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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).

AGA FORWARD program graphic

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.

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

  • Grow your mentoring and mentee relationship skills with senior and peer mentors.

  • Network with fellow underrepresented population leaders who are shaping the future of academic medicine.

  • Develop leadership skills that will help you advance in academic medicine and AGA governance with executive coaching and experience-building opportunities.

  • Strengthen your research and management skills with training from esteemed researchers in an ongoing learning environment.

  • Polish your grant and manuscript writing skills with active feedback and support from top GI investigators.

Hear from our previous scholars

Key dates

2023-2025 Scholars

  • Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa,  MD, MPH

    Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH

  • Chienye Dike, MD, MS

    Chienye Dike, MD, MS

  • Nonyelum Ebigbo,  MD

    Nonyelum Ebigbo, MD

  • John Mark Gubatan,  MD

    John Mark Gubatan, MD

  • Yasmin Hernandez-Barco,  MD

    Yasmin Hernandez-Barco, MD

  • Bianca Islam,  MD, PhD, MSc

    Bianca Islam, MD, PhD, MSc

  • Jesus Luevano,  MD, MS

    Jesus Luevano, MD, MS

  • Jorge Machicado,  MD, MPH

    Jorge Machicado, MD, MPH

  • Essa Mohamed,  PhD

    Essa Mohamed, PhD

  • Pedro Ochoa-Allemant, MD, MS

    Pedro Ochoa-Allemant, MD, MS

  • Amanda PeBenito,  MD, MSED

    Amanda PeBenito, MD, MSED

  • Iboro Umana,  MD, PhD

    Iboro Umana, MD, PhD

  • Christopher Velez,  MD

    Christopher Velez, MD

  • Elizabeth Videlock,  MD, PhD

    Elizabeth Videlock, MD, PhD

Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH

Massachusetts General Hospital

Chienye Dike, MD, MS

University of Alabama – Birmingham

Nonyelum Ebigbo, MD

UT Southwestern

John Mark Gubatan, MD

Stanford University Medical Center

Yasmin Hernandez-Barco, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Bianca Islam, MD, PhD, MSc

University of Cleveland Medical Center

Jesus Luevano, MD, MS

New York Presbyterian

Jorge Machicado, MD, MPH

University of Michigan

Essa Mohamed, PhD

Mayo Clinic Rochester

Pedro Ochoa-Allemant, MD, MS

University of Pennsylvania

Amanda PeBenito, MD, MSED

University of Pennsylvania

Iboro Umana, MD, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

Christopher Velez, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Elizabeth Videlock, MD, PhD

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

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

Picture of Byron Cryer, MD

Byron Cryer, MD

Chief of Internal Medicine
Ralph Tompsett Endowed Chair in Medicine
Baylor University Medical Center

Picture of Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, AGAF

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

Picture of Juanita Merchant, MD

Juanita Merchant, MD

Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Arizona Tucson

Picture of Jesus Rivera-Nieves, MD, AGAF

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
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