Dr. Alessio Fasano, MD, Director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, world-renowned pediatric gastroenterologist, research scientist and entreprenuer directs the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC). He is also Division Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at MGHfC. A professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and professor of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Fasano is author of Gluten Freedom, a book for general readers about celiac disease, gluten-related disorders and the gluten-free diet. He is co-author of Gut Feelings: The Microbiome and Our Health, published in March 2021 by MIT Press.

Dr. Amrita Sethi is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York and is the Director of Interventional Endoscopy and the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program Director. She completed her GI fellowship at Medical College of Virginia, and then her Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at University of Colorado. She joined Columbia in 2008. Her practice interests include ERCP , cholangioscopy, therapeutic EUS, ESD, POEM and other areas of endoscopic innovation. She is the founder and president of Women in Endoscopy (WIE), a global organization started to foster mentorship and promote leadership for women in interventional endoscopy. In 2020, she was awarded the Master Endoscopist Award by the ASGE. Additionally, in 2020, she served as president of the NYSGE.

Dr. Ani  Kocharyan
2005-2011 she studied at the General Medicine Faculty of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi. 
2011-2013 she studied at the clinical residency, receiving the specialization of Gastroenterologist.
In 2013 she passed the specialization of ultrasound examination and endoscopic examination.
Since 2013 she has been working at YSMU Chair of Military Field Therapy as a lecturer for English-speaking students.
Since 2013 she has been working at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Erebuni Medical Center, since 2018 she has been the head of the same department.
In 2018 she has been awarded PhD degree in Medicine.
She has participated in many local and international clinical and scientific events, conferences, congresses.
She is member of a number of local and European associations.
She has different scientific papers, 2 of which have been published in international journals.

Dr. Ani Hovnanyan is a graduate of Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi in the faculty of general medicine. In 2010 I specialized in the field of Pediatrics, then pediatric gastroenterology. The focus of her interest was endoscopy, which later I am specialized in. Since 2015 I have been working at ARABKIR Medical Center as a gastroenterologist- endoscopist. While working in the MC I have been lecturing for resident students and pediatricians.

Dr. Ani Kardashian is a board-certified transplant hepatologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology at Stanford University, and went on to attend medical school at the University of California San Francisco. She then completed her training in Internal Medicine residency at UCSF, Gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA, and Advanced Transplant Hepatology fellowship at UCSF. Her clinical interests are in general cirrhosis care in vulnerable populations and the pathogenesis of liver disease in people living with HIV. Her current research focuses on the impact of social determinants of health, including food insecurity, on liver-related outcomes among people with chronic liver disease. Her research has been published in numerous high-impact journals, including Hepatology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, AIDS, Hepatology Communications, and Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. She is a proud Armenian from Los Angeles and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband Peter and newborn daughter, Eva. 

Dr. Ara Sahakian is the Director of Endoscopy at the Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California. He is a board-certified gastroenterologist with specialized training in advanced endoscopic techniques and medical treatment of complex biliary and pancreatic disorders. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Yale University, where he was awarded the Samuel Kushlan award in 2012 as the most outstanding clinical fellow of his class. After his gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Sahakian spent an additional year at Yale to complete his advanced endoscopy fellowship. During this time, he trained with renowned experts in the field, gaining extensive experience in advanced endoscopic procedures, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).
Dr. Sahakian also has a special interest in submucosal endoscopy and endoscopic removal of mucosal tumors of the GI tract. He completed a one-month fellowship at the National Cancer Center in Japan to acquire specialized training in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD), an exciting new technique used to remove large superficial gastrointestinal tumors in one piece. He then furthered his training to include esophageal POEM, gastric POEM, and Zenker’s diverticulectomy. His research interests include ESD resection of large colon polyps, per oral endoscopic myotomy, and ERCP guided interventions for removal of large bile duct stones.

Dr. Arman Petrosyan, MD is a graduate of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi where he obtained his medical degree from. His residency in gastroenterology was at YSMU and its affiliated Armenia Medical Center hospital, and completed his training with fellowships in endoscopy at multiple hospitals in Russia; Pentax training, State Scientific Center of Coloproctology, First Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Regional Hospital No 1 Ochapovski. Dr. Petrosyan has 5 years of experience in endoscopic surgery, with special interest in ERCP, POEM, colorectal cancer screening. He is a member of the Armenian Association of Gastroenterologists, a co-founder and vice president of the Armenian Association of Endoscopists, and president of the Armenian Association of Endoscopic Surgery. He is also a lecturer at the “Endoscopy” specialization department of YSMU Faculty of Postgraduate and CME. Currently he is the head of department of Endoscopy in Erebuni Medical Center.

Dr. Armen Aboulian is board certified in General and Colorectal Surgery. He completed his residency at University of California-Harbor program and colorectal fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He currently enjoys a busy cancer and inflammatory bowel disease practice out of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. His research interests lie in outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures and quality improvement. He is also currently involved in international colorectal cancer screening programs.

Dr. Armen Escanderi moved to the United States to continue his medical education after graduating from medical school in Iran. He completed internal medicine residency at University of California Riverside (UCR) and gastroenterology fellowship at University of California Davis. He pursued his interest in therapeutic endoscopy by finishing a one-year advanced endoscopy fellowship at University of California San Diego. Dr. Escanderi was active in medical education and was nominated resident teacher of the year at UCR. Additionally, he has been involved in clinical research focusing of pancreatobiliary disorders publishing several articles and award-winning poster presentations. Currently he serves as clinical assistant professor of health sciences and director of outpatient gastroenterology services at Harbor-UCLA medical center. His interests included ERCP, diagnostic and therapeutic EUS and advanced polyp resection techniques.

