEfi Kokkotou, MD, PhDAlan S. Kopin, MDRonald L. Koretz, MDLouis Y. Korman, MDAsher A. Kornbluth, MDPhilip M. Koszyk, MDRichard A. Kozarek, MD, AGAFRobert A. Kozol, MDRichard J. Kramer, MD, AGAFRussell Kramer, MDPhillip T. Krmpotich, MDPrasad M. Kulkarni, MDDouglas R. LaBrecque, MDPaul Lacey, MDThomas S. Lam, MDAlan E. Landau, MDJonathanLaPook,MDandKateLearAmanda A. LarsonDonna F. LarsonBret A. Lashner, MD, PhDThomas J. Layden, MDOscar Lebwohl, MDEric R. Lee, MD, MACGLinda A. Lee, MDRobert M. Lee, MDYoung-Mee Lee, MDHarvey B. Lefton, MD, AGAFAndrew B. Leiter, MD, PhDMarcy LelandAnthony J. Lembo, MDWayne I. Lencer, MD, AGAFEric W. Leong, MDMr. and Mrs. Joel Lesnick

Erwin Levin, MDFred A. Levin, MDMarc S. Levin, MD, AGAFSidney E. Levinson, MD, AGAFAaron M. Levy, MDT. Jake Liang, MDSimon Lichtiger, MDDavid A. Lieberman, MDCharles J. Lightdale, MD, AGAFHenry C. Lin, MDChristopher D. Lind, MDKeith D. Lindor, MD, AGAFKaren L. Lindsay, MDSteven J. Lipscomb, MDTrevor W. Lissoos, MDElliot M. Livstone, MD, PA, AGAFRichard London, MDThomas T. Long, III, MD, AGAFDaniel S. Longnecker, MDGeorge F. Longstreth, MD, AGAFHector H. Lopez Jr., MDD. Brad Lord, MDAnson W. Lowe, MDSusan L. Lucak, MDJuan Ernesto Ludert, MDJ. Adrian Lunn, MD, PhDMichael Lunzer, MDNancy LynnKenneth and Josephine LyonsLuis C. Maas, MD, AGAFJames L. Madara, MDMurthy S. Madhira, MDMichael S. Mahoney, MDZahoor A. Makhdoom, MDBaldev K. Malik, MDIftikhar A. Malik, MDMorton D. Malkin, MDCharlesM.Mansbach, II,MD,AGAF

Gerassimos J. Mantzaris, MDThomas S. MarchielRaul Marquez, MDLoren H. Marshall, MDDavid F. Martin, MDFrancois Martin, MDJames F. Martin, MD, AGAFPaul Martin, MDDaniel S. Matloff, MD, AGAFHisashi Matsumoto, MD, PhDDaniel C. Mausner, MDAlan N. Mayer, MD, PhDEmeran A. Mayer, MDIra E. Mayer, MD, AGAFLloyd Mayer, MDMr. and Mrs. Robert L. MayerBruno R. Mazza, MDDana MazzoniJonathan McCone Jr., MDNeil McIntyre, MDVincent A. McLaughlin Sr., MDPeter R. McNally, DONizam M. Meah, MDFrancis Megraud, MDThomas E. Meister, MDJuanita L. Merchant, MD, PhDDavid C. Metz, MDNelson H. Michelsohn, MD, AGAFMatthew S. Miller, MDRobert MillerM. Andrew Mirhej, MDEmil P. Miskovsky, MDWilliam J. Mitchell, MDMitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.Ravinder K. Mittal, MDRaymond F. Mohrman, MDThomas Montagne, MDAnthony Montemuro, MDRicardo Moreno-Otero, MDTimothy R. Morgan, MDMorgan Stanley & Co. Inc.William J. Morton, MDJames Mu, MDBrian J. Muska, MD, SCFarid Naffah, MDJerry Nagler, MD, AGAFRakesh Nanda, MDSamir K. Nath, MDAli T. Nawras, MD, FACP, FACGJohn L. Newman, MD, and

FamilyHuy A. Nguyen, MDMinhhuyen Nguyen, MD, AGAFNancy J. Norton, MDJames S. Novick, MDRobert A. Nussbaum, MDRobert K. Ockner, MDTatsuo Ogihara, MD

Kevin W. Olden, MD, AGAFRobert D. OlsonBolarinwa Olusola, MDMurad Ookhtens, PhDOpatrny Family FoundationTimothy R. Orchard, MDFredrick S. Orleans, MDEric J. Ormseth, MDDaisy Ortiz, MD

Tamas Otrok, MDPamela Ouyang and Thomas

MoenchKeshav D. Pandey, MDVincent S. Panella, MD, AGAFEugene Pantangco, MDDr. Jinhong ParkStan ParkerMiles Parkes, MDHenry P. Parkman, MDThomas E. Patteson, III, MDMary Pat Pauly, MD, FACP, AGAFPaul Pavli, MDK. Mark Payne, MDWilliam A. Pearce, MD, PhDDr. Wilma Peebles-WilkinsJohn H. Pemberton, MDArmado Salvador Pena, MD,

FRCP, AGAFRobert A. Pendley, MDArthur H. PennKathryn A. Peterson, MDCarol Ann Petruff, MDDavid M. Philips, MDDaniel L. Phillips, MDRaymond W. Phillips, MDThomas E. Phillips, MDJoseph R. Pisegna, MD

Martin H. Poleski, MDGregg Polidori, MDDebra J. Polson, MDF. Raymond Porter, MDTimothy J. Potter, MDTina Young Poussaint, MDDaniel S. Pratt, MDJames M. Pries, MDJames H. Pulju, MD

Eshwar B. Punjabi, MDBryce H. Purdy, MDNikolaos T. Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhDKatelyn L. Quynn andBarry R. SmithDr. Linda RabeneckStephen Rafelson, MDPatrick Rampal, MDHugo Rams Jr., MD, FACGCharles W. Randall, MDSatish S. C. Rao, MD, PhD, AGAFJeffrey B. Raskin, MD, AGAFSatish C. Rattan, DVMHarold F. Reilly, III, MDJohn F. Reinus, MDJames C. Reynolds, MD, AGAFSue J. Rhee, MDJonathan M. Rhodes, MDPatrick J. RichardsonThomas R. Riley III, MD, MSMary E. Rinella, MDThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLCGary D. Roark, MDMalcolm Robinson, MD, FACG,

FACP, AGAFDon C. Rockey, MD, AGAFGary Roggin, MD, AGAFJohn M. Rominger, MDSheldon N. Rosen, MD

$250 - $999 continued

Rick Boland, MD, AGAF, talks with Frisca L. Yan-Go, MD, her sonand daughter-in-law, at the AGA Foundation Benefactors Dinner

June Taylor,wife of AGAmember Ian L. Taylor,MD, AGAF, at the Benefactors Dinner

44

James L. Rosenberg, MDNorton S. Rosensweig,MD, AGAFLinda E. Rosenthal, MD, FACPZelda RosenthalSeth E. Rosenzweig, MDRoss Family FundRichard I. Rothstein, MDLucio C. Rovati, MDMarc RowanDiana L. Rowell, MDCyrus E. Rubin, MD, AGAFDeborah C. Rubin, MD, AGAFMarc R. Rubin, MDPaul C. Rubinstein, MD, AGAF

Robert B. Ruskin, MDGary J. Russell, MDEdward D. Ruszkiewicz, MD, FACGIlkka Saario, MDTodd L. Sack, MD, FACPCharles S. Saha, MDFred Saibil, MDJohn R. Saltzman, MDAlan R. Sandberg, MDMichael K. Sanders, MDIan R. Sanderson, MDJohn E. Sandgren, MDGeoffrey I. Sandle, MD, PhD, AGAFYou Sung Sang, MD, AGAFM. Huyett Sangree, MDManuel A. Santini, MDPeter J. Santogade, MDAnne L. Saris, MDSushil K. Sarna, PhDJonathan C. Saxe, MD, AGAF

Edwin C. Schafer, MDHarold P. Schedl, MDSteven Schenker, MDLila L. ScherlThomas D. Schiano, MDProfessor Rudolph SchiesselEdith SchimmelJeffrey L. Schlachter, DOPaul F. Schleinitz, MDDr. and Mrs. Michael SchmerinRichard P. Schneider, MDGail T. Schoenau, MDJames Schoenecker, MDPhilip S. Schoenfeld, MD

Gary J. Schwartz, MD, AGAFHoward I. Schwartz, MD, AGAFRonald P. Schwarz, MDLarry D. Scott, MD, AGAFWilliam N. Segal, MDThomas Sell, MD and Patricia

Kuzma Sell, MDJoseph Sellin, MDCarol E. Semrad, MD, AGAFDavid A. Shafritz, MDPrince Shah, MDRaj J. Shah, MDUzma Shah, MDDr. and Mrs. Ronald S. ShaneNirmala Shanmugam, MDChristopher T. Shaw, MDSteven I. Shedlofsky, MDAlan J. Sheinbaum, MDMary Ann H. Sherbondy, MD, MSSunil Sheth, MD

Yih-Fu Shiau, MDArthur D. Shiff, MDSteven J. Shiff, MDJoel ShiffrinShichiro Shiina, MDKeiko Shiratori, MDShore Gastroenterology

