Live from ACG Advocacy Day 2026: Conversation on health policy in GI

In this episode, hosts Sameer Berry, MD, and William Chey, MD, speak with ACG president-elect, Costas Kefalas, MD, MMM, FASGE, about challenges facing gastroenterologists as well as his goals and initiatives for his upcoming presidential year. ·       How did you become interested in medicine, and who were your early influences? 2:46 ·       Kefalas on earning multiple degrees and being a lifelong learner. 7:30 ·       Can you talk about gastroenterologists engaging in alternative career strategies like locums tenens? 17:33 ·       What are the biggest challenges facing gastroenterologists? 20:11 ·       What is the college's perspective on AI governance and safety within GI? 24:44 ·       Kefalas discusses priorities and initiatives for his upcoming presidential year at the American College of Gastroenterology. 32:58 We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. References: DeCamp, M et al. Ann Intern Med. 2026;doi:10.7326/ANNALS-26-01792. Berry and Chey report no financial disclosures. Kefalas reports he is on the advisory board for Brain Tree and GI Health Foundation.

In this special crossover episode, Tuesday Night IBS co-founder Jeffrey Roberts, MSEd, BSc, is joined by William D. Chey, MD, Lin Chang, MD, Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN, LDN, and Amanda Lynett, MS, RDN, at the FOOD is the Main Course conference. ·       How did you manage the diet paradigm shift for managing care in GI conditions? 2:28 ·       How did witnessing the use of multidisciplinary treatment teams change your clinical practice? 15:05 ·       What was it like to manage the unique emotional toll in your career without burning out?  26:13 ·       What advice do you have for residents and fellows in GI? 43:36 ·       What core values do you hope others have learned from your leadership roles? 58:06 We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro, @sameerkberry and @umfoodoc. For more Tuesday Night IBS, be sure check out TuesdayNightIBS.com and to follow and subscribe to their podcast.   References: ·       Drossman DA. Gastroenterology. 2001;doi:10.1053/gast.2001.28976. ·       Khan S, et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2010.137.   Chang reports consulting for Ardelyx, Atmo, Eli Lilly & Co., FoodMarble, GSK, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and Ono Pharmaceutical; receiving speaking fees from Bausch Health; receiving research grants from AnX Robotica and Ironwood; serving on the Rome Foundation board of directors; and having unvested stock options with FoodMarble, ModifyHealth, PICO Health and Trellus Health. Scarlata reports having stock options with Verve Market, Epicured LLC and Fody Foods and receiving financial support from Ardelyx, Salix pharmaceuticals, Orgain and Activia. Chey, Lynett and Roberts report no relevant financial disclosures.   Chang is professor of medicine and vice chief of the Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Lynett is the lead registered dietitian with the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Food The Main Course conference. Roberts is a patient advocate and creator of the first website for IBS sufferers. He is the co-founder of Tuesday Night IBS. Scarlata is a U.S.-based dietitian with over 30 years of experience. Her expertise is in gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerance.

In this episode, hosts Sameer Berry, MD, and William Chey, MD, speak with Sarah Enslin, PA-C, Vivek Kaul, MD, and Amy Stewart, CRNP, about the benefits of introducing advanced practice providers in practice and how to help them succeed. ·       How can advanced practice providers, or APPs, help overcome access barriers in gastroenterology? 6:54 ·       How can we effectively onboard APPs? 10:24 ·       Is ACG's APP Academy for Clinical Excellence accounting for the fact that different specialties and practices have different requirements? 18:21 ·       What models have worked well for deploying APPs into GI practices? 24:32 ·       What strategies are most effective for APP retention? 29:07 ·       How can we improve professional development for APPs? 42:14 We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro, @sameerkberry and @umfoodoc.  Berry and Chey report no financial disclosures. Stewart reports financial relationships with AbbVie, Ardelyx, Celltrion, Cristcot, Eli Lilly & Co, Exact Sciences, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Mindset Health (Nerva), Nestle Health Science, Pfizer, Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Prometheus Laboratories, Regeneron, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Healio could not confirm relevant financial disclosures for Enslin and Kaul at the time of publication.