Dr. Artyom Kharazyan is currently a Pathologist at the Davidyants Laboratories. He is board certified in clinical pathology and has expertise in gastrointestinal, genitourinary and breast pathology. In addition, he holds the position of an Assistant Lecturer of the Department of Pathophysiology of YSMU. Dr. Kharazyan showed an interest in science from an early age, frequently attending school science camps. He was known as the student who was always participating various Olympiads, winning prizes. His math teacher saw that he had a gift for simplifying and explaining mathematical concepts. Being able to make math accessible to struggling students is not something just anyone can do. This unique talent set him aside from her peers. His interest in research developed over the years and when his mother became ill with lymphoma, he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in pathology. He believed that further research in the field could make a difference in the lives of many. He received his MD and master’s degree from YSMU. He completed his residency in clinical pathology at the Armenian-German Practical Scientific Center of Pathology. Dr Kharazyan remained on the department of pathophysiology at Yerevan State Medical University after receiving his master’s degree and during this time he developed his experimental and research-based approach to medicine. He encourages students interested in pathology to plan their careers carefully, get involved in research from early on in medical school and to take advantage of any opportunities to become the best in their field.

Dr. Asadur Jorge Tchekmedyian graduated in 1999 from the University of La República, Uruguay. He ranked first nationwide for the fellowship in Gastroenterology. After successfully completing a postdoctoral training in advance therapeutic endoscopy at the Hospital Juan Canalejo in Spain (under a Spanish governmental scholarship) he moved to Chile to complete his training in surgical endoscopy. At his return to Uruguay, he obtained his university diploma in Endoscopy form UdelaR.
He was an Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology and president of the Uruguayan Society of Gastroenterology. Actually, he is the Chief of the Endoscopy Department at “Asociación Española” and also take care of patients in clinical gastroenterology at Pasteur Hospital. Dr. Tchekmedyian is the President of the Interamerican Society for Digestive Endoscopy (SIED). During this term he was the President for the 24° Panamerican Congress of Digestive Endoscopy (March 2020) and co-chair of the LoC for the 2° World Congress of Endoscopy – ENDO 2020.
He is an Aurora Forum Goodwill Ambassadors, an initiative who have a shared commitment to tackling some of the most pressing global challenges facing current and future generations.  He serves as an external advisor for both the WHO and IAEA in radioprotection for patients and staff.  Dr. Tchekmedyian dictated more than 130 lectures in national and international conferences, published several articles in peer-review international journals and was author and editor of books in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. He is fellow of ASGE and an honorary member the Armenian Association of Endoscopic Surgery and several societies worldwide.

Dr. Berkeley N. Limketkai is an associate clinical professor at the Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Limketkai received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and completed his internal medicine residency, gastroenterology fellowship, and PhD education at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Limketkai also pursued advanced training as the Theodore M. Bayless Fellow in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases at Johns Hopkins University and clinical nutrition training through the Nestlé Nutrition Institute. Dr. Limketkai’s current research focuses on investigating the relationship between [mal]nutrition and IBD, identifying novel treatment approaches for IBD, developing evidence-based frameworks for precision nutrition, and applying innovative technology for nutrition and gastroenterology.

Dr. Cecilio Cerisoli, MD. Diploma of honor: Faculty of Medicine (USAL, 1984). University Specialist in Gastroenterology (UBA). Former Gastroenterologist at Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín (UBA). Gedyt Medical Director. Gedyt's Endoscopist and Clinical Gastroenterologist. Author of multiple works of the specialty, presented at national and international conferences. Full Member of the Argentine Gastroenterology Society (SAGE). Former Secretary of the Argentine Society of Gastroenterology (SAGE). Full Member of "Digestive Endoscopists of Buenos Aires" (ENDIBA). Former Treasurer of "Digestive Endoscopists of Buenos Aires" (ENDIBA). Former Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the Favaloro University. Member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Dr. Cesare Hassan, MD, PhD, is a clinical gastroenterologist with special interest in new technologies applied to CRC screening. In this field, he has participated in several international and national trials on detection and characterization of colorectal polyps as Principal Investigator or co-investigator. In particular, a strict collaboration with Prof. Repici in Humanitas has focused on potential improvement of both diagnostic and advanced colonoscopy, consisting of controlled trials, as well as of systematic review of the literature, and basic research. As chair of the Guideline Committee of ESGE, he has published several guidelines in all the main endoscopic field, including precancerous lesions in upper- and lowerGI. As expert in economic analysis and economic models, he has assessed the benefits and costs of new technologies, such as Resect and Discard, Propofol-sedation, CT colonography, colon capsule, etc. Occupation: GI-endoscopist at Department of Gastroenterology at Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital Chair of I and II level of colorectal cancer screening program at the same Institution.

Dr. Claudio Iglesias, MD, is a specialist in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pediatric Nutrition based in Uruguay. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree and specialized in Pediatrics, Nutrition, and Digestive Health, earning his degrees at the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. Dr. Iglesias pursued further expertise, achieving the title of Specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, along with Diplomas in Digestive Endoscopy and Pediatric Digestive Endoscopy. His Master's degree in Nutrition he obtained at the University of Granada. Dr. Iglesias has contributed significantly to medical education as an Adjunct Professor at the Pediatric Clinic C, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. Dr. Iglesias has served as the Director-Chief of the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Service at the Pediatric Hospital-Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell in Montevideo, Uruguay. He also co-directs the Center for Pediatric Digestive Diseases at Hospital Italiano Umberto I in Montevideo. Dr. Iglesias is the President of the Uruguayan Association of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Chairman of the Pediatric Digestive Endoscopy Committee in the Inter-American Society of Digestive Endoscopy SIED, and Co-Director of the LASPGHAN Pediatric Digestive Endoscopy Working Group.

