ASGE honored several outstanding gastroenterologists who have contributed to the advancement of GI endoscopy during the Annual Crystal Awards Dinner on Sunday, June 3. Hosted by ASGE and the ASGE Foundation, the gala was held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
Held in conjunction with DDW®, the Crystal Awards gala recognized award winners for their notable achievements and significant contributions to the profession and the society. Proceeds from the Crystal Awards support the ASGE Foundation. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the ASGE Foundation, visit www.asge.org or call 630-573-0600 or 800-343-ASGE (2743).
HONOREES
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Rudolf V. Schindler Award
Grace H. Elta, MD, FASGE: “Rudolf Schindler was the father of gastroscopy and of the ‘club’ that eventually became the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. I am awed by the list of prior Schindler awardees and am deeply honored to be included.”
ASGE’s highest honor, this award is given to a member whose accomplishments in endoscopic research, teaching and/or service to ASGE exemplifies the standards and traditions of Rudolf V. Schindler, MD, founder of the American Gastroscopic Club, the forerunner of ASGE.
Dr. Elta’s storied career has brought her many leadership and teaching positions. She has primarily been involved with ASGE serving on several committees, as council on the governing board, as ASGE secretary and annual meeting program chair, culminating as society president from 2007 to 2008. She currently serves as the DDW Council chair.
Dr. Elta has been on the annual list of “Best Doctors in America” since 2001 and is the recipient of many grants and awards. In 2013 she received both the AGA Distinguished Clinician Award and the ASGE Distinguished Educator Award. Dr. Elta is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings and has authored over 100 original peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as numerous abstracts and book chapters. Interventional endoscopy has been her GI subspecialty.
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Distinguished Service Award
Frank J. Chapman, MBA: “It has been my extreme pleasure to be able to be involved in the continued development of those processes involved in the efficient and safe performance of endoscopic procedures. I am extremely grateful to those physicians who allowed me to participate and who continue the engagement with other administrators and nurse leaders.”
This award is granted to an individual who has made long-term contributions to GI endoscopy in the areas of equipment research and development, as well as an individual who has been a strong supporter of the educational and research mission of the society.
Chapman was the first non-physician to hold a seat on the ASGE Practice Management Committee where he is currently vice-chair. He represents the ASGE on the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and currently is the chair of the Standards and Survey Process Committee.
Chapman has a special interest in benchmarking and patient safety. He has authored several white papers on the subject of patient safety and was second author of the Multi-Society Guideline for Safety in the Non-Sterile Environment of Endoscopy. He is on the faculty of AAAHC’s Achieving Accreditation course, developed the ASGE’s Practice Management 101 and 201 courses and has been a past director and co-director of the GI Outlook course.
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Distinguished Educator Award
Frank G. Gress, MD, FASGE: “Being recognized as an educator and teacher of endoscopy is very special to me. I am very honored to accept this award, but I share it with my mentors, fellows, advanced fellows and colleagues that I have had the privilege to work with over the last 25 years.”
Physician as educator is the focus of this award, recognizing contributions to the education of fellows through endoscopy seminars, participation in national postgraduate courses and published scholarly reviews or educational materials, including videos.
Dr. Gress has published over 100 articles on original research in respected peer review journals and contributed over 50 review articles and book chapters to numerous textbooks on clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy. In addition, Dr. Gress has also co-authored several textbooks including Curbside Consultations for the Pancreas and Endoscopic Ultrasonography, which is widely appraised as a premier text for learning EUS. He also recently co-authored Atlas of Endoscopic Ultrasonography.
Dr. Gress has been very active in ASGE. He was chair of the ASGE Training Committee and has served on numerous committees, including Postgraduate Education, Nominations, Publications and more recently on Member Engagement and Diversity. He is also a member of the editorial review board for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and is currently the chair of the Trainee Engagement Task Force.
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Distinguished Endoscopic Research Mentoring Award
Peter B. Kelsey, MD, FASGE: “Our best mentors nudge us ahead, so that we can bring new skills, develop new technologies and advance our practice standards. And our former fellows will do the same for their young trainees. I am grateful to have played a role in this dynamic process.”
This award recognizes outstanding career achievement by an ASGE member in the mentoring of faculty or gastroenterology trainees in clinical or lab-related endoscopic research. This distinguished honor recognizes mentors who have devoted substantial time and effort to develop and nurture the next generation of endoscopic investigators.