In a special episode recorded live on Capitol Hill, host William Chey, MD, speaks with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell about current challenges facing public health and policy issues surrounding access, advocacy and physician burnout. ·       When thinking about health care legislation, what value do you place on preventing disease over treating it? 2:46 ·       Why can't we get a permanent fix for telehealth benefits? 8:44 ·       Do you think there is any hope for passing the Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act? 10:43 ·       Chey and Dingell discuss health care disparities and incentivizing physicians to practice in rural areas. 11:55 ·       Chey and Dingell discuss NIH research. 15:47 ·       What can we do to get legislation like the Safe Step Act across the finish line? 21:45 We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. Reference: ·        Chey WD. Biomedical research in America: The corrosive effects of uncertainty. ACG Magazine. 2026;10(2):4-5. Chey and Dingell report no financial disclosures. Debbie Dingell represents Michigan's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In this episode, Lin Chang, MD, and Jan Tack, MD, PhD, discuss the history and evolution of Rome criteria, developing guidelines for multifactorial disorders in Rome V and more. ·       Lin Chang, MD, and Jan Tack, MD, PhD 1:04 ·       How has the Rome Foundation evolved over the last ten years? 4:26 ·       What are the Rome criteria, and why should clinicians care about them? 7:20 ·       How did these guidelines become the Rome criteria? 10:32 ·       What is the timeline of developing these criteria? 12:35 ·       Can you tell us about how the Rome Foundation got to the name "DGBI", and why it makes sense for multifactorial conditions? 22:22 ·       What are the highlights and most important changes from Rome V?  26:38 ·       How will this information be disseminated so clinicians can learn about it? 34:22 ·       What lessons did you learn from the Rome V process? 37:40 ·       What's next for the Rome Foundation? 40:04 Lin Chang, MD, is professor of medicine and vice chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Jan Tack, MD, PhD, is president of the Rome Foundation. He also serves as professor of medicine at KU Leuven and chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Leuven University Hospitals. We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. Disclosures: Chey and Tack report no financial disclosures. Chang reports consulting roles with Ardelyx, Atmo, Eli Lilly & Co., FoodMarble, GSK, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and Ono Pharmaceutical; speaking fees from Bausch Health; research grants from AnX Robotica and Ironwood; serving on the Rome Foundation Board of Directors; and having unvested stock options with FoodMarble, ModifyHealth, PICO Health and Trellus Health. Reference: ·        Drossman DA, et al. Gastroenterology. 2026;doi:10.1053.j.gastro.2026.02.014.

In this episode, Kyle Zebley, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association, or ATA, discusses telemedicine's role in current health policy, innovation in virtual care and more. ·       Intro 0:56 ·       Kyle Zebley 1:03 ·       What is the distinction between telehealth and telemedicine? 1:37 ·       Tell us about where you grew up and your upbringing. 2:36 ·       How did your interest in telehealth and virtual care develop? 7:18 ·       Was joining the ATA your first shift from working for the government to going into the private sector/a nongovernment role? 11:37 ·       Is telehealth now evenly distributed throughout the U.S., or are there still areas where it is not being utilized? 16:23 ·       Discussion on health care worker shortages and issues with distribution, and whether telehealth is part of the solution. 19:10 ·       Who is pushing back against telehealth? 21:01 ·       Why can't we get a long-term solution to these issues? 26:11 ·       Can you share your perspective on the October 2025 government shutdown, and why telehealth flexibility was involved?  30:10 ·       What are the telehealth innovations that you are most excited about? 35:53 ·       Is AI-driven technology something the ATA is thinking about and navigating? 41:09 ·       Thanks for listening 47:28 Kyle Zebley is CEO of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), leading efforts to advance health care innovation and the transformation of health care through virtual care, digital health and AI-driven models. We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. Disclosures: Berry, Chey and Zebley report no financial disclosures.

In this special podcast episode, Gut Talk host Sameer Berry, MD, interviews his co-host William Chey, MD, to look back at the lessons learned throughout the milestones in his career, and discuss what lies ahead for his year as ACG president. ·       Intro 1:11 ·       Looking back, are there Gut Talk episodes that stand out to you as being particularly memorable?  1:55 ·       Berry and Chey on common themes in past episodes. 4:46 ·       Where did you grow up and what were your childhood/early adult years like? 9:19 ·       Do you think your father being a division chief inspired you? 14:01 ·       Were there other times your father influenced you? 15:10 ·       Tell us more about the decisions you have made throughout your training […] Were there other influences that still guide you today? 16:58 ·       Are there lessons that your mentors left you with in terms of how to be a leader and think creatively? 19:50 ·       What about guidance you have given as a mentor? […] What advice would you give to those who want to have a leadership career within academics in today's climate? 22:10 ·       What does the honor of being ACG president mean to you? How did your involvement with the ACG come to be?  26:58 ·       What does the day-to-day look like as president of the college, and what are some of the key initiatives you are going to work on this year? 30:29 ·       What are some of the things that excite you most for the future of the college, the GI specialty and the health care industry? 34:26 ·       Thank you, Bill 37:33 ·       Thanks for listening 37:55 William D. Chey, MD, AGAF, FACG, is chief and professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Michigan, where he leads research on diet and nutrition and their impact on functional bowel disorders. He is also co-host of Healio's Gut Talk podcast. Chey is the president of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) for the 2025–2026 term. We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. Disclosures: Berry and Chey report no financial disclosures.