Dr. Davit L. Aghayan, MD, PhD is a general surgeon currently residing in Oslo, Norway. He was born in Kapan, Armenia in 1987. Dr. Aghayan graduated from the Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi in 2010 and completed clinical residency in General Surgery in 2014. In 2016, Dr. Aghayan moved to Oslo, Norway to start his Ph.D. in liver surgery and joined the group of Prof. Bjørn Edwin at the Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital. This initiated a long-term fruitful collaboration. During the last two decades, the “Oslo Group” has significantly contributed to the development of advanced laparoscopic HPB surgery on the international level. Dr. Aghayan has been an active member of this group, focusing mainly on research in liver and pancreatic surgery, which has been highly appreciated by the surgical community and published in prestigious medical journals. In December 2020, Dr. Aghayan defended his Ph.D.-thesis entitled “Laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing surgery in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases” under the supervision of Prof. Bjørn Edwin and Prof. Airazat M. Kazaryan. At present, Dr. Aghayan works at the Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital as a postdoctoral researcher. In addition, he holds the position of Invited Professor of Surgery at Yerevan State Medical University. Dr. Aghayan has authored more than 20 scientific publications and 3 book chapters.
Dr. Aghayan is also involved as a reviewer in leading academic journals in the field of surgery. He has held presentations at many international conferences and has received several awards.

Dr. Edward J Despott is the trust-wide clinical lead of endoscopy services at the Royal Free unit for endoscopy and UCL institute for liver and digestive health (Royal Free campus) in London. He is a consultant gastroenterologist and gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopist whose specialist interests include device assisted enteroscopy (double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in particular), capsule endoscopy (CE), therapeutic colonoscopy (particularly complex polypectomy including large endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)) and transnasal upper GI endoscopy. He is also interested in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease and related complications, such as endoscopic management of small bowel and colonic strictures. Since his appointment in 2012, Dr Despott instigated significant advances at the Royal Free unit for endoscopy by making it one of the only two centres in London, and one of a handful in the UK, to offer a comprehensive small bowel endoscopy service including DBE and the development of a tertiary advanced polypectomy service.

Dr. Elizabeth Montgomery, MD trained at Walter Army Medical Center in Pathology and was at the Former AFIP. She is currently Professor of Pathology at University of Miami. She has published numerous articles and books on gastrointestinal and soft tissue pathology. She is the Editor in Chief of Innovative Science Press.

Dr. Eric Esrailian is the Chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with a major in integrative biology and a minor in English. He subsequently graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Southern California.
He was named intern, junior resident, and senior resident of the year during all three years of his residency training. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA where he also obtained a masters of public health degree with the assistance of an NIH sponsored training grant. He is also a graduate of the Executive Program in Management from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Dr. Esrailian served on the Medical Board of California from 2010-2011 after being appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Dr. Esrailian's primary clinical interests include gastrointestinal endoscopy, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and functional gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to disease areas within gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Esrailian has a particular interest in the development of biomedical innovations, value in health care, medical education, initiatives towards patient-centered care, and connections between health and human rights.
In 2012, the School of Medicine awarded him the Lincy Foundation Chair in Clinical Gastroenterology. He is closely involved in growth strategy and strategic planning efforts for the UCLA Health System and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He also works to facilitate community engagement with a number of other schools and departments within the UCLA campus and its Los Angeles community partners, and he was on the UCLA campus steering committee for the Centennial Campaign. In 2020, he launched the UCLA Leaders of Tomorrow series to emphasize essential leadership skills through some of the most influential and successful leaders in our community. Dr. Esrailian was named the 43rd Annual Lester Breslow Distinguished Scholar and Lecturer by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. In 2017, the university designated Dr. Esrailian as a UCLA Optimist—among its notable alumni and faculty dedicated to solving the world's problems.

Dr. Ernesto Melkonian, Coloproctologist, Associate Profesor of Surgery at University of Chile, Associate Profesor of Surgery at Universidad del Desarrollo, Ex Chief of Coloproctology unit at Hospital Salvador Chile
Ex Chief of Coloproctology at Clinica Alemana Santiago Chile, Former President of the Chilean Society of Coloproctology, Chief of Colorectal Surgery formation program at University of Chile , Hospital Salvador
Member of the Chilean societies of Surgery, Coloproctology and of Gastroenterology, Member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ASCRS), Special interest and Pioneer in Chile in Laparoscopic colorectal surgery, National and international publications, Presentations at the European Society of Coloproctology

Dr. Evelien Dekker is a board-certified gastroenterologist and Professor of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the University of Amsterdam Faculty of Medicine. Professor Dekker obtained her PhD from the University of Amsterdam and received her medical training in internal medicine and gastroenterology from the Academic Medical Center (AMC) at the University of Amsterdam. She currently is head of the multidisciplinary clinic for hereditary colorectal carcinoma and medical director of an expert colonoscopy centre.
Professor Dekker’s research focusses primarily on colon cancer; her research group concentrates on the screening methods for colorectal and familial cancer, the quality and novel technical developments within colonoscopy, the treatment of intestinal polyps and early-stage intestinal carcinoma, and hereditary intestinal cancer and polyposis syndromes.
Professor Dekker is the global chair of the WEO colorectal cancer Screening Committee. She has been actively involved in the Dutch national screening programme for colorectal cancer for over a decade; she is chair of the Dutch Colonoscopy Surveillance Guideline Committee and a member of several other guideline committees in the Netherlands and at a European level (ESGE). She has co-authored over 400 scientific articles.

Dr. Evgeny D. Fedorov is Professor of the Department of Abdominal Surgery, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy at the N.I.Pirogov’s Russian National Research Medical University and Clinical Head of the Department of Endoscopy at Moscow University Hospital No. 31. He is the advisor to the Scientific and Practical Council of the Ministry of Health of Russia; the current Vice-President of the Russian Endoscopy Society and a member of several international committees and scientific societies.
Prof. Fedorov received his medical degree from the Pirogov’s National Medical Institute in 1981. He completed his surgical and endoscopy residencies at Moscow University Hospital No. 31 and received diplomas in surgery and digestive endoscopy (specialist distinction) from the Russian medical board.
In 2007, Prof. Fedorov organized and took the lead on the Elective Endoscopy Course and the Endoscopy Training Center. His professional achievements include: receiving the distinction of RNRMU four times for the best scientific research, becoming a Laureate of Moscow’s Mayor Prize for Series of Scientific Works; being conferred the rank of “excellent worker of public health” from the Russian Government; receiving Nominal gold medal No. 24 of the Russian Endoscopic Society "For outstanding contribution to the development of endoscopy in Russia".
Prof. Fedorov has published more than 190 scientific articles and several books in the area of endoscopy and is a consultant and reviewer for several surgical, gastroenterology and endoscopy journals.
Prof. Fedorov’s principal research interests include introduction and evaluation of new interventional endoscopic methods (ESD; POEM; STER); clinical utility of therapeutic ERCP and cholangio-pancreatoscopy; enteroscopy and colonoscopy clinical intervention trials.

