In this video, Dr. David Ramsay of Digestive Health Specialists in Winston Salem, N.C., discusses the different career paths available to fellows and early-career physicians, and why he chose to become a private practice gastroenterologist. Dr. Ramsay shares his insights into different private practice models and what physicians should consider when beginning their careers, as well as what questions to ask when trying to determine if an organization will be a good fit for their future career plans.
Author: Abhay Panchal
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected Intercept Pharmaceutical’s second bid for approval of obeticholic acid (OCA) for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with stage 2 or 3 fibrosis. In response, the company has decided to discontinue all NASH-related investment.Intercept first sought FDA approval for OCA in treatment of NASH in 2019 and received a complete response letter. The company refiled for a new drug application this past December. A second resubmission would require a completion of the long-term outcomes phase of an ongoing clinical trial, according to an Intercept press release.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty was more effective for weight loss than lifestyle modification alone in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and obesity, according to a speaker at EASL Congress. “Previous studies show how lifestyle intervention with a reduction of more than 10% of body weight promotes NASH resolution and fibrosis regression,” Javier Abad Guerra, MD, a gastroenterology and hepatology specialist at Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda University Hospital, said.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves in various sectors, and healthcare is no exception. One area where AI is poised to bring about a paradigm shift is gastroenterology, particularly in the realm of gastrointestinal health prediction. Traditionally, gastrointestinal health prediction has relied heavily on the expertise of gastroenterologists, who interpret results from a range of diagnostic tests, including endoscopies, colonoscopies, and imaging studies. However, these methods are not without their limitations. They can be invasive, time-consuming, and often rely on the subjective interpretation of the specialist. This is where AI-driven gastrointestinal health prediction comes in, offering a more efficient,…
NASHVILLE, Tenn., One GI®, The Home for Independent Gastroenterology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Mercado as the Senior Vice President of Payor Strategy. With an impressive background in healthcare contracting and strategic partnerships, Sean will play a critical role in driving One GI’s growth and strengthening its payor relations. His expertise will be instrumental in developing strategies to enhance payor partnerships, advance care delivery and service reimbursement models, and maximize the overall value of strategic payor collaborations.
In June, UnitedHealthcare attempted to clarify its new advanced notification process, which went into effect on June 1, in the wake of confusion among physicians and industry groups. Through the program, physicians and practices will be required to submit advanced notification before completing a number of non-screening GI procedures, providing UHC with patient demographic and health data. Providers who participate in the data collection will be eligible for a UHC “gold card” program, which is set to launch in 2024.
Dr. Isaac Kohane, a pioneer in bioinformatics, is a guest on the Medicine and the Machine podcast hosted by Dr. Eric Topol. They discuss the progression of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, particularly focusing on the transition from convolutional neural networks to transformer models. Dr. Kohane explains that AI attempts in healthcare and medicine had been made 30 years ago but failed due to insufficient patient and medical data, as well as the simplicity of neural network models at the time. However, in 2012, convolutional neural networks showed promise in detecting subtle changes in medical images that were not easily…
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making waves in various industries, from self-driving cars to personalized shopping experiences. Now, it is poised to become a game-changer in the field of gastroenterology, as researchers and clinicians explore its potential in diagnosing and treating digestive diseases. With the increasing prevalence of digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), AI’s role in revolutionizing the management of these conditions cannot be overstated.
The article highlights the efforts of the GI Research Foundation (GIRF) in providing substantial funding for research on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The foundation has rapidly allocated nearly $18.5 million to support studies focused on various types of GI cancers, including esophageal, stomach, liver, pancreatic, colorectal, and other digestive system cancers.
A recent analysis of 14 studies found that patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who had a vitamin D deficiency tended to have poorer mortality outcomes than those who supplemented with vitamin D. In an interview with CURE®, Laura A. Bolte, of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, discussed these findings, and what patients need to know about vitamin D intake.