FORWARD Program
The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program supports physician-scientists from underrepresented populations, building on AGA’s longstanding commitment to advancing diversity in the biomedical science research workforce.
The FORWARD program is supported by the NIDDK of the NIH (award number R25DK118761).
Now accepting applications
The FORWARD Program, an AGA leadership pathway, prepares physician-scientists from underrepresented populations for a successful career in academic medicine with research and management skills training from top GI investigators and research skills experts, leadership development partnering with an executive coach, and a community of leaders and peers with similar backgrounds to learn from and share experiences with.
Mentee eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Fellows and early career health care professionals from NIH-defined underrepresented groups focused on digestive diseases in academic institutions as assistant professors or instructors within the first five years of their faculty appointment or trainees in their GI fellowships. Those eligible to apply include:
- Physicians (MD or DO), including gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal or bariatric surgeons.
- PhDs in Basic, Clinical, Translational, Epidemiologic, Population or Social Services.
- Active participation is crucial to the programs’ success; therefore, applicants must commit to attend the following key events throughout the program:
- Program Kick-Off and Academic Skills Workshop – March 15-17, 2024
- AGA Leadership Summit – FORWARD Fall Program – September 2024
- In-person shadow experience at mentors’ institutions determined by the mentee and mentors’ schedules
- FORWARD Program – Spring Retreat – April 2025
- FORWARD Graduation – May 2025
Top five reasons to apply
Hear from our previous scholars
Key dates
Call for applications
Sept. 8, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 16, 2023
Applicant interviews
Oct. 28, 2023
Notification of applicants
Nov. 5, 2023
Notifications of mentor/mentee match
Dec. 15, 2023
2023-2025 Scholars
- Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH
- Chinenye Dike, MD, MS
- Nonyelum Ebigbo, MD
- John Mark Gubatan, MD
- Yasmin Hernandez-Barco, MD
- Bianca Islam, MD, PhD, MSc
- Jesus Luevano, MD, MS
- Jorge Machicado, MD, MPH
- Essa Mohamed, PhD
- Pedro Ochoa-Allemant, MD, MS
- Amanda PeBenito, MD, MSEd
- Iboro Umana, MD, PhD
- Christopher Velez, MD
- Elizabeth Videlock, MD, PhD
2023-2025 Mentors
Mentors
- Kim Barrett, PhD, AGAF
- C. Richard (Rick) Boland, MD, AGAF
- John Carethers, MD, AGAF
- Jennifer Christie, MD, AGAF
- Gail Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF
- Courtney Houchen, MD
- Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS
- David Lieberman, MD, AGAF
- Anna Lok, MD, DSc (Hon), AGAF
- Jorge Marrero, MD, MS, AGAF
- Jesus Rivera-Nieves, MD
- Anthony Kalloo, MD
- Gary Wu, MD, AGAF
- Ellen Zimmermann, MD
Near-peer mentors
- Yelina Alvarez, MD, PhD
- Muyiwa Awoniyi, MD, PhD
- Dominique Bailey, MD
- Bubu Banini, MD, PhD
- Jihane Benhammou, MD, PhD
- Manuel Braga Neto, MD, PhD
- Cassandra D.L Fritz, MD, MPHS
- Joel Gabre, MD
- Rachel B. Issaka MD, MAS
- Jeremy Louissaint, MD
- Vivian Ortiz, MD
- Nicolette Rodriguez, MD, MPH
- Nneka Ufere, MD
- Eric Vargas, MD
Learn about the AGA FORWARD mentors preparing the next cohort of physician-scientists from underrepresented populations for a successful career in academic medicine.
Program chairs
Byron Cryer, MD
Chief of Internal Medicine
Ralph Tompsett Endowed Chair in Medicine
Baylor University Medical Center
Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, AGAF
Professor, Medicine
Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions
Associate Dean for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Juanita Merchant, MD
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Arizona Tucson
Jesus Rivera-Nieves, MD, AGAF
Professor of Medicine
UC San Diego Health
View FORWARD Program graduates
- Muyiwa Awoniyi, MD, PhD
- Bubu Banini, MD, PhD
- Manuel Braga Neto, MD, PhD
- Jihane Benhammou, MD, PhD
- Cassandra Fritz, MD
- Joel Gabre, MD
- Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS
- Jeremy Louissaint, MD
- Vivian Ortiz, BS, MD
- Nicolette Rodriguez, MD, MPH
- Yelina Alvarez, MD, PhD
- Dominique Bailey, MD
- Veroushka Ballester, MD, MSc
- Oriana M. Damas, MD
- Patricia D. Jones, MD, MSCR
- Folasade (Fola) May, MD, PhD, MPhil
- Antonio Mendoza Ladd, MD, AGAF
- Akinbowale (Akin) Oyalowo, MD
- Nneka Ufere, MD
- Eric J. Vargas, MD