Dr. Fernando Alonso Medina Monroy is a pediatric gastroenterologist, undergraduate Medical Surgeon of Montemorelos University, Post-Graduate Medical Specialist in Pediatrics of University of Guadalajara, Post-Graduate Subspecialist Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Pediatric Endoscopy of Mexican Social Security Institute, Post-Graduate Subspecialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology of El Bosque University. He got his Master’s Degree in 2020 in Clinical Hepatology.

Dr. Francis Mégraud is Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Bordeaux since September 2018, He obtained the diploma of Pharmacist and Dr in Medicine at the University of Bordeaux. He studied later at Pasteur Insttute Paris (Immunology), at the Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ, USA (cell biology) and at the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USA (epidemiology). He was Head of the Laboratory of Bacteriology at Hospital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France until 2017 and he is Member of the INSERM U1053. He was Head of the INSERM U853 from 2004 to 2015. He created the National Reference Center for Campylobacters & Helicobacters in France in 1993, which he headed until 2017 and is one of the founding members and current Secretary of the European Helicobacter & Microbiota Study Group. He has been involved in the EHMSG yearly Workshops since 1988. His interest for Campylobacters & Helicobacter pylori dates back to the early days after the discovery of these bacteria. He has been involved in epidemiological studies and clinical trials of H. pylori eradication. His main current interests are the role of H. pylori in gastric cancer and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan is a specialist in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with an impressive professional following. In addition to his own full time surgical practice, Dr. Yaghjyan offers his expertise as a consulting surgeon to the leading general and sub-specialty surgeons in Armenia and Karabakh. Former Vice Rector of the Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education at Yerevan State Medical University from 2007-20011 (YSMU), he is Associate Professor at the university Hospital’s at Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  In 2010 he was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence in Teaching from Yerevan State Medical University (devoted to 90 anniversaries).  In 2011 Dr. Yaghjyan was honored with the Drastamat Kanaian Gold Medal from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. Over the past 10 years, Gevorg Yaghjyan took active part in educational and professional training programs at renowned medical centers and universities around the world— University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Cornell University, University of Salzburg, among them. In 2008, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Yale University, which he has had to postpone due to the extraordinary demands of his thriving surgical practice and teaching commitments. In 2013 he was again awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Boston University Medical School. Dr. Yaghjyan served as Director of Medical Programs at the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia and as Acting Director of the Isotope Production Center in Armenia from start to completion from 2011-2015.

Dr. Gustavo Rossi MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Section of Colorectal Surgery
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires - Argentina
Vice Director of Colorectal Surgery Program
University of Buenos Aires - School of Medicine

Dr. Harry R. Aslanian, MD is a Professor of Medicine in the Section of Digestive Diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. He serves as Director of Endoscopic Ultrasound, Associate Director of Endoscopy and the Director of the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship. He specializes in advanced endoscopy with a focus on pancreatic-biliary endoscopy, and advanced imaging and tissue resection.

Dr. James H. Tabibian, MD, PhD, FACP is a Health Sciences Clinical Associate Professor in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Director of Endoscopy at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. As a therapeutic endoscopist, Dr. Tabibian's clinical and research interests focus on 1) endoscopic management of gastrointestinal, pancreatobiliary, and hepatologic disorders and 2) advanced endoscopy and associated devices and technologies. He is experienced and has published extensively in these as well as interrelated areas across the spectrum, from basic laboratory science to clinical trials to health-services research. He has been the Principal Investigator (PI) and/or Co-PI of extramurally-funded research grants and holds several Editorial positions for leading peer-reviewed biomedical journals. He serves as an advisor and/or consultant for various private as well as governmental agencies nationally and internationally and is a certified medical expert in Gastroenterology for the Medical Board of California. Dr. Tabibian has a robust interest in collaboratively developing and pursuing synergistic professional opportunities in his areas of expertise.

Dr. Jenny Sauk received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and earned her medical degree from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She subsequently completed her internal medicine residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill- Cornell Medical Center and her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. After completing her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, she joined Mount Sinai's faculty as the Gerald and Ruth Crohn Dikler Faculty Scholar in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Dr. Sauk subsequently joined the faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital and developed a specialized practice in IBD at the MGH Crohn's and Colitis Center. Currently, she is Director of Clinical Care at the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases at UCLA, where her clinical interest remains in the inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

Dr. John Bilezikian, Silberberg Professor of Medicine at the Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University is Vice Chair, Department of Medicine for International Education and Research and Chief, Emeritus, of the Division of Endocrinology. His books include: The Parathyroids, The Aging Skeleton, Dynamics of Bone and Cartilage Metabolism, Osteoporosis in Men and Principles of Bone Biology. He is Editor-in-Chief of the ASBMR Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism. He has served as Co-chair of all International Workshops on Primary Hyperparathyroidism and of Hypoparathyroidism. He received the Distinguished Physician and the Laureate Distinguished Educator Awards of the Endocrine Society, and from the ASBMR the Frederic C. Bartter, the Gideon Rodan Mentorship and the William F. Neuman Awards of the ASBMR. He has published over 900 full-length articles. Dr. Bilezikian work in Armenia over the past 14 years has led to the establishment of the Osteoporosis Center of Armenia. He has been responsible for the acquisition, delivery, and application of 11 bone density instruments throughout Armenia and Artsakh. Armenia now has more bone density units per capita than any country in Eurasia. Dr. Bilezikian organizes and conducts regional and international symposia on osteoporosis drawing attendees and faculty from all over the world. In Armenia, his research program includes studies of Vitamin D nutrition and its relationship to Covid-19. Dr. Bilezikian has received Lifetime Achievement and Recognition Awards of the California and Boston Armenian American Medical Societies and the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization. He is the recipient of the Parliamentary Medal of Honor from the Government of Armenia for distinguished service

