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Introducing the next cohort of AGA FORWARD Scholars

We’re thrilled to announce the 14 scholars and 28 mentors selected for the third cohort of our NIH-supported career development program.
2023-2025 FORWARD Scholars
2023-2025 FORWARD Scholars

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:

  1. Strengthen key research skills needed for success as an independent investigator.
  2. Cultivate a diverse pipeline of emerging AGA and academic medicine leaders through leadership training.
  3. 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

    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

  • 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). 

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