A new study suggests current standards for GI fellowship training in the U.S. may no longer be enough.Productivity-based compensation in academic medical centers has affected the time available for procedural training, and post-fellowship assessment remains focused on written exams rather than hands-on skills. Sri Komanduri, MD, associate chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, conducted a study to evaluate whether simulation could help close the gap. His team’s findings, published in Gastroenterology with funding from the National Institutes of Health, suggest it can.
Author: Abhay Panchal
The intersection of AI and gut health is attracting massive consumer interest—and capital. Over $500 million flowed into gut health startups last year, as patients increasingly turn to AI tools for answers about digestion, diet, and microbiome health. But beneath the momentum lies a fundamental tension: AI is scaling faster than scientific understanding of the microbiome. Startups are building products that promise personalized insights—from stool analysis to microbiome-based diet plans—but the biology they rely on remains deeply complex and, in many cases, poorly understood. The gut microbiome is influenced by countless variables, from diet and stress to environment, making it…
Recruitment for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is challenging, with the average number of patients randomized per site per month declining significantly between 1998 and 2020 from 0.32 to 0.12 in ulcerative colitis (UC) and from 0.65 to 0.08 in Crohn’s disease (CD) (1). Prolonged enrollment increases trial costs and limits availability of new therapies for patients. Trial execution is hindered by substantial operational burdens placed on investigative sites, including study-specific training, administrative tasks (contracting, budget negotiations, regulatory documentation), and inconsistent prescreening workflows. These inefficiencies contribute to delayed site activation, slow patient enrollment, and underperformance across…
Gastric polyps are among the most commonly encountered lesions detected during upper endoscopy. These lesions encompass a range of histologic subtypes, including fundic gland polyps, gastric hyperplastic polyps, hamartomatous polyps, gastric adenomas, pyloric gland adenomas, oxyntic gland adenomas, and gastric neuroendocrine tumors. AGA’s newest clinical practice update provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the natural history and epidemiology of gastric polyps. It also offers guidance on best practices for endoscopic detection and classification, resection, and post-resection surveillance. Watch as Drs. Anna Buchner and Hashem El-Serag discuss gastric polyp detection and review the most common types identified in clinical practice.
As stool- and blood-based colorectal cancer screening gains traction, gastroenterology is entering a new phase—one where completion colonoscopies are becoming more frequent and more complex. Traditionally, screening colonoscopies have been evenly distributed across endoscopists, largely because the likelihood of encountering advanced neoplasms in average-risk patients has been low. For example, large adenomas (≥20 mm) appear in less than 1% of screening and surveillance procedures, allowing most endoscopists to manage cases within their comfort zone. That model is now being challenged. Positive noninvasive tests are more likely to funnel patients into colonoscopy with a higher pre-test probability of advanced lesions. As…
Gastro Health, a leading national medical group specializing in digestive and liver health, finalized a partnership with Digestive Disease Physicians. This marks Gastro Health’s eighth partnership in Virginia. Digestive Disease Physicians is a premier gastroenterology practice in Alexandria, VA, comprised of eight board-certified gastroenterologists and four advanced practice providers. In addition to its comprehensive clinical services, the practice features an on-site endoscopy center. Their dedicated team is committed to delivering individualized patient care using state-of-the-art medical equipment and advanced diagnostic techniques.
Despite advances in gastroenterology, one of the most basic elements of care—understanding bowel habits—remains surprisingly underdeveloped. Many patients, including highly educated individuals, are unable to describe what “normal” stool looks like or how their bowel patterns relate to health. This is not a niche issue. Nearly 40% of Americans report disruptions related to their bowel habits, and 15% live with IBS. Yet stigma, discomfort, and a lack of structured education prevent patients from discussing these issues openly or accurately with their physicians. The result is a fundamental mismatch: gastroenterology relies heavily on patient-reported symptoms, but patients are often unequipped to…
A report by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projected a shortage of up to 113,380 physicians by 2028. With an average annual income of $513,000 in 2024, gastroenterologists consistently rank among the top 5 highest-paid specialties. Gastroenterology is also one of the most in-demand specialties as measured by absolute demand, the number of physicians per number of job openings. Yet physician staffing in this specialty is not keeping pace. Here are some essential things to know about the gastroenterologist shortage.
One of the most fundamental inputs in gastroenterology—stool assessment—has long been built on subjective patient recall and crude categorization. That’s now starting to change. Dieta Health’s Stool Scan uses imaging AI to analyze stool in real time—capturing multiple variables like consistency, volume, color, and abnormalities—replacing the decades-old reliance on the Bristol Stool Chart and patient memory. The problem it solves is deeper than it seems: 👉 GI care, research, and even drug trials have relied on subjective, inconsistent data 👉 Clinical decisions are often based on patient interpretation—not objective measurement What AI introduces is a new layer: And the implications…
In the latest edition of The Scope Forward Show, I’m joined by:Dr. Aja McCutchen, gastroenterologist at United Digestive and Vice Chair of the AmericanGastroenterological Association Research Foundation. We begin with GI Mastermind, a leadership program for gastroenterologists thinking beyondday-to-day practice. Aja is a two-time participant. Since then, she has taken on national leadership roles and co-founded an AI-driven women’s digestive health company. She is a clear example of whathappens when these ideas are put into action. The conversation expands into a broader question: where is gastroenterology today, andwhere is it headed? It surfaces things many gastroenterologists sense, but rarely articulate out loud. Note: The American Gastroenterological Association…