In this latest commentary, Dr. David Johnson spotlights six breakthrough studies poised to influence GI practice. A serum-based test shows promising accuracy for early pancreatic cancer, potentially outperforming CA19-9. New data reveals unexpectedly high adenoma formation after immune-checkpoint-inhibitor colitis — raising questions about how soon to re-scope these patients. Another study shows early biologic use may sharply reduce rehospitalization for ICI-associated colitis.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Becker’s Healthcare outlines 15 trends that reveal a specialty under pressure and in transition. Gastroenterologists now generate nearly $3M in hospital revenue each year, yet open positions take over 180 days to fill and almost 1,400 GI specialists are projected to be missing from the workforce by 2037. Meanwhile, demand is surging — earlier-onset colon cancer, rising colonoscopy volumes, and expanding ASCs are reshaping how and where GI care is delivered. At the same time, private equity is accelerating its footprint with 28% growth since 2021, often controlling large portions of local markets and driving higher prices without measurable gains…
Dr. Paul Limburg, CMO at Exact Sciences and emeritus professor at Mayo Clinic, discusses advances in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, including mailed FIT programs to boost screening in rural and underserved populations. He covers developments in multi-target stool testing, addressing gastroenterologists’ skepticism, ensuring follow-up colonoscopies for positive tests, AI integration, microbiome research, and potential direct-to-consumer testing. He also shares insights on transitioning from academic to industry roles and the future of stool-based testing alongside colonoscopy.
AGA’s new clinical practice guideline on the pharmacological management of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease offers 16 evidence-based recommendations to guide treatment decisions. This guideline incorporates the latest comparative research on 11 different medications, helping you determine the most effective therapies for your patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Key updates AGA recommends the use of infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, risankizumab, mirikizumab, guselkumab, or upadacitinib, and suggests the use of certolizumab pegol or vedolizumab for managing moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Notably, the guideline emphasizes early use of these advanced therapies — rather than step-up approaches that rely on corticosteroids or immunomodulators first — to improve…
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.
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…