During Dr. Kelsey’s 35 years at Massachusetts General Hospital, he spent the majority of his time with his mentor and colleague Robert Schapiro, MD, unit chief Daniel Podolsky, MD, and chief of endoscopy William Brugge, MD. During his association with Dr. Brugge, and friends at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, they developed one of the first advanced endoscopic training programs, which he considers the first gift of his career.
The second gift of his career came with the opportunity to open new fields in endoscopic videography and online education. Along with Dr. William Brugge and Dr. Brenna Casey, Dr. Kelsey developed the DAVE project, the first online, open access, peer reviewed, video resource for gastroenterologists worldwide. This was followed by years of ASGE co-sponsored teaching and hands-on courses.
Master Endoscopist Award
Norio Fukami, MD, FASGE: “Since I joined ASGE over 15 years ago, I took every opportunity to learn from exceptional members of ASGE with innovative minds, vast knowledge and mastery of endoscopic procedures. I feel there is no greater honor to be recognized by the colleagues and masters of endoscopy of ASGE.”
This award recognizes a physician who spends the majority of his/her time in patient care and is recognized regionally or nationally for his/her expertise and longitudinal contributions to the practice of gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Dr. Fukami has been involved in ASGE and served on the International Membership Committee, Assessment and Certification Task Force, Standards of Practice Committee and IT&T Committee. ASGE’s mission and commitment for education was a great attraction for his ambition to support education in endoscopy. As an academic interventional gastroenterologist, Dr. Fukami has authored many peer-reviewed manuscripts and invited articles, as well as abstracts and book chapters.
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International Service Award
Ajay Kumar, MD: “As an ASGE member, I was always impressed by the way the Society was organized to provide leadership and guidance in the field of GI endoscopy and has done an impressive job in spreading education and establishing quality in endoscopy throughout the world. I feel honored to join the list of some of the most eminent contributors in the field of GI endoscopy across the world.”
This distinguished honor is presented to an international member who has served in a significant way to advance the mission of the society in the international community.
Dr. Kumar is currently chairman of the Fortis Escorts Liver and Digestive Diseases Institute, New Delhi, India. In addition to clinician, endoscopist and teacher, Dr. Kumar has distinguished himself as a leader in the medical field. He has been the secretary and president of the Society of GI Endoscopy of India (SGEI), by virtue of which, has worked to promote the association of ASGE with SGEI.
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President’s Award
Kenneth K. Wang, MD, FASGE: “I truly appreciate this award since I likely do not deserve it. This makes it even better. Honestly, my association with the ASGE has given much more than I have given to the organization. The people in the society have represented the best of the profession and I am blessed to have known them.”
Awarded at the discretion of the ASGE president, the President’s Award distinguishes those individuals who make exceptional contributions to the society and its mission. Whether through organized volunteer opportunities or singular initiatives supporting the goals of ASGE, honorees are recognized for this assistance by the president.
Dr. Wang is currently director of advanced endoscopy and the Van Cleve professorship in gastroenterology research. His interests have been in Barrett’s esophagus, biomedical photonics and endoscopy. He is past president of ASGE where he made many friends and learned a great deal from the best endoscopists in the world.
[/accordion] [/accordions]GRANT AND AWARD RECIPIENTS
Research Awards
Joseph Anderson, MD
Christopher Chapman, MD
Badih Joseph Elmunzer, MD
Cadman Leggett, MD
Heiko Pohl, MD
David Vera, MD
NYSGE Florence Lefcourt Endoscopy Research Award
Peter Liang, MD, MPH
Diversity Awards
Ethnicity Research
Mohammad Bilal, MD
Gender Research
Mohamed Moneeb Azab, MD
Outstanding Manuscript Award
Sung Il Jang, MD, PhD
Endoscopic Audiovisual Awards
Perica Davitkov, MD
Vani Konda, MD, FASGE
Endoscopic Training Awards
Gene Ma, MD
Mahmoud Omar, MD
Hassan Siddiki, MD, MS
Basil I. Hirschowitz, MD Endowed Lecture
Glenn M. Eisen, MD, MPH, FASGE
J. Edward Berk, MD, DSc, FASGE Endowed Lecture
Robert Sedlack, MD, MHPE, FASGE
Jack A. Vennes, MD and Stephen E. Silvis, MD Endowed Lecture
Vanessa M. Shami, MD, FASGE
Gene and Lyn Overholt Lecture
Colleen M. Schmitt, MD, MHS, FASGE
ASGE Ambassadors
Nalini Guda, MD, FASGE
Klaus E. Monkemuller, MD, PhD, FASGE
Paul Yeaton, MD
Cynthia M. Yoshida, MD
