AGA is proud to announce the outstanding members selected for the third cohort of our Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program. The FORWARD Program prepares physician-scientists from underrepresented populations for a successful career in academic medicine.
FORWARD goals:
- Strengthen key research skills needed for success as an independent investigator.
- Cultivate a diverse pipeline of emerging AGA and academic medicine leaders through leadership training.
- Provide mentoring through a multi-faceted approach to address the key impediment to achieving a successful career in academic gastroenterology.
The FORWARD Program is structured around small cohorts, expanded this year to include 14 mentees participating in a curriculum spanning two years supported by 14 near-peer mentors and 14 experienced mentors in a 1:1 relationship. Based on our experience with the program’s first cohorts, this structure effectively builds a sense of community and allowed sufficient training time.
FORWARD 2023-2025 Scholars
- Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD, MPH
- Chineye 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
FORWARD 2023-2025 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
FORWARD 2023-2025 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
Learn more about the AGA FORWARD Program, supported by NIH (1R25DK118761-01).
