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
2023-2025 Scholars
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Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH
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Chienye Dike, MD, MS
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Nonyelum Ebigbo, MD
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John Mark Gubatan, MD
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Yasmin Hernandez-Barco, MD
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Bianca Islam, MD, PhD, MSc
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Jesus Luevano, MD, MS
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Jorge Machicado, MD, MPH
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Essa Mohamed, PhD
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Pedro Ochoa-Allemant, MD, MS
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Amanda PeBenito, MD, MSED
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Iboro Umana, MD, PhD
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Christopher Velez, MD
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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
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
