2021
Dec. 11: The first-ever Anorectal Disease Workshop was directed by Dr. Waqar Qureshi, professor, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In addition to Dr. Qureshi, speakers included Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil and Dr. Rehman Sheikh.
Dec. 17: Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, Director of Baylor Global Health and professor of medicine, and Mike Mizwa, CEO of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children's Hospital, were among the seven Global Health Heroes honored at Medical Bridges 20th annual One People, One World Gala, held Dec. 9 in the Texas Medical Center. The organization aims to bridge the healthcare gap worldwide by distributing medical equipment and supplies to underserved communities.
Nov. 22: The Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is ranked #11 nationally according to U.S News & World Report - Best Universities for Gastroenterology and Hepatology and #1 in Texas. These rankings are based on performance across a set of widely accepted indicators measuring excellence in research, publications, and scientific reputation overall. The report encompass nearly 1,500 top institutions across 86 countries.
Oct. 28: Dr. Harvey Alter, 2020 Nobel Laureate, visited Baylor College of Medicine Oct. 28 during GI and Hepatology weekly Grand Rounds for a special Q&A.
Oct. 18: Dr. Tzu-Hao “Howard” Lee, M.D, Assistant Professor, has joined the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Lee will provide patient care at the Baylor St. Luke Medical Center as a part of our Transplant Hepatology team.
Oct. 4: Dr. Suneal Agarwal received a promotion from assistant professor to associate professor in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Agarwal has been on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine since 2014.
Oct. 1: The series offers professional development opportunities and tools to enhance leadership skills and assist with professional and personal goals for advancement for early career and mid-career faculty.
Sept. 24: Drs. Ramon Jin, instructor, Hematology and Oncology, and Ruben Hernaez, assistant professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, have been selected as part of the 2021-2022 cohort for the BCM Career Advancement Series. The series offers professional development opportunities and tools to enhance leadership skills and assist with professional and personal goals for advancement for early career and mid-career faculty.
Sept. 22: Dr. Bingning Dong joins the Section of Gastroenterology as an assistant professor. Dr. Dong’s research includes investigating the mechanisms that regulate obesity-associated metabolic diseases and cancer and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Her research program is highly collaborative and integrative, using cutting-edge experimental approaches involving cell culture systems, primary cell and organoid cultures, ex vivo models, and mouse models combined with multiple-omics and bioinformatics analysis.
Sept. 17: The Baylor College of Medicine Transplant Hepatology Program received its accreditation from the ACGME effective Sept. 10, 2021. Baylor is accepting applications for the three ACGME-accredited transplant hepatology fellowship spots for AY 2022-23. Fellows will complete an intensive 12-month clinical program in transplant hepatology under the supervision and mentorship of Baylor's top-notched fulltime hepatology and transplant hepatology faculty. The program will be based at Baylor St. Luke's.
Sept. 1: Dr. Othman has been on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine since 2014. He has had a productive career in academic medicine as an outstanding physician, scientist and educator. His career path and many accomplishments clearly show examples of how he has succeeded in each arena.
Sept. 1: Dr. Rollin George, joins the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He began his practice with the Department of Medicine Aug. 2, 2021, and is providing services at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. George’s areas of interest include general gastroenterology, evaluation and management of chronic anemia and obesity-related digestive disorders.
Aug. 27: Dr. Jessica Bernica joins the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She began her practice with the Department of Medicine Aug. 16, 2021, and will be providing services at Baylor McNair Campus, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and at a satellite clinic at CHI-Sugar Land. Dr. Bernica’s areas of interest include general gastroenterology, gastrointestinal
Aug. 25: Dr. Jason Mills has been nominated for the Herman Brown Endowed Professor in Medicine. The BCM Board has approved his nomination.
Dr. Mills was recruited after a competitive national search to Baylor College of Medicine in April 2021 to serve as chief of research and vice chief of the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, member of the Vice Chair Group of Research at Margaret M and Albert B Alkek Department of Medicine, and associate director and member of the Internal Advisory Committee of the BCM Digestive Disease Research Center.
Aug. 19: Dr. Jordan Sparkman joins the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He began his practice with the Department of Medicine Aug. 9, 2021. Dr. Sparkman will be serving the patients of Harris Health Systems at Ben Taub Hospital. His areas of interests include pancreaticobiliary endoscopy, luminal lesion characterization and resection, as well as the multidisciplinary management of GI oncology patients.
Aug. 13: Dr. Fasiha Kanwal, professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has received the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award. This award recognizes scientists whose recent research demonstrates the breadth and depth of science at Baylor College of Medicine. These awards are given on an annual basis in recognition of Baylor faculty who have made the most significant published scientific contribution to clinical or basic biomedical research during the past three years.
July 30: Baylor College of Medicine’s Gastroenterology and GI Surgery Service has been ranked number 24 in U.S. News & World Report – Best Hospital Ranking
July 2: Dr. Fred Sutton, associate professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has been elected as the BCM Office of Admissions faculty co-chair. He will oversee admissions committee policy, practices, and admissions decisions.
June 18: Dr. Avegail Flores will take on the role as the fellowship director for Transplant Hepatology Program. She will work with Dr. John Vierling to start the ACGME accredited program that will offer one year of advanced transplant hepatology training for those who completed a three-year fellowship in GI (PGY-7 year) as well as a combined gastroenterology/transplant hepatology fellowship program to allow for certification in both GI and transplant hepatology within three-year period (formerly known as the ABIM GI/Transplant hepatology pilot training program).
June 18: Dr. RJ Sealock, assistant professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has been selected to represent the Department of Medicine in the Faculty Senate as of July 1, 2021.
May 7: Dr. Jason Mills, M.D., Ph.D. has joined the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Mills is a pathologist and cell and developmental biologist and will provide services at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Feb. 5: The new Center for Ano-rectal Diseases, directed by Dr. Waqar Qureshi, consists of a dedicated team of clinicians specially trained to handle complex anorectal conditions. The team consists of gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons and motility experts to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for anorectal disease management.
The center performs the following procedures: anoscopy; hemorrhoid banding or infrared coagulation; Botox injection for the treatment of anal fissures; flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy with biopsy; anorectal manometry; pelvic ultrasound; pelvic MRI. Behavioral therapy for certain motility disorders is also available.
March 27: The 20th Annual GI and Hepatology Course, held in March, was a great success, with nearly 270 registrants. Drs. Mohamed Othman, Keturah Ramirez and Shelina Velani were vital to the success of the event.
March 17: The Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 with (virtual) Gastroenterology ladies night! The traditional dinner for female fellows was converted to surprise dessert delivery due to the pandemic. Faculty and fellows mingled toasting recent weddings and upcoming babies. This was followed by breakout sessions to discuss self-advocacy, work/life balance and more. Organizers were Drs. Nisreen Husain, Milena Gould, Yamini Natarajan, Richa Shukla and Mimi Tan.
2020
Nov. 5: The Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology was ranked #9 nationally according to U.S News & World Report - Best Universities for Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In addition, we are ranked among the top 20 universities for Gastroenterology and Hepatology globally.
Nov. 3: Dr. George Cholankeril has joined the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Cholankeril is a transplant hepatologist and will be provide services at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Aug. 17: Joseph Krill, M.D. has joined the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Krill has been selected as Gastroenterology and Hepatology’s Advanced Endoscopy Fellow for 2020. Dr. Krill will provide services at Ben Taub Hospital and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Sept. 4: Dr. Hemant Roy joins the Department of Medicine as the new Herman Brown Endowed chair of medicine and chief of medical services at Ben Taub Hospital. He is also serving as the vice chair of the Department for Harris Health System/Ben Taub Hospital. He will be a member of the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Aug. 7: Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center GI Motility lab has been included in the American Neurogastroenterology & Motility Society’s Registry of GI Motility Laboratories. This is a national recognition reviewed by the ANMS Clinical Practice Committee. This was made possible by the addition of anorectal manometry along with a number of quality procedures performed at our facility. This is a major achievement for Dr. Reena Chokshi and her group.
July 28: Baylor St. Luke’s was ranked in five adult specialties – Cardiology and Heart Surgery, No. 17; Neurology and Neurosurgery, No. 21; Gastroenterology and GI Surgery, No. 21; Cancer, No. 27 and Geriatrics 47. Importantly, this is the first time geriatrics has been ranked.
April 30: Dr. Yan Liu has been promoted from Instructor to Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, a rare but well deserved promotion! Yan Liu supports the College’s research mission with her exceptional strength in research and experience as a Senior Biostatistician. In addition to her 76 published peer review papers, she plays a key role in supporting and guiding junior faculty for their research studies, three of whom are currently funded by the College for their clinical and translational research.
