The gastroenterology workforce is entering a pivotal stretch as an aging physician base collides with rising patient demand, all the while access gaps widen and compensation pressures mount in the background. Here are five trends to keep an eye on: 1. Large geographic access gaps persist across the GI workforce: More than two-thirds of U.S. counties do not have a practicing gastroenterologist, according to a Nov. 14 report from Medicus Healthcare Solutions. The report found that about 7 million people live more than 50 miles from a GI specialist. Workforce constraints are also tightening recruitment, with healthcare organizations taking a…
Author: Abhay Panchal
New data presented at ECCO 2026 suggests that a site-centric, AI-supported research network may significantly improve the speed and consistency of clinical trial execution in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Evaluating multiple Phase II and III trials across ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in the U.S. and Europe, Iterative Health’s global site network demonstrated an average patient enrollment rate of 0.34 per site per month—approximately 3.4× higher than published industry benchmarks. Trial activation timelines were also notably shorter, with a median of 74 days from site selection to activation compared to the typical 120–171 days, translating to a potential three-month time…
As most colorectal cancers (CRC) originate from precancerous adenomas, the ability to detect these lesions early remains central to reducing disease burden. A new review highlights the growing promise of blood-based biomarkers as a noninvasive alternative to conventional screening methods like colonoscopy—which, despite clinical effectiveness, continue to face compliance challenges due to their invasive nature. Advances in multiomics—including proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics—are enabling the identification of circulating biomarkers such as noncoding RNAs, DNA methylation signatures, disease-specific proteins, and metabolic profiles from plasma and serum samples. Emerging technologies like liquid biopsy, extracellular vesicle profiling, and machine learning–driven analytics are further…
In a bid to close persistent colorectal cancer (CRC) screening gaps, Guardant Health has launched a community grant program offering up to 100 free Shield blood-based screening tests per organization during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March. FDA-approved for average-risk adults aged 45 and older, Shield uses methylation-based cfDNA analysis to detect colorectal cancer–associated alterations from a simple blood draw—potentially overcoming participation barriers tied to stool-based or invasive screening methods. The initiative is aimed at underserved and historically under-screened populations, enabling nonprofits and public health groups to host local screening drives and educational outreach events at no cost to patients.…
Exact Sciences closed 2025 with $3.25 billion in total revenue, marking an 18% year-over-year increase—fueled largely by its cancer screening portfolio, including stool-based colorectal cancer screening test Cologuard. Screening revenue reached $2.53 billion, reflecting continued uptake of non-invasive, at-home CRC testing among average-risk adults aged 45 and older. Since launch, Cologuard has been used more than 20 million times, highlighting growing patient and provider preference for guideline-supported alternatives to colonoscopy. The company is now expanding beyond stool-based diagnostics, having secured exclusive U.S. rights to Freenome’s blood-based colorectal cancer screening test—signaling a strategic move into multi-modal CRC detection. Meanwhile, next-generation platforms…
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is moving past its traditional role as a diagnostic imaging and sampling tool toward enabling early disease detection, molecular profiling, and personalized treatment, according to a comprehensive review published in Gastroenterology. The review, led by Michael B. Wallace, MD, MPH, the Fred C. Andersen Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., describes how new technologies and workflows spanning molecular assays, advanced needle designs, and artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining the diagnostic potential of EUS across gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. “In the past five years or so, there’s been a…
Infliximab (IFX) transformed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care when it was introduced as the first biologic therapy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Now, a subcutaneous (SC) formulation may represent the next evolution. A review of published evidence shows that SC infliximab achieves higher and more stable serum drug levels compared with intravenous (IV) administration, with fewer neutralizing antibodies and comparable remission rates. Real-world data suggest that switching stable patients from IV to SC IFX (120 mg) is well tolerated and associated with a low relapse risk. Beyond pharmacokinetics, SC IFX offers practical advantages: While SC infliximab supports a more…
In this episode of the Gut Doctor podcast, Dr. Parikh discusses the current treatment landscape of constipation with Dr. Satish Rao. Dr. Rao is Chair of Gastroenterology, Professor of Medicine, and Director of Neurogastroenterology and Motility at August University.
At Crohn’s & Colitis Congress 2026, a large Mayo Clinic real-world analysis (580 GLP-1–exposed patients) found that patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease who used GLP-1s had: Compared with matched IBD patients not on GLP-1 therapy. This was an observational study — so no causality — but the consistency across both UC and Crohn’s suggests a potential anti-inflammatory signal. Bottom line: GLP-1s appear safe in IBD and may even confer benefit, particularly in patients with comorbid obesity or cardiometabolic disease. Prospective studies are needed before positioning them as adjunctive therapy.
The 2025 Identity Theft Resource Center report confirms what many physician-owners are feeling: cyberattacks are no longer random — they’re precise, automated, and increasingly targeted at healthcare. In 2025 alone: This is not “spray-and-pray” ransomware anymore. It’s strategic targeting of patient-record repositories — and private practices are high-value, lower-defense targets.