In this episode of Private Practice Perspectives, Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam, current president and board chair of Digestive Health Physician Association, speaks with Dr. Larry Kim, current president of AGA, about how GI societies can best support fellows and early career physicians.
Author: Abhay Panchal
By 2037, the U.S. faces a projected shortfall of ~1,390 gastroenterologists, driven by rising patient demand, limited fellowship positions, and uneven geographic distribution. Currently, there are ~19,200 gastroenterologists, including ~1,600 pediatric specialists, with about 1 in 6 working in locum tenens roles to fill coverage gaps. Recruitment is challenging, with median vacancy times of 186 days, and each gastroenterologist generates ~$2.9 million in annual hospital revenue. Key strategies to mitigate shortages include GI hospitalist models and integrating locum tenens gastroenterologists to maintain access, improve patient flow, and sustain hospital revenue, particularly in underserved regions.
Medicare just rewrote the telehealth rulebook for 2026. The new funding bill and final Physician Fee Schedule lock in some long-awaited wins—like permanent virtual direct supervision and teaching-physician flexibility—but also roll back a major pandemic-era convenience: doctors can no longer bill from home using their regular practice address. For many GI and specialty groups, that change means operational headaches and new compliance work. AGA has already flagged it as a key advocacy issue to fix before implementation.
Three Takeaways for the Future of GI 1. Cancer Screening Enters a New Scale PhaseAbbott’s acquisition signals a structural shift: early cancer detection (MCED, MRD, noninvasive screening) is moving from emerging innovation to mass-market scale.With Abbott’s global distribution, regulatory experience, and manufacturing capacity, adoption will accelerate far beyond what Exact could have achieved independently. 2. Cologuard Just Got a Global Engine Behind It Expect a dramatic expansion of both Cologuard and Cologuard Plus—driven by: For GI practices, this means a larger population entering screening earlier, often before they reach specialist care—reshaping referral patterns and CRC prevention strategies. 3. Abbott Is…
In a major move to strengthen the link between digestive and mental health, Cylinder Health — formerly Vivante Health — has appointed Dr. Grace Niu as Head of Gut-Brain Health and Dr. Ujjwal Ramtekkar to its Clinical Advisory Board. Both experts bring deep clinical and academic experience in neuroscience and behavioral medicine, signaling a strategic push toward integrated gut-brain care. With over 70 million Americans affected by GI disorders, Cylinder’s virtual platform already supports patients with conditions like IBS, chronic pain, anxiety, and disordered eating. The new appointments will expand gut-brain–specific therapy, clinical triage, and digital psychological care across all…
After years of consolidation and corporate medicine, a quiet rebellion is taking root — doctors are reclaiming control of their practices. In her article for Medical Economics, Melissa Starowitz explores why growing numbers of physicians are leaving large health systems to build independent models centered on autonomy, purpose, and patient connection. With burnout rates nearing 63% and administrative tasks consuming twice as much time as patient care, many clinicians feel trapped in bureaucracy. Independence, once viewed as risky, is now seen as a path to renewal — offering freedom to craft care models aligned with personal values, choose technologies, and…
In a candid interview with GI and Hepatology News, Dr. Manol Jovani, medical director for advanced therapeutic endoscopy at Gastro Health Florida, shares lessons from a career spanning 70+ research papers, global presentations, and groundbreaking work in third-space and bariatric endoscopy. Dr. Jovani recounts performing a 12-hour endoscopic removal of early gastric cancer, preserving a patient’s stomach and quality of life—a feat once possible only through surgery. He reflects on how lumen-apposing stents and third-space endoscopy are redefining minimally invasive care, enabling drainage procedures and early cancer treatment without open operations.
In a major announcement from Tokyo, Olympus Corporation revealed a bold new strategy to transform the future of endoscopy-enabled care—shifting from traditional hardware to AI-powered, robotic, and cloud-connected solutions that promise earlier detection, safer procedures, and seamless continuity of care. Under CEO Bob White’s leadership, Olympus’ three strategic pillars—Innovation-driven Growth, Simplicity, and Accountability—aim to accelerate MedTech innovation while improving operational agility. The company will undergo a global organizational transformation projected to yield ¥24 billion in annual savings and streamline its workforce by about 2,000 positions. Financially, Olympus is targeting 5% annual revenue growth, 10% EPS CAGR, and enhanced free cash…
Private equity’s investments in healthcare have often struggled to meet expectations. Top-line growth and attractive exit multiples are elusive in a sector weighed down by legacy systems, labor costs, and regulatory complexity. The urgent question facing investors, operating partners, and portfolio company leaders is: How can we reinvigorate returns and unlock enterprise value? The article explores how AI is already making an impact in specific use cases in HealthTech and tech-enabled services.
The highest-paid gastroenterologist in New York City earns $980,900 per year, according to Medscape’s salary reporter tool. Here is what the five highest-paid gastroenterologists in New York City earn each year, their amount of experience and their practice setting.