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FORWARD Program
A new initiative, funded by NIH, that supports underrepresented minority physician scientists.
FORWARD Program Scholars
The FORWARD Program allows participants to develop their leadership skills, strengthen their research and management skills with training from top GI investigators and network with underrepresented minority leaders who are shaping the future of academic medicine.
Class of 2019-2020
Mentors
- Maria Abreu, MD, AGAF
- C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF
- John Carethers, MD, AGAF
- Darwin Conwell, MD, MS
- Marcia Cruz-Correa, MD, PhD, AGAF
- Hashem E. El-Serag, MD, MPH, AGAF
- Gail Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF
- John Inadomi, MD, AGAF
- David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF
- Jorge Marrero, MD, MS, AGAF
- Robert Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF
Scholars
- Yelina Alvarez, MD, PhD
- Dominique Bailey, MD
- Veroushka Ballester, MD, MSc
- Oriana Damas, MD
- Patricia Jones, MD, MSCR
- Antonio Mendoza-Ladd, MD
- Folasade (Fola) May, MD, PhD, MPhil
- Akinbowale (Akin) Oyalowo, MD
- Nneka Ufere, MD
- Eric J. Vargas, MD
Program schedule

Program Chairs

Byron Cryer, MD
Professor of Medicine
Texas Southwestern Medical School

Sheila Crowe, MD, AGAF
Professor of Medicine
UC San Diego Health

Juanita Merchant, MD
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Arizona Tucson

Jesus Rivera-Nieves, MD
Professor of Medicine
UC San Diego Health