In this podcast episode, Steven D. Leach, MD, discusses academic experiences within higher education, the influence of role models and more. ·       Intro 1:11 ·       Steven D. Leach, MD  1:18 ·       Tell us about where you grew up and your family.  2:09 ·       Who were your early influences? 3:43 ·       Did you know early on that you wanted to focus on science and medicine? 5:03 ·       What would you say to skeptics who are critical of an Ivy League education? 5:44 ·       Can you tell us about speaking at the Emory School of Medicine commencement? 10:44 ·       How hard was it to select the story you told during the commencement speech about your patient with severe necrotizing pancreatitis? 11:56 ·       Tell us about your time at Yale. 15:38 ·       What eventually drove you from surgery to a career in basic science? 19:38 ·       What would you say to young people who are contemplating a career in science and academic medicine? 22:48 ·       What are the cultural similarities and differences in the many academic institutions you have been at? 25:52 ·       Was it a conscious choice to go down a more academic career pathway? […] What got you interested in developmental biology and pancreatic cancer research? 31:40 ·       In each of your leadership roles, how has your thinking and perspective evolved? 35:42 ·       Thank you, Steven 37:23 ·       Thanks for listening 37:32 Steven D. Leach, MD, is professor of molecular and systems biology, surgery and medicine and interim dean at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. Disclosures: Berry, Chey and Leach report no financial disclosures.

In this podcast episode, Paul Limburg, MD, MPH, discusses the movement from academics to industry, developments in colorectal cancer screening tools and more. •    Intro 1:11 •    Paul Limburg, MD, MPH  1:17 •    How did your early influences and childhood years lead you to become interested in gastroenterology and the career you have today?  1:34 •    Who were your early inspirations?  2:14 •    How did you transition from a career in academics and sciences to a life on the commercial side? 3:34 •    How did your role at Exact Sciences come about? 5:58 •    Was it a hard decision to take a new position? 7:47 •    Chey and Limburg on the joy of advancing science and innovation. 9:03 •    Were there any cultural differences that shocked you about the ways work is done in your previous and current positions? 10:10  •    Do you see Exact outsourcing scientific research as the company grows? 12:12 •    What does a typical day look like for you at Exact? […] What are you responsible of as the leading physician? 13:28 •    From a product standpoint, what is ahead on the roadmap for Exact Sciences? […] What are you most excited about regarding next-generation multi-target stool testing and its impact? 15:14 •    How do you respond to gastroenterologists' skepticism and concerns surrounding stool-based screening? 21:15 •    What about addressing the concerns surrounding how we can ensure patients with a positive FIT test go in for a colonoscopy? 23:22 •    How much of an issue are language barriers when it comes to screening tools? 28:11 •    Can you talk about how Exact Sciences are using AI and the evolution of the microbiome internally or in product development? 29:42 •    Do you see a future for stool-based testing in between/in combination with colonoscopies? 32:59 •    Have you noticed differences in sensitivity and specificity based on age? 34:07 •    What are your thoughts on making these tools available in a direct-to-consumer offering? […] How do you make these screening tools more readily available while weighing the usage risks? 35:08 •    What is the rate of patients who have a positive stool-based test getting a colonoscopy? 38:44 •    If you were talking to a GI fellow deciding to make the jump to industry, what do you tell them? 41:58 •    Thank you, Paul 44:55 •    Thanks for listening 45:21 Paul J. Limburg, MD, MPH, is chief medical officer for screening at Exact Sciences and emeritus professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic.     We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. For more from Dr. Limburg, follow @limburg_paul and @ExactSciences on X. Disclosures: Chey and Berry report no relevant financial disclosures. Limburg reports he is an employee of Exact Sciences.

In this podcast episode, Amy Oxentenko, MD, discusses her initiatives as ACG president, addressing workforce challenges in the GI space and more. •    Intro :50 •    Amy Oxentenko, MD  1:09 •    How does it feel to be finishing your year as ACG president? 1:54 •    What were your main initiatives and goals for this year, and how did they go?  3:28 •    Is there a teaser you can give us for what you will reveal at the ACG annual meeting? 8:39 •    Chey and Oxentenko on the critical role of additional research within the future of gastroenterology. 12:01 •    What research has the college conducted to better understand the true clinical FTE available to patients? […] Are there certain solutions that have stood out to you in your work? 13:19 •    Will there be a task force to comment on the rise of clinicians choosing to participate in more of a locum tenens practice? 18:35 •    Can you speak about the recent progress made toward addressing the gender gap in GI? 21:32  •    What can listeners do in this political climate to continue to make strides towards equity in the field? 25:47 •    What have you learned about yourself in the past year as ACG president? 30:09 •    What are you optimistic about in GI after this year? 33:19 •    On the other hand, what are you most concerned about for gastroenterology? 36:17 •    Any advice for the next ACG president? 39:31 •    What is next for you? 41:18 •    Thank you, Amy 43:10 •    Thanks for listening 43:52 Amy Oxentenko, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, is a professor of medicine and vice dean of Mayo Clinic Practice. She is a member of the ACG board of trustees and executive team, serving as ACG president from October 2024-October 2025. We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [email protected]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. For more from Dr. Oxentenko, follow @AmyOxentenkoMD on X. Disclosures: Chey, Berry and Oxentenko report no relevant financial disclosures.