AGA Equity Project

AGA has committed to a multi-year effort spanning all aspects of our organization to achieve equity and eradicate disparities in digestive diseases. 

A six-point commitment to equity

With a long-standing interest in diversity, recent events in the U.S. have intensified the AGA Governing Board’s interest to make a significant impact on the goals enumerated in our diversity policy.

In July 2020, we introduced the AGA Equity Project. The project’s advisory board will develop a multi-year strategic plan to achieve the following aims:

  • A just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.
  • State-of-the-art and well-funded research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.
  • A world where it is expected and normal that both members and society leadership structures are diverse, and people of color and women are included in organizational decision making.
  • Recognition of accomplishments of diverse leaders. In addition, all leaders recognize, inspire and cultivate the next generation of prominent, diverse leaders.
  • An engaged AGA membership and staff educated about unconscious bias and committed to the eradication of racism and prejudice towards patients, colleagues, and communities.
  • The existence of a diverse, culturally and socially aware, large and vocal early career membership that leads the field towards achieving the vision.
AGA Equity Project

New commentary in Gastroenterology

Rotonya Carr, Sandra Quezada and colleagues, on behalf of the AGA Governing Board, outline the current state and path forward: From Intention to Action: Operationalizing AGA Diversity Policy to Combat Racism and Health Disparities in Gastroenterology.

Read Now

Watch AGA president's town hall on the AGA Equity Project

AGA President Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, invited Byron Cryer, MD, and Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, leaders of the AGA Equity Project advisory board, for an open discussion on AGA’s action plan to combat racism and health disparities in gastroenterology. 

Watch Now

Advisory Board

CO-CHAIRS
Byron Cryer

Byron Cryer, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Sandra Quezada

Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine

MEMBERS
John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF

John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, Professor and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan

Rotonya Carr

Rotonya Carr​, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Lukejohn Day

Lukejohn Day, MD, AGAF, Associate Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Carlos Diaz

Carlos R. Diaz, MD, Fellow, University of Miami

Lynn Grone

Lynn Grone, Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness, AGA Institute

Wendy Henderson

Wendy Henderson, PhD, Visiting Professor/NIH, University of Connecticut, School of Nursing

Antonio-Mendoza-Ladd

Antonio Mendoza-Ladd​, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Texas-Tech University

Craig Munroe

Craig A. Munroe, MD, Associate Chief for Clinical Innovation, University of California, San Francisco

2020252349-Kimberly-Persley-280x280@2x

Kimberly M. Persley, MD, AGAF, Gastroenterologist, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants

STAFF LIAISON
Celena NuQuay

Celena NuQuay, Senior Director, Member Relations and Constituency Programs, AGA Institute