Dr. José Garza was born and raised in Mexico City. Graduated medical school from Universidad Anahuac and did his pediatric residency and pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Ceneter, where he became an assistant professor of pediatrics. He taught fellows and residents, performed motility studies and therapeutic endoscopy procedures with a particular focus on helping patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia, constipation, fecal incontinence, gastroparesis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, tracheoesophageal fistula, Hirschsprung’s disease, anorectal malformations, rumination, and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, among others.
Dr. Garza has presented his work and has been invited to participate in more than 100 national and international lectures. He has authored research papers and book chapters on various pediatric GI topics, including constipation, Hirschsprung’s disease, GERD, acid suppression, chest pain, anorectal malformations, gastroparesis, dysphagia, antroduodenal and esophageal manometry, and EndoFLIP technology.
Dr. Garza is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. He also serves as medical director of the neurogastroenterology and motility program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as co-medical director of its gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition program.

Dr. Kermit Richiez went to college at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He graduated Magna Cum Laude obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Biology in 1984. He attended medical school at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he graduated in 1988. He did his residency in Internal Medicine in the San Juan Veterans Administration Hospital graduating in 1991. He then did a GI research Fellow at the University District Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico from 1991 to 1992. He completed a GI Fellowship in East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, in Johnson City, Tennessee (USA) from1994 to 1996. He has been in private practice in Hospital Auxilio Mutuo y Beneficiencia in San Juan, Puerto Rico since 1996. Dr. Richiez was the President of the Puerto Rican Society of Therapeutic Endoscopy from 2008 to 2010. He is the Chairman of the Endoscopy Section of the Puerto Rican Gastroenterology association. Dr. Richiez is also a member of the Quality in Endoscopy of the Interamerican Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED). He is a Diplomate (Board Certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He is a member of multiple professional societies including the ACG, ASGE, and APG. He has been the recipient of the Doctor’s Choice Award in 15 occasions for excellence in the practice of Gastroenterology. He has been invited as a speaker and moderator in multiple local and international meetings. His areas of interest include colonoscopy, polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and quality in endoscopy. He has participated in several local and multicenter trials in several areas including inflammatory bowel disease and gastric acid secretion.  went to college at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He graduated Magna Cum Laude obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Biology in 1984. He attended medical school at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he graduated in 1988. He did his residency in Internal Medicine in the San Juan Veterans Administration Hospital graduating in 1991. He then did a GI research Fellow at the University District Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico from 1991 to 1992. He completed a GI Fellowship in East Tennessee State University, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, in Johnson City, Tennessee (USA) from1994 to 1996. He has been in private practice in Hospital Auxilio Mutuo y Beneficiencia in San Juan, Puerto Rico since 1996. Dr. Richiez was the President of the Puerto Rican Society of Therapeutic Endoscopy from 2008 to 2010. He is the Chairman of the Endoscopy Section of the Puerto Rican Gastroenterology association. Dr. Richiez is also a member of the Quality in Endoscopy of the Interamerican Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED). He is a Diplomate (Board Certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He is a member of multiple professional societies including the ACG, ASGE, and APG. He has been the recipient of the Doctor’s Choice Award in 15 occasions for excellence in the practice of Gastroenterology. He has been invited as a speaker and moderator in multiple local and international meetings. His areas of interest include colonoscopy, polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and quality in endoscopy. He has participated in several local and multicenter trials in several areas including inflammatory bowel disease and gastric acid secretion.

Dr. Leonardo Espíndola, Specialist in General Surgery, University of Chile. Subspecialty in Coloproctology, Conacem. Surgeon, Bachelor of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Dr. Levon Grigoryan, MD, general surgeon with primary clinical interests in endoscopy, minimally invasive oncocoloproctology, herniology and bariatry, also a lecturer at Yerevan State Medical University department of General Surgery. After graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University he went on to complete his clinical residency at the St.Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (Russia). Dr Grigoryan has undergone numerous trainings since 2004 in abdominal MIS. He is actively involved in bariatric surgery and the introduction and development of minimally invasive hernia treatment methods. Since 2015, undergoing trainings with such renowned surgeons as Professors P.Zharkov, Amjad Parvaiz, Richard Hild, Alexei Karachun and actively introducing MIS treatment methods of colorectal cancer in his practice. Currently he is completing his residency in oncology at National Institute of Health (Armenia) and is mainly engaged in the introduction and development of new approaches to minimally invasive surgery for GI cancer, obesity and hernia surgery field. Within the framework of introduction and popularization of minimally invasive hernia treatment methods Dr Levon Grigoryan has participated in the organization of the first international hernia conference in Armenia organized by the International Hernia Collaboration (IHC Armenia 2019), during which he also participated as the faculty member and speaker and performed surgeries, which were broadcasted live to the target audience. Dr Grigoryan is a member of the European Society of Coloproctology, Russian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, European Hernia Society and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).

