Letter from the Editor

 

This month we learned of the passing of Dr. Marv Sleisenger. There are few physicians who have had a greater impact on our field than Dr. Sleisenger. He was a consummate gentleman, enthusiastic teacher, great mentor, authored hundreds of research papers, and edited the most famous textbook of gastroenterology. Our thoughts and hearts are with his family and friends.

Articles in this month’s issue cover some of the most difficult and vexing problems in gastroenterology. One article is a reminder to use colonoscopy resources wisely and back off surveillance intensity for some nonadvanced adenomas. Another highlights an issue that frustrates many of us – anesthesia’s requirement to intubate UGI bleeds – and may not be the best practice. The third brings up the ongoing issue of biosimilars. Deeper in the issue we cover interesting findings about nonmedicine therapy for abdominal distention. Project ECHO is a tremendous demonstration of how changing our care delivery process can enhance patient care and maintain safe therapies. We cover an article on ERCP outcomes – linked to high volume (important for individual physicians and for centers where procedures are performed).

I would like to highlight our liver coverage. AASLD had their annual meeting in Washington in November. My colleague at University of Michigan (Anna Lok, MD) is the current president and helped spearhead a meeting that was packed with research and clinical information. We will be covering AASLD in greater depth in the months to come.

And while initial efforts to repeal the ACA have stalled, several key parts of the ACA continue to be modified or repealed either by Executive Orders or as part of the current tax reform efforts. We continue to view these efforts through the lens of our patients’ access to care.
 

John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF

Editor in Chief

 

This month we learned of the passing of Dr. Marv Sleisenger. There are few physicians who have had a greater impact on our field than Dr. Sleisenger. He was a consummate gentleman, enthusiastic teacher, great mentor, authored hundreds of research papers, and edited the most famous textbook of gastroenterology. Our thoughts and hearts are with his family and friends.

Articles in this month’s issue cover some of the most difficult and vexing problems in gastroenterology. One article is a reminder to use colonoscopy resources wisely and back off surveillance intensity for some nonadvanced adenomas. Another highlights an issue that frustrates many of us – anesthesia’s requirement to intubate UGI bleeds – and may not be the best practice. The third brings up the ongoing issue of biosimilars. Deeper in the issue we cover interesting findings about nonmedicine therapy for abdominal distention. Project ECHO is a tremendous demonstration of how changing our care delivery process can enhance patient care and maintain safe therapies. We cover an article on ERCP outcomes – linked to high volume (important for individual physicians and for centers where procedures are performed).

I would like to highlight our liver coverage. AASLD had their annual meeting in Washington in November. My colleague at University of Michigan (Anna Lok, MD) is the current president and helped spearhead a meeting that was packed with research and clinical information. We will be covering AASLD in greater depth in the months to come.

And while initial efforts to repeal the ACA have stalled, several key parts of the ACA continue to be modified or repealed either by Executive Orders or as part of the current tax reform efforts. We continue to view these efforts through the lens of our patients’ access to care.
 

John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF

Editor in Chief

 

This month we learned of the passing of Dr. Marv Sleisenger. There are few physicians who have had a greater impact on our field than Dr. Sleisenger. He was a consummate gentleman, enthusiastic teacher, great mentor, authored hundreds of research papers, and edited the most famous textbook of gastroenterology. Our thoughts and hearts are with his family and friends.

Articles in this month’s issue cover some of the most difficult and vexing problems in gastroenterology. One article is a reminder to use colonoscopy resources wisely and back off surveillance intensity for some nonadvanced adenomas. Another highlights an issue that frustrates many of us – anesthesia’s requirement to intubate UGI bleeds – and may not be the best practice. The third brings up the ongoing issue of biosimilars. Deeper in the issue we cover interesting findings about nonmedicine therapy for abdominal distention. Project ECHO is a tremendous demonstration of how changing our care delivery process can enhance patient care and maintain safe therapies. We cover an article on ERCP outcomes – linked to high volume (important for individual physicians and for centers where procedures are performed).

I would like to highlight our liver coverage. AASLD had their annual meeting in Washington in November. My colleague at University of Michigan (Anna Lok, MD) is the current president and helped spearhead a meeting that was packed with research and clinical information. We will be covering AASLD in greater depth in the months to come.

And while initial efforts to repeal the ACA have stalled, several key parts of the ACA continue to be modified or repealed either by Executive Orders or as part of the current tax reform efforts. We continue to view these efforts through the lens of our patients’ access to care.
 

John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF

Editor in Chief