Associates, PCSanjeeb Shrestha, MDThomas G. Shreves, MD, AGAFRobert J. Shulman, MDSylvain Sidi, MDRonald S. Siegel, MDAllen Silbergleit, MD, PhDVlado Simko, MD, PhDDouglas P. Simon, MDMichael D. Sitrin, MDWilliam J. Snape Jr., MD, AGAFEdy E. Soffer, MDConsuelo Soldevila-Pico, MD,

AGAFMargo SommaLawrence F. Sorkin, MDR. James Sorrell, MDDario Sorrentino, MDFreddy R. Sosa, MDMichael J. Sossenheimer, MD,

PhD, AGAFRhonda F. Souza, MD, AGAFBruce H. SpectorAmi D. Sperber, MD, MSPHRichard M. Sperling, MDBrennan M. Spiegel, MD, MSHSMark K. Spiegel, MD, AGAFSteven J. Squillace, MDJeffrey D. Stahl, MDDavid B. Stanton, MD, AGAFEddie C. Starnes, MD, FACGGeorge Stathopoulos, MDStavros N. Stavropoulos, MDLaurence E. Stawick, MD, AGAFCharles J. Steadman, MDBruce E. Stein, MDJohn R. Stephens, MDMark J. Sterling, MD, AGAFIrmin Sternlieb, MDJo Ann StoreyJohn R. Stroehlein, MDCarey B. Strom, MDEric Strom, MDIrvin H. Strub, MDElizabeth A. Sun, MDSapna Syngal, MD, MPHVéronique Taché-Zona, MDGreta Taitelbaum, MD, CM,

FRCP(C), FACG

Chi-Chiu Tan, MDMasao Tanaka, MDPhillip I. Tarr, MDJonathan Taylor, MDHelen S. Te, MD, AGAFDavid A. Tendler, MDKrishan D. Thanik, MDI. Ray Thomason, MDLawrence S. Tierney, MDPhillip P. Toskes, MD, AGAFTram T. Tran, MDZiga Tretjak, MDSandeep K. Tripathy, MD, PhDRichard A. Truesdale Jr., MDChung-Ming Tse, PhDHidekazu Tsukamoto, DVM, PhDArthur F. Tuch, MDDrs. Jerrold and Judith TurnerKeith S. Turner, MDSandra S. TurnerVivaik Tyagi, MDJames G. Tyburski, MDNadeem Ullah, MDThomas A. Ullman, MDDr. Geeta UpadhyayDirk J. van Leeuwen, MD, PhDShyam Varadarajulu, MDSteven L. Vest, MDVedapurisan Viswanathan, MDArnold Wald, MD, AGAFDavid T. Walden, MDW. Allan Walker, MDStephen A. Wank, MDJ. P. Waring, MDBrad W. Warner, MDAndrew L. Warshaw, MDJiro Watari, MDJohn B. Watkins, MDPaul B. Watkins, MDRichard B. Weinberg, MDMichael D. Weinman, MD

Michael L. Weinstein, MDJipu (Dan) Wen, MDJeffrey S. Wenger, MDW. Penn White, MDC. Mel Wilcox, MDRobert M. Williams, MDWilliamsburg Gastroenterology, P.C.Richard A. Willson, MDJoanneA.P.Wilson,MD,FACP,AGAFKenneth H. WilsonCharles Winters Jr., MDRalph M. Wisniewski, II, MDChristoph T. Woerlein, MDAnne A. Wolf, MDAllan W. Wolkoff, MDFlorence Wong, MDRoy K. H. Wong, MDMichele C. Woodley, MDDennis V. Worthington, MDTeresa L. Wright, MDBruce R. Yacyshyn, MDClifford S. Yaffe, MDShigeru Yamato, MDRandy J. Yanda, MDSuk-Kyun Yang, MDSung K. Yang, MDVincent W. Yang, MD, PhDDr. Zhixing YaoRockford G. Yapp,MD,MPH, AGAFHal F. Yee Jr., MD, PhD, AGAFDick M. Yip, MDCynthia Yoshida, MD, AGAFMelawati Yuwono, MDLindsay and Jordan ZakenAnthony Zaldonis, MDRimantas Zalepuga, MDDr. and Mrs. Richard E. ZanderMark A. Zern, MDHuiping Zhou, MDJohn J. Ziebert, MDStephen D. Zucker, MD

$250 - $999 continued

Linda and Richard E. Sampliner, MD, AGAF

LopaMishra, MD, and Legacy Society Member Marvin H, Sleisenger, MD,AGAF, at theWomen in Science reception during DDW

We regret that space does not permit us to list the more than 1900 donors who have made contributions of less than $250 to the Foundation. All gifts are gratefully valued and each gift

makes an important difference. The Foundation sincerely regrets any omissions or errors. Donor names are listed according to donor’s preference

National Office StaffExecutive OfficeRobert B. Greenberg, JD

Executive Vice President

Michael H. Stolar, PhDSenior Vice President

Lynn P. Robinson, JDSenior Vice President

Thomas Serena, MBA, CPACFO/COO

Dianne Bach, APRSenior Vice President, External

& International Relations

Lisa PriceExecutive Assistant

Stacie GalliceSenior Director, Information

& Planning Services

Diane FieldManager, Executive Office

Finance &AdministrationArceli Bacsinila, CPA

Director, Finance

Jay GrayAssistant Controller

Elisabeth BialoblockiManager, Accounting

Theodora WilliamsSpecialist, Accounts Payable

MembershipTheresa Remines

Director, Membership

Jackie JonesCoordinator, Membership

Juanita BonnerAssistant, Membership

Jackie RisAssistant, Membership

Eunice MaizeAssistant, Membership

Linda St. JulienReceptionist/ Assistant,

Membership

Human ResourcesKathi Armitage

Director, Human Resources

MeetingsCarole Anikis

Senior Manager, Meetings

Cheryl Butler-PooleManager, Meetings

Michele ThomasCoordinator, Housing &

Registration

Information ServicesLeslie Waite

Director, Information Systems

J. Walter CornejoSystems Administrator

Yongquan CaiInformation Specialist

DDW AdministrationEllen Silver

Senior Director, DDWAdministration

Sharon MorrisManager, Housing

Kasey McNeilManager, Exhibitions Operations

Chris AdamsManager, Exhibit Sales

Crystal YoungManager, DDW Program

Johanna MerrymanManager, DDW Convention

Nia MurphyAssistant, Meetings

Public AffairsMichael Roberts

Vice President, Public Policy

Kathleen TeixeiraSenior Director,

Government Affairs

Anne BichaDirector, Regulatory Affairs

Anne MarcklingerManager, Government

& Political Affairs

Education & TrainingCharles Willis, MBA

Vice President, Education &Training

John WhitonDirector, Council Operations

Anne MeansManager, Educational Initiatives

Elizabeth LeBarronManager, External Programs

Tamara JonesManager, Section Programs

Kathi RogersManager, Training

Lisa RoutzahnManager, Council Operations

Cheyenne HookerManager, CME Program

Adam BordenManager, E-Learning Programs

Steve ReedSpecialist, Education Technology

Mary KozlowskiCoordinator, Special Programs

Nataly SchwartzCoordinator, Education

Joy AkinyiCoordinator, Education

Rachel BealleCoordinator, CME

Foundation forDigestive Healthand NutritionCarol M. Dreher

Senior Vice President, FDHN

Jennifer Chisholm, MPHAssociate Vice President

Stacey Hinton, MPA*Director, Development &

Foundation Programs

Barbara LardizabalDirector, Foundation Relations

Richard PodgorskiRegional Vice President &

Director of Planned Giving

Bryan ReyCoordinator, Development

Operations

PublicationsChristine Charlip

Division Director,Publications

Erin DubnanskySenior Director,

Scholarly Publishing

Thoba KhumaloManaging Editor, Clinical

Gastroenterology &Hepatology

Kristine Novak, PhDScience Editor

Chris LoweAssistant Managing Editor

Sarah Williamson, MAMedical Illustrator

Brook SimpsonAssistant Managing Editor

Laura ClausCoordinator, Publications

Lindsey BrounsteinEditorial Assistant

Naeemah McDuffeyEditorial Assistant

Professional &Scientific AffairsWendy Cohen, MPH

Vice President, Professional& Scientific Affairs

Cecile Katzoff, MGAVice President,

Consulting Services

Deborah P. Robin, MSN,RN, CHCQMSenior Director, Quality

Jennifer ConteSenior Director, Clinical Practice

& Reimbursement Issues

Sheila Agyeman, MHADirector, Evidence Based

Medicine

Wykenna VailorManager, Research Policy

& Awards

Shovana SloanManager, New Technologies &

Reimbursement

Gail JohnsonCoordinator, Clinical Practice

Communications &MarketingJeff Springer

Vice President, Marketing &Communications

CommunicationsJessica Duncan*

Vice President, Communications

Aimee Frank*Director, Public Relations

Aaron R. White*Editor/Program Director

Jennifer Halbert*Manager, Design/Production

Alissa Cruz*Manager, Communications

Kwesi AgyemanSpecialist, Web/E-Communications

MarketingLaura Henning

Senior Director, Marketing

Amy OramManager, Marketing

Martha HollingsworthManager, DDW Marketing

Jeanette Arrighi, MBAManager, Marketing

Jessica Zeiler*Coordinator, Marketing/

Communications

External &International RelationsNick Wafle

Manager, Special Programs

Erica BoutinCoordinator, Special Programs

Central ServicesDerek Randolph

Director, Central Services

Shelly BelgardAssistant, Central Services

John WillisAssistant, Central Services

*Annual Report staff

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