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).
FORWARD Program call for applications The FORWARD Program, an AGA leadership pathway, prepares physician-scientists from underrepresented populations for a successful career in academic medicine with leadership development, research and management skills training from top GI investigators, and a new network of peers and leaders from underrepresented populations to learn from.
Check out highlights from the FORWARD Program Class of 2019-2021.
Top five reasons to apply
Eligibility requirements
- A current AGA member in North America.
- The applicant should work in the broad field of digestive disease disorders (gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, biliary tract, liver) in areas such as physiology, microbiome, immunology, nutrition, neoplasia, population science, surgery, endoscopy, pediatric GI, disparities-related research and other digestive disease related areas.
- A GI fellow or early career GI from an underrepresented population (as defined by NIH and within 10 years of graduation) in an academic institution with an advanced degree such as MD, PhD, DVM or DO.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of award selection.
- A GI fellow or served as an assistant professor or instructor within the first five years of their faculty appointment.
Hear from our Scholars
Mentors
- Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS
- C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF
- John Carethers, MD, AGAF
- Guadalupe (Lupe) Garcia-Tsao, MD, FRCP
- Jesus Rivera-Nieves, MD, AGAF
- Anil Rustgi, MD, AGAF
- Gail Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF
- John Inadomi, MD, AGAF
- Jorge Marrero, MD, MS, AGAF
- Rotonya M. Carr, MD
- Gary Wu, MD
Scholars
- 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, MD
- Nicolette Rodriguez, MD, MPH
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
Meet our Mentor Leaders
- Maria Abreu, MD, AGAF
- C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF
- John Carethers, MD, AGAF
- Darwin Conwell, MD, MS
- Gail Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF
- John Inadomi, MD, AGAF
- David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF
- Jorge Marrero, MD, MS, AGAF
- Anil K. Rustgi, MD, AGAF
- Robert Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF
- Gary D. Wu, MD, AGAF
Important dates
Sept. 17 – Oct. 18, 2021
Call for applications
Oct. 31, 2021
Candidate Virtual Interviews
Jan. 31, 2022
Virtual Pre-Program Orientation
March 18-19, 2022
Academic Skills Workshop
Program chairs
Byron Cryer, MD
Professor of Medicine Texas Southwestern Medical School
M. Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, AGAF
Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Research Rutgers University Center for Advanced Biotechnology and 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
