In a candid reflection on the growing gastroenterologist shortage, Dr. Harish Gagneja of Austin Gastroenterology (a GI Alliance practice) offers a nuanced view on the role of private equity (PE) in addressing workforce challenges. Writing for the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), he draws on five years of experience within a PE-affiliated group to highlight both the support and scrutiny that come with such partnership.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Cambridge-based diagnostics company Tagomics has secured an £860,000 ($1.1 million) grant from Innovate UK to develop an early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostic using its Interlace platform. The award, part of the UK government’s Biomedical Catalyst programme, supports a £1.2 million project focused on identifying DNA-based biomarkers through multiomic profiling. The pilot study—led by Dr. Arash Assadsangabi, gastroenterologist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust—will profile 250 patients suspected of CRC in partnership with the Northern Care Alliance Research Collection. The aim is to validate early biomarkers and prove Interlace’s value in noninvasive detection.
Dr. Spencer Dorn, a practicing gastroenterologist and contributor to Forbes, offers a compelling insider’s view on why 2025 may be remembered as the year AI agents started transforming healthcare. Unlike early chatbots, these agents are built on large language models equipped with memory, tools, and decision-making capabilities—able to book appointments, answer billing questions, and even manage clinical follow-ups without human intervention. Dorn explains how these “digital workers” are already easing frontline burdens, especially in areas like call centers, intake, and post-discharge care. But he also issues a clear-eyed warning: as promising as these tools are, healthcare’s complexity makes deployment anything…
Dr. Sameer Berry, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Oshi Health, has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2025—a recognition of his groundbreaking role in reshaping how digestive care is delivered in America. Berry helped create and scale Oshi Health as the first nationwide virtual gastroenterology clinic, delivering a multidisciplinary, high-touch care model previously unseen—and unreimbursed—in GI. Under his clinical leadership, Oshi’s virtual model unites GI-focused dietitians, behavioral health providers, APPs, and gastroenterologists to provide faster, whole-person care. The result: a 98% patient satisfaction rate, improved outcomes, and $10,292 in cost savings per patient…
In a bold move to redefine gastrointestinal (GI) care, CRH Medical Corporation and WovenX Health have announced a strategic partnership aimed at tearing down long-standing access barriers in GI practices. This collaboration combines CRH’s trusted GI expertise with WovenX’s intelligent virtual care platform—enabling practices to deliver technology-enabled, guideline-based care in minutes, not months. With WovenX’s on-demand model already scoring sky-high patient satisfaction, the partnership promises to expand appointment availability, improve operational efficiency, and unlock untapped revenue potential for GI providers. As patient demand surges, this alliance signals a pivotal shift toward a faster, smarter, and more scalable GI care future.
In this Scope Forward conversation, Praveen Suthrum speaks with Leo Grady, founder and CEO of Jona. Leo’s background sits at the intersection of healthcare AI and microbiome science — a rare combination that’s defining the future of gut health diagnostics. Their discussion explores why the microbiome is not a distant promise but clinically actionable today. They dig into why AI isn’t just a tool but a necessity to interpret the complex, rapidly expanding world of microbiome research. Leo breaks down how Jona’s platform creates a “digital twin” of the gut microbiome, simulating evidence-based interventions rather than offering general advice. Praveen and Leo…
Summary:A study found that colorectal cancer screening could be boosted by using a rapid, app-read smartphone FIT, which detects occult blood in stool as accurately as in the laboratory. Takeaways
A groundbreaking study from the University of Maine has revealed how artificial intelligence stacks up against human clinicians when handling complex and emotionally sensitive medical questions. While AI impressed in delivering accurate, fact-based answers, it faltered when empathy, nuance, and context were needed most. Published in the Journal of Health Organization and Management, the study analyzed over 7,000 real-world medical queries from the U.S. and Australia. AI models performed well with procedural or diagnostic tasks but struggled with emotionally charged “why” or “how” questions—and showed inconsistencies when the same queries were repeated later.
Once thought to be rare, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is now diagnosed in 1 out of every 700 Americans — a fivefold increase since 2009. This chronic, allergy-linked condition is quietly reshaping GI practice and straining the healthcare system, with annual costs exceeding $1.3 billion. New data published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology reveal staggering growth across all age groups, with prevalence especially high in men and younger populations. Common symptoms? Dysphagia, abdominal pain, and strictures. Most patients also battle other allergic diseases — making EoE a multisystem challenge.
From million-dollar verdicts to revoked licenses, 2025 has seen a wave of legal action shaking the gastroenterology world. Among the cases: