The annual AGA Postgraduate Course at DDW^® will review new strategies for evaluating and treating gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. The course, The Full Scope of GI Advances, begins with a full day of programming on Saturday, May 6, and concludes with a half day of programming on Sunday, May 7.

“We are focusing on the newest surgical and medical advances as well as emerging technology trends in the field,” said course director Suzanne Rose, MD, MSEd, AGAF, professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington. “Our No. 1 objective is ensuring that when our attendees get home, they will be able to apply new strategies right away to improve patient care.”

A combination of general sessions and breakout discussions will explore the gut from top to bottom, as well as the liver, biliary tree and pancreas. Course speakers will engage attendees with the help of an audience response system designed to promote interaction and provide real-time feedback.

The first day of programming opens with a “Hot Topics” general session. Four expert presenters will address opioids and abdominal pain, the microbiome and obesity, viral hepatitis after the cure, and fecal microbiota transplant.

The second session focuses on inflammatory bowel disease. Topics include selecting the correct therapy for outpatients, dealing with severe ulcerative colitis in the hospitalized patient, reviewing the standard of care for the surveillance of dysplasia, and managing special populations, including the transitioning adolescent, the elderly and pregnant patients.

Saturday’s luncheon breakout sessions will feature interactive discussions with plenty of time for questions and answers. These will be followed by a session focused on the biliary tree and pancreas. Presenters will review the latest on biliary strictures, acute and chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic and biliary neoplastic diseases.

The next session is titled “Love the Liver” and will feature updates on viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, autoimmune and cholestatic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Saturday’s programming will conclude with 14 case-based breakout sessions presented concurrently.

“These are based on real patients and cases that our faculty have had to deal with,” Dr. Rose said. “The people who walk through the door in real practice can be far more challenging than anything we could dream up on our own. The key is remembering that there are almost always options.”

Sunday’s programming begins with five presentations on the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Topics include Barrett’s esophagus, eosinophilic esophagitis, functional heartburn, proton pump inhibitors, and celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

The final session of the postgraduate course will focus on disorders of the colon and rectum. Attendees will learn the latest information on colorectal cancer screening and surveillance, polypectomy, the Rome IV criteria for functional bowel disorders, pelvic floor dysfunction and constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and disorders of the anorectum.

“This course is really for everyone who wants to take great care of their patients,” Dr. Rose said. “We know many of the attendees will be practicing GIs and hepatologists, but we expect our audience to include trainees, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and clinicians sitting for their Boards or recertification examinations. The AGA Postgraduate Course not only provides CME but also Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit. But ultimately, this course is all about improving patient care.”

The AGA Postgraduate Course requires a separate registration and fee. For complete course details and to register, visit the AGA Postgraduate Course website at pgcourse.gastro.org. AGA members are eligible to register at a reduced rate.