At the 2025 AGA Tech Summit, an unexpected innovation stole the show—and it wasn’t AI or robotics. It was Twistomy, a low-profile, twist-to-empty ostomy device designed to replace the traditional pouch system that hasn’t evolved in 70+ years. Created by Devon Horton and Lily Williams from the University of Colorado, the device aims to eliminate leaks, odors, and the emotional toll of current systems. Judges unanimously voted Twistomy the Shark Tank winner, calling it a “deeply empathetic solution” that could save $80,000 per patient in complications. With FDA approval on the horizon and a 3D-printed prototype already tested, the team…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Here’s a quick glimpse of highlights from the June 2025 issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology:
Michael Warne, CEO of Associated Gastroenterologists of Central New York in Camillus, joined Becker’s to share his perspective on the growing financial pressures facing independent ASCs — and why some may turn to hospitals for support despite concerns over operational impact.
A growing number of physicians are turning to locum tenens—temporary medical staffing—as a way to reclaim flexibility, boost income, and reduce burnout. As detailed in a recent Healio piece by Dr. Sanjeev Bhatia and attorney David B. Mandell, this centuries-old practice is becoming a modern-day strategy for doctors seeking change. Locum tenens assignments allow physicians to work where and when they want, often with higher per diem rates and fewer administrative burdens. It’s especially appealing to doctors looking to explore different practice settings or maintain work-life balance.
At the 2025 National Lipid Association conference, a compelling shift emerged: GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic) may protect the heart and kidneys regardless of weight loss. Traditionally seen as weight-loss and diabetes drugs, new data suggest they might do far more. The SELECT trial showed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events—even in patients without diabetes. Meanwhile, the FLOW trial revealed significant kidney protection, including slower disease progression and reduced risk of kidney failure—effects observed even before patients lost weight. What’s driving this? Experts point to semaglutide’s anti-inflammatory properties, which may mitigate systemic inflammation linked to both cardiovascular…
In a provocative conversation on the Heart of Healthcare podcast, Eric Jon Larsen—President of TowerBrook Advisors and former president of The Advisory Board Company—argues that U.S. healthcare may be the most unprepared sector for the generative AI revolution, despite being the one that needs it most. Larsen, a veteran healthcare strategist and investor, points out that no other industry combines so much unstructured data with so many labor inefficiencies. He draws parallels between GenAI and transformative technologies like the microprocessor and the internet but emphasizes that unlike past tech waves, this one might finally force change in a healthcare system…
A quiet crisis is unraveling the promise of modern obesity and cardiometabolic care—not due to drug inefficacy, but due to poor adherence. Despite breakthrough therapies like GLP-1s and SGLT2s, real-world persistence remains alarmingly low, with up to 70% of patients discontinuing by year three. Dr. Pankaj Rajvanshi challenges the system-wide failure: what if adherence was part of the disease—not a patient flaw? By embedding behavioral support, digital nudges, simplified regimens, and real-time tracking into care design, we could transform outcomes. Adherence benefits everyone: patients stay healthier, providers hit value-based metrics, payers cut costs, and pharma sees sustained use. So, who…
Salvo Health just raised another $4M, bringing its seed funding to nearly $10M—and its growth numbers are explosive: an 800% patient increase and 8x revenue jump in just eight months. Its secret? A fully digital GI care model that complements, not competes with, local practices. Think obesity, IBD, IBS, and fatty liver managed through interdisciplinary teams—dietitians, therapists, nurses—coordinated through an app, with Medicare and commercial insurance footing the bill. As colonoscopies remain the norm, Salvo tackles everything in between: lifestyle, food, sleep, microbiome. The future of GI might just be hybrid—and highly personalized.
Only 2 in 5 U.S. physicians now work in independent, doctor-owned practices—down sharply from 60% just over a decade ago. What’s fueling this shift? A toxic mix of shrinking insurance reimbursements, rising overheads, and relentless red tape. The American Medical Association warns that private practices are unraveling under financial and regulatory strain—while hospitals and private equity firms are rapidly buying them up. Some specialties like ophthalmology still maintain majority independence, but in most fields, corporate ownership is the new norm.With Medicare payments dropping 33% (adjusted for inflation) since the late ’90s—and little relief expected from Congress—the question isn’t if the…
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.—even as incidence and mortality have declined. Nearly 42% of adults aged 45–75 are not up to date with screening, missing opportunities to detect and prevent cancer early. While options like colonoscopy and stool-based tests are proven effective, participation lags due to discomfort, inconvenience, or stigma. Current screening tools each have trade-offs, prompting the ongoing search for a test that is noninvasive, highly sensitive, specific, and broadly acceptable—the key to closing the persistent screening gap.