Please join us in welcoming the five newest additions to the AGA governing board, Drs. Richard Peek, Michael Kochman, Fasiha Kanwal, Brijen Shah and Russ Arjal. We look forward to the experience and contributions these incredible members will bring to our board.
Click below to read more about these distinguished incoming leaders.
Richard M. Peek, MD, AGAF
Vice President – will serve as AGA President 2027-2028
Dr. Peek is the Director of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Mina Cobb Wallace Chair in Immunology, and a Professor of Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His research focuses on elucidating the molecular origins and pathways that regulate microbially-driven inflammation and cancer.
Michael Kochman, MD, AGAF
Secretary/Treasurer-Elect
Dr. Kochman is the Wilmott Family Professor of Medicine and Professor of Medicine in Surgery in the Gastroenterology Division at the Perelman School of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kochman is a graduate of Northwestern University (BA, Economics, 1982) and the University of Illinois Medical School at Chicago (MD, 1986). He served his residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was Chief Resident at West Side VA under Dr. Clifford Pilz from 1989-90. Subsequently Dr. Kochman completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Clinics in Ann Arbor in 1993 under the direction of Drs. Chung Owyang and Tadataka Yamada. During that time Dr. Kochman also underwent training in interventional endoscopy and had specialized training in endoscopic ultrasound at Indiana University under the auspices of Drs. Robert Hawes and Maurits Wiersema. Subsequently he was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania by Dr. Peter Traber, where he rose through the ranks from Assistant Professor.
Dr. Kochman is past editor for Techniques and Innovation in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Kochman has published over 250 articles, chapters and videos. He has edited 19 published books: among them, the Clinicians Guide to Gastrointestinal Oncology (ed Kochman), Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (eds Ginsberg, Gostout, Kochman and Norton), and Endoscopic Oncology: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Cancer Management (eds Faigel and Kochman).
While at the University of Pennsylvania he has served in various capacities including as Vice-Chair for Clinical Services and as Development Officer for the Department of Medicine, on the School of Medicine Committee of Appointments and Promotions (COAP), the Physicians Billing Oversight Committee and numerous Departmental Review and Search Committees. Within the GI Division he has served as Fellowship Chairman and runs the regular endoscopy and advanced endoscopy training programs and directs the Wilmott Center for Endoscopic Innovation, Research, and Training. He has received several awards including the Luigi Mastroianni Clinical Innovator and Special Recognition Patient Advocacy Awards from the Health System as well as the Sid Cohen, MD and Donald Martin, MD awards for the education of fellows and residents.
Dr. Kochman has served many local and national societies in a variety of positions. He was honored and inducted as a Fellow into the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. ASGE recognized him as the ‘Master Endoscopist’ in 2015 and AGA recognized him as the ‘Distinguished Academic Clinician’ in 2018. His current major national commitments are to AGA as a member of the finance and operations committee and the investment subcommittee. He was one of the drivers behind the formation of the AGA-Varia GI Opportunity Fund. He is a past AGA Governing Board Councilor and also served AGA on the Education Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, was Chair of the Regulatory Workgroup and is a past Chair of the Center for GI Technology. Dr. Kochman also served as Chair of the GIE Editorial Board, treasurer of the ASGE Foundation, and was a Councilor of the ASGE Governing Board. He was co-chair of the Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research (NOSCAR). Additionally, for the ASGE Dr. Kochman has served on the Post-Graduate Education Committee, the EUS SIG, the Research Committee, the Program Committees and has directed post-graduate courses. He is a past president of the Delaware Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and was the Program Chairman for the Pennsylvania State Gastroenterology Society.
Dr. Kochman regularly speaks for various local GI societies and at SGNA meetings. He is a frequently a faculty member at national and international meetings as a lecturer, moderator and at Meet the Professor sessions on various topics including management of neoplasia, maintenance of luminal patency, EMR, EUS, and ERCP. He also serves as faculty for hands-on training courses held both nationally and internationally for EUS, ERCP, endoprosthetics, and hemostasis.
Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS, AGAF
At-Large Councillor
Dr. Kanwal is the Nancy Chang Endowed Professor of Medicine, Director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, and associate dean for clinical and translational research at Baylor College of Medicine. She served as the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH) from 2017 to 2022 and as Section Chief for Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Baylor College of Medicine from 2017 to 2024.
In addition to these roles, she has an active research program in health services research. Dr. Kanwal has received research support from the NIH, Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, AASLD, ASGE, ACG, and Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. She is also actively involved in the mentoring and training program. She serves as the co-director for the NIH-funded T32 program at Baylor College of Medicine. She is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigators (ASCI) and the American Association of Physicians (AAP).
Brijen Shah, MD, AGAF
Education and Training Councillor
Dr. Shah is a board-certified gastroenterologist and geriatrician who has focused his career at the intersection of adult learning, QI, and patient safety. As an educator, Dr. Shah has served as an Associate GI Fellowship director and is an Associate Dean for GME at the Icahn School of Medicine. Brijen has been involved in the design of competency based medical education in GME serving on four ACGME Milestones working groups. Brijen’s leadership roles have included serving as the Chief Medical Officer for Mount Sinai Queens and Vice President of Medical Affairs for the Mount Sinai Health System. Brijen’s current work focuses on developing a culture of safety and professionalism, creating systems to enhance provider performance, and working with leadership to better integrate advanced practice providers into the health care system. He serves as a consultant for Mount Sinai International collaborating on safety and quality projects in China, Guyana, Grenada and India. Brijen is a graduate of the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, the Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Mount Sinai Hospital GI Fellowship program.
Russ Arjal, MD, AGAF
Development and Growth Councillor
Dr. Arjal is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of WovenX Health, a venture-backed platform leveraging artificial intelligence and a national network of GI-trained advanced practice providers to expand access to care through partnerships with brick-and-mortar centers.
Previously, he served as Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Gastro Health, helping expand the nation’s second-largest GI platform. Before that, he helped lead Puget Sound Gastroenterology in Seattle, WA, where he played a key role in strategic growth initiatives.
Dr. Arjal has worked at the intersection of venture capital, private equity, and clinical gastroenterology, gaining a unique perspective on innovation and growth opportunities within the space. He is focused on scaling growth-oriented, consumer-forward solutions that enhance access, efficiency, and patient experience.
Dr. Arjal has previously served on the AGA Practice Management & Economics Committee and the board of the Digestive Health Physicians Association.
He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Pomona College.
Thank you to our nominating committee members!
- Geetanjali Akerkar, MD
- Erica R. Cohen, MD
- Adam Faye, MD
- Ruben Hernaez, MD, MPH, PhD
- John Y. Kao, MD
- Maia Kayal, MD
- Leila Kia, MD
- Mariam Naveed, MD
- Monina Pascua, MD, AGAF
- Deborah Proctor, MD, AGAF