Dr. Linda Rabeneck, a physician, clinician scientist and health care executive, is Vice President, Prevention and Cancer Control at Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario). Dr. Rabeneck is Professor of Medicine and Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, as well as Senior Scientist at IC/ES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) in Toronto.
Dr. Rabeneck, whose scholarly work focuses on the evaluation of health care and health system performance, is best-known for her research on colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Rabeneck is the author of over 260 peer-reviewed publications and has made critical research findings that shaped our understanding of the quality and effectiveness of cancer screening. She currently serves as Associate Editor of GASTROENTEROLOGY, from 2013-20 she served as Chair, Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee, World Endoscopy Organization and since 2014 she has served on the Scientific Planning Committee of the International Cancer Screening Network (ICSN). From 2017-19 Dr. Rabeneck served as President, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Dr. Lix Oliveira, specialist in Endoscopy 1989 for Brazilian Digestive Endoscopy Society - SOBED
Professor Instructor from Pontifical Catholic University ( PUCCAMP )1985, Surgery Department
Professor Assistant from PUCCAMP since 1990 to 2006
Invited Professor from PUCCAMP
Titular Member of SOBED
Member of Screening of Colorectal Cancer Committee from SIED

Dr. Luis Caro, FASGE, General Director of Gedyt S.A., the Gastroenterology, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy center in Argentina. Head of the Gastroenterology service of the A. Fleming Institute. Director of the Specialist Medical Course in Digestive Endoscopy, UBA

Dr. Manik Gemilyan, MD, MPH is Assistant Professor at Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Yerevan State Medical University. Dr. Gemilyan received her MD degree from Yerevan State Medical University and MPH degree from Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA). She is Secretary General of Armenian Association of Gastroenterology. Dr. Gemilyan was the first UEG National Societies Forum member to represent Armenia. In 2016 and 2019 she was elected a member of UEG Meeting of Members (formerly General Assembly). She has publications in peer-reviewed international journals as well as local journals. Dr. Gemilyan serves as Consultant to the Ministry of Health of Armenia in Gastroenterology since September 2018.

Dr. Mariano Gonzalez-Haba Ruiz is born and raised in Madrid, Spain. Spanish and Mexican nationality. Degree in Medicine in Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Gastroenterology fellowship in Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid.
Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship in the Center of Endoscopic Research and Therapeutics, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Currently focused on biliopancreatic and interventional endoscopy (around 300 ERCP and 400 EUS per year) and gastrointestinal oncology at Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro.
Associate professor at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Coordinator of the Endoscopic Ultrasound Spanish Task Force (GE-SEED)

Dr. Mark Topazian is a gastroenterologist and Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. His interests include therapeutic endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and pancreatic disease. For the past two years he and his wife Janet have lived and worked in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr. Martin Andres Coronel Cordero, born and raised in Cuenca, Ecuador. Medical Degree from the University of Cuenca, Ecuador in 2011. ECFMG certified in 2013. Post-Doctoral research fellow in the General Surgery Department of the University of Chicago 2013-2014. General Surgery Residency at the University of Chicago 2014 -2015. General Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at the Hospital das Clincas, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil 2017-2019. Gastrointestinal Residency, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2017-2019. Advanced endoscopic fellow at the Instituto de Cancer de Sao Paulo (ICESP), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil 2019-2020. Advanced endoscopic fellow at the MD Anderson Cancer Center 2020 – 2021.

Dr. Mary R. Kwaan, MD, MPH is a Health Sciences Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She attended Harvard Medical School and went on to completed General Surgery training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She then completed Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship at University of Minnesota, where she stayed on as faculty for 10 years. She serves on the editorial board for the Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, and Annals of Surgical Oncology. Her research interests include postoperative complications and use of ACS-NSQIP and other large databases to study outcomes in colorectal surgery.

Dr. Matt Rutter, MBBS MD FRCP is Professor of Gastroenterology at Newcastle University and the University Hospital of North Tees in the United Kingdom. He specialises in advanced diagnostic colonoscopy, polypectomy and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He sits on the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Research committee and the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Advisory committee. He is founder and ex-chair of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Quality Improvement in Endoscopy committee and chairs the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Research committee, Joint Advisory Group for GI Endoscopy National Endoscopy Database committee and World Endoscopy Organisation interval cancer subcommittee.
He has published and lectured worldwide on quality in endoscopy, screening and colonoscopic surveillance, receiving the British Society of Gastroenterology Hopkins Endoscopy Prize in 2006 and 2020 and the Royal College of Physicians Goulstonian Lectureship in 2008. He co-authored BSG (2010), NICE (UK, 2011), European (ECCO, 2012) and SCENIC (USA, 2015) colitis surveillance guidelines, was the lead author for the BSG/ACPGBI management of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps guidelines (2015), and lead author for the BSG/ACPGBI/PHE post-polypectomy surveillance guidelines (2020).
He is regional screening lead for quality assurance in colonoscopy, GI research lead for North East & North Cumbria LCRN and is one of the core faculty for the Northern Region Endoscopy Training Centre.

Dr. Mher Melkissetian graduated from the American University of Beirut with a Bachelor in Science - Biology in 2005. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Balamand and underwent most of his fellowship training in gastroenterology at St. George Hospital completing his fellowship endoscopy training at Kremlin-Bicetre Hospital in Paris, France.
With 10 years of experience in gastroenterology, he has special interest in IBD. He practices at Clemenceau Medical Center, a private tertiary center in Beirut affiliated with John Hopkins, in addition to being part of the gastroenterology department at Getaoui Hospital, an academic university hospital in Beirut.
He found himself active in his community attending to Lebanese citizens with limited access to specialized care and therefore has founded the gastroenterology and endoscopy department at Howard Karageuzian Primary Care Center in Lebanon. With his fluency in the Armenian language, his practice is well in tune with the local Armenian community.
He also holds great pride in being an active member of the Lebanese Gastroenterology Society.

Dr. Miguel Saps is the Chief of Division Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He also is The George E. Bachelor Chair in Pediatrics and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami. Dr Saps has the expertise and enthusiasm necessary to successfully collaborate in the proposed research project. He was previously the Director of the Research Center for the Investigation of Functional and Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in Children at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, and Director of Pediatric Functional and Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern University. His research has focused on the pathophysiology and treatment of functional and gastrointestinal motility disorders in children. Conducting several important international epidemiological studies to evaluate the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and others. With more than 100 peer reviewed articles and 24 book chapters; Dr. Saps has established himself as an influential researcher in Pediatric Gastroenterology. In addition, received numerous national and international awards including the American College of Gastroenterology Governor’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Research. Irritable bowel syndrome in children has a big impact on the patient and family quality of life. In addition, the combination of current treatments is not enough to completely overcome the symptoms of the IBS. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover novel therapies. After my recent relocation to University of Miami, I immediately resumed my research projects and I am establishing new and exciting collaborations which is vitally important for a complete understanding of functional gastrointestinal disorders and to establish successful therapies for the pediatric population suffering from IBS.

Dr. Mostafa Ibrahim graduated Cairo University Medical School in 2003. After receiving his masters degree in 2008, he traveled to Belgium where he stayed until 2019 to complete his endoscopic training. During this time, he was promoted to a consultant physician at Erasme University Hospital as he completed his PHD. Throughout his career, he has published more than 25 articles in international journals and is currently the International Committee Chair for ASGE. The focus of his research is on advanced endoscopic techniques. In mid-2016, he founded ROEYA Clinics and ROEYA Training Center with the goal of implementing his experience to Egypt’s health care system. ROEYA Clinics now is home to 7 different clinics while ROEYA Training Center has provided endoscopic training sessions to over 50 International centers over the years.

Dr. Nelson Ramirez Rodriguez MD, Pediatrician (Hospital del Niño – La Paz – Bolivia), Pediatric Gastroenterologist. (Minas Gerais Federal University – Brazil), Master Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (International University of Andalucía (Spain), DEA in Postgraduate Education in Human Health (Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Bolivia), Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Skills at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Postgraduate Professor of Pediatric Nutrition at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (La Paz, Bolivia), Pediatric Gastroenterologist of the Health Insurance of the Universidad Mayor de San Andres.Member of the Latin American Society of Pediatric, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (LASPGHAN). Member of the Iberoamerican Society of Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebioticos (SIAMP&P). Member of the Bolivian Society of Pediatrics (SOBOPED)

Dr. Pedro José Rodríguez Rosón, MD, Member and Board of the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy, Member of the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology, Member of Spanish association of gastroenterology (AEG), Member of ESG, Coordinator of Andalusian Endoscopy Group. His main area of interest and development has always been the endoscopy. Dr. Rosón is trained in diagnostic and therapeutic EUS, ERCP and basic endoscopy and advanced, made from the simplest techniques as polypectomies to the most complex dilatation of digestive stenosis, positioning digestive prosthesis, gastrostomy and endoscopic jejunostomy, draining lesions EUS, endoscopic mucosal resection, submucosal dissection. Special training in diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound digestive (enolizaciones, FNA mass, draining collections, liver biopsy). 800 currently conducting annual sonographic diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. During his fellow he received extensive training, both in the areas of hospitalization specialized digestive, and outpatient (general and monographic hepatology and inflammatory disease consultation), at the time of finalizing trained to handle specialized consultations autonomously residence. In recent years he has developed especially in the field of submucosal endoscopic dissection and third space endoscopy. Currently performing endoscopic dissection of both upper digestive tract and colon, POEM, Gastric Poem and POET. He performed 80 colorectal ESD, 10 gastric ESD, 5 POEM and 3 Gastric POEM. Dr. Rosón has a special interest in the implementation of quality gastroscopy programs, and he wants to help in the implementation of these programs in his area of influence.

Dr. Prasad Iyer attended medical school at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. He completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Milwaukee, WI, and his GI Fellowship at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, where he also completed a Postdoctoral Master’s Degree in Clinical Research. Dr Iyer is a Consultant and Professor in the Barrett’s Esophagus Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, where he has been on staff since 2006. He is the Director of the Esophageal Interest Group in the Division of Gastroenterology and a member of the Advanced Endoscopy group. He also directs the Post-doctoral Education Programs in the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at Mayo Clinic and is the Co-Director of the Advanced Esophageal Fellowship.
Dr. Iyer is an Associate Editor of the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the past Chair of the International Committee of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. His clinical and research interests include clinical trials in the early detection, risk stratification and therapy of Barrett’s related neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus as well as Endoscopic Ultrasound. His research program is funded by the National Cancer Institute and Foundations. He has published over 200 peer reviewed articles as well as several book chapters. He is a reviewer for many journals including Gastroenterology, the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Gut, Gastroenterology, American Journal of Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Dr. Raffi Karagozian is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and attending physician in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Tufts Medical Center. He also serves as the director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at Tufts. He has received his Bachelors of Science (BS) from UCLA and MD degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed internal medicine residency at University of Southern California (USC) and gastroenterology fellowship at Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He subsequently completed an advanced fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at New York Presbyterian-Columbia and Cornell University. Prior to joining Tufts Medical Center, he was on faculty at Yale School of Medicine, working closely with the Yale New Haven Transplantation Center focusing on liver transplant. Dr Karagozian’s research interests include clinical outcomes associated with end stage liver disease-liver transplant, obesity and liver disease, healthcare utilization in chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, and outcomes in cholestatic liver diseases. He plays an active role in the Tufts gastroenterology fellowship program, training GI fellows in GI/hepatology and various endoscopic procedures. He has published numerous abstracts and peer-reviewed publications in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology and presented his research at national meetings. His clinical areas of interest include cirrhosis, liver transplant, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, cholestatic liver disease (PBC, PSC), hemochromatosis, and drug induced liver injury.

Dr. Robert Gish attended Pharmacy School at the University of Kansas and obtained his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical School. He completed residency at the University of California, San Diego, and a gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles including transplant medicine. Dr. Gish is a fellow of the AASLD, AST and the American College of Physicians.  He was a major early contributor to decipher methods for the detection of hepatitis B and C virus and characterizing their epidemiology and clinical presentation in humans. He was involved in studies that led to the genotypic classification strategies and methods now in use worldwide. He has published more than 700 original articles, abstracts, and book chapters. Robert G. Gish, MD, is currently an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Nevada Schools of Medicine in Las Vegas and in Reno. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UCSD, a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Loma Linda University as well as a Staff Physician at Loma Linda University’s Liver Transplant Clinic in Las Vegas. In addition, he is also Medical Director of the Asia Pacific Health Foundation in San Diego, CA and of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gish is currently seeing patients, both in-person and via telemedicine, at various clinics in San Diego, Folsom, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Valley Springs, Las Vegas/Reno and via Telemed2U.

Dr. Roque Sáenz MD, FACG, FASGE, Professor of Medicine / Gastroenterology, Development University, German Clinic of Santiago, Past President of The Chilean Society of Gastroenterology

Dr. Samvel Bardakhchyan graduated from Yerevan State Medical University (Bachelor and Master’s degree). He started his residency in Oncology in 2014 in “Muratsan” University Clinic of YSMU and finished it in 2017. He got his PhD degree in oncology in 2021. From November 2017 till May 2019 worked in chemotherapy department of “Muratsan” university clinic of YSMU. From May 2019 till now he is working at Hematology center after Prof. Yeolyan in adults’ solid tumors chemotherapy department as Medical Oncologist. His main field of interest is gastrointestinal malignancies especially colorectal cancers. Also from September 2019 till now he is MDT leader of pediatric onconeurology group at Hematology Center after Prof. Yeolyan. In 2020 he won International Development and Education Award of American Society of Clinical Oncology. Author of 9 articles and 17 abstracts.

Dr. Saro Khemichian is a board-certified transplant hepatologist who received his medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. He then went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine followed by Gastroenterology fellowship at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Khemichian then completed an extra year of training for Transplant Hepatology at Keck Medical Center of USC. Dr. Khemichian's clinical activities include seeing patients with various types of acute and chronic liver diseases both in clinic and in the hospital. He enjoys teaching and is involved in education of medical students and post graduate trainees. His research interests include complications of chronic liver disease, liver transplant, and treatment of hepatitis C infection. He has authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals on various topics in liver disease and liver transplantation.

Dr. Vatche Agopian earned his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2003, received his residency training in general surgery and subsequent fellowship training in multi-organ abdominal transplantation at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since 2012, he has been on the faculty at UCLA, and is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Dumont-UCLA Liver Cancer Center, with an active clinical practice in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. He has clinical expertise in liver transplantation, as well as benign and malignant conditions of the liver and bile ducts, treating numerous patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and colorectal and neuroendocrine hepatic metastases. He serves as the Director of the Core Surgery Training Program and Associate Director of the General Surgery Training Program in the Division of General Surgery at UCLA. In addition to his clinical and educational activities, he is the Principal Investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded translational laboratory focused on the development blood-based biomarkers (e.g. liquid biopsy) for the early detection and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma – the most common primary liver malignancy. He has published more than 110 peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, and is frequently invited to speak at national and international meetings. He is very active in numerous professional societies, serving on the scientific studies committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, on the executive committee of the American Society of Transplantation, and serves as Deputy Editor for the journal Liver Transplantation.

Dr. Yoji Takeuchi is currently a deputy director of Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Osaka International Cancer Institute. He received his M.D. degree from Nara Medical University in 1997. He subsequently obtained his PhD degree from Nara Medical University in 2014. He was awarded the Best Reviewer Award of Digestive Endoscopy in 2012-2018 and Video GIE in 2018-2019. He is a Board Certified Member of numerous prestigious bodies which includes the Japanese Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society, Society of Internal Medicine, Society of Gastroenterology, and so on. He is an associated editor in Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease and DEN Open, and is an editorial board member in Endoscopy. His specialty is endoscopic diagnosis and therapy for gastrointestinal neoplasms, especially for colorectal polyps/cancers. He has conducted several clinical trials and published papers about endoscopic diagnosis for colorectal polyps using image enhanced endoscopy (AFI/NBI), colorectal ESD, and cold polypectomy. He has also published over 170 peer reviewed manuscripts.

Dr. Zobair M Younossi is the President of Inova Medicine, Inova Health System as well as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA. He is also Chair of Clinical Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia. Dr. Younossi earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Alpha Omega Alpha 1989), completed his medicine residency and fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation and obtained a master of public health degree with multiple honours from San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego. He initially served as Staff Hepatologist and Senior Researcher at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation before establishing the Center for Liver Diseases at Inova Fairfax Hospital, which is now renowned for research related to outcomes research in liver disease and clinical, health services and translational research in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). He served as Vice President of Research for Inova Health System and is currently the Chair of Research for Inova Health System. He also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (2018-Present) and the Board of Inova Health System Foundation (2011-Present). He has served on multiple boards and committees, including the Board of the American College of Gastroenterology Institute for Clinical Research & Education (2013-2019). committees for American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastrointestinal Association and George Mason University as well as numerous committees at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and Inova Health System. Over the past 3 decades, Dr. Younossi has pioneered research in NAFLD and has been a leader in the field of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), economic assessment and other areas of outcomes research in liver disease. He leads a number of international efforts related to NAFLD and PROs in liver disease though global collaborations, including the Chair of Global NASH Council and the Global Liver and NASH Registries. His research in both NAFLD and outcomes research is highly cited and he is a highly sought-after speaker for National and International Scientific meetings. In addition to research and administrative duties, Dr. Younossi has been actively involved in teaching patients (through America Liver Foundation) students (both medical students and post graduate students), residents and GI/Hepatology fellows. He has also served as Chair, Director or faculty of a number international scientific and CME related courses. Dr. Younossi specializes in hepatology and gastroenterology and has authored over 600 articles, 3 books, 6 journal supplements, over 25 book chapters and over 900 abstracts at the international scientific meetings. He is a highly sought-after speaker providing over 450 faculty lectures in national and international meetings. His academic productivity has led to an H-index of 96. Dr.Younossi has served as the co-editor of Liver International, Associate Editor of J of Hepatology and on the editorial board of a number of important medical journals. He has represented the American Association of Liver Disease and American Gastroenterological Association at different congressional meetings.