ASGE and ASGE foundation hold Crystal Awards dinner as part of Digestive Disease Week®, May 19, in Orlando

MAY 19, 2013 – The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) will honor important contributions to the field of endoscopy during the ninth annual ASGE Crystal Awards on Sunday, May 19, 2013. Hosted by ASGE and the ASGE Foundation, this year's event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla.

Held in conjunction with Digestive Disease Week (DDW®), the ASGE Crystal Awards symbolize the finest in leadership, research and scientific pursuit. The event will recognize the 2013 award and grant recipients who have shared their expertise and strengthened the specialty and the Society. Newly designated ASGE Fellows and facilities participating in the ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program will also be recognized at this event. Proceeds from the event will benefit the ASGE Foundation in support of GI endoscopy-related research, physician education and training, and public outreach initiatives.

The event will feature dinner and award presentations to honorees by ASGE President Thomas M. Deas Jr., MD, MMM, FASGE, ASGE Foundation Chair, Robert A. Ganz, MD, FASGE, ASGE leaders and Master of Ceremonies and ASGE Past President David L. Carr-Locke, MD, FASGE.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the ASGE Foundation, stop by the ASGE Store now located in the ASGE Learning Center in hall A2 at DDW® or visit http://www.asge.org or call (630) 573-0600 or (800) 343-ASGE (2743).

Award Recipients

Rudolf V. Schindler Award

Douglas K. Rex, MD, FASGE, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

ASGE's highest honor, this award is given to a member whose accomplishments in endoscopic research, teaching and/or service to ASGE exemplifies the standards and traditions of Rudolf V. Schindler, MD, founder of the American Gastroscopic Club, the forerunner of ASGE.

Distinguished Service Award

John J. Vargo II, MD, MPH, FASGE, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

This award is granted to an individual who has made long-term contributions to GI endoscopy in the areas of equipment research and development, as well as an individual who has been a strong supporter of the educational and research mission of the society.

Distinguished Educator Award

Grace H. Elta, MD, FASGE, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Physician as educator is the focus of this award, recognizing contributions to the education of fellows through endoscopy seminars, participation in national postgraduate courses and published scholarly reviews or educational materials, including videos.

Distinguished Endoscopic Research Mentoring Award

Richard C. K. Wong, MD, FASGE, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio

This award recognizes outstanding career achievement by an ASGE member in the mentoring of faculty or gastroenterology trainees in clinical or lab-related endoscopic research. This distinguished honor recognizes mentors who have devoted substantial time and effort to develop and nurture the next generation of endoscopic investigators.

Master Endoscopist Awards

These awards recognize physicians who spend the majority of their time in patient care and are recognized regionally or nationally for their expertise and longitudinal contributions to the practice of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Kenneth F. Binmoeller, MD, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California

Robert H. Hawes, MD, FASGE, Florida Hospital Orlando, Orlando, Florida

International Service Award

Haruhiro Inoue, MD, FASGE, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Digestive Disease Center, Yokohama, Japan

This award was created to recognize outstanding service by an international member who has made long-term contributions to GI endoscopy, as well as an individual who has been a strong supporter of the educational and research mission of the society.

President's Awards

Awarded at the discretion of the ASGE President, the President's Award distinguishes those individuals who make exceptional contributions to the Society and its mission. Whether through organized volunteer opportunities or singular initiatives supporting the goals of ASGE, honorees are recognized for this assistance by the President.

Edward S. Bentley, MD, Santa Barbara Gastrointestinal Consultants Medical Group, Santa Barbara, California

Nicholas J. Nickl, MD, University Hospital Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky

Congressional Service Award

U.S. Representative Charles W. Dent, (R-PA-15)

Endoscopic Research Awards (ERA)

After undergoing a rigorous peer-review process, ERA grants are awarded to physicians who received the highest scores for projects in basic and clinical endoscopic technology research, fostering research in GI endoscopy both within and outside of academic centers. These awards are supported by the ASGE Foundation and The Fujinon Fund.

Alan Barkun, MD, CM, MSc, FASGE, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada

Lawrence Miller, MD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Russell White, MD, Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya

Quality Endoscopic Research Award

This award recognizes measurements or improvements in quality of care and/or efficiency in gastrointestinal endoscopy. It also fosters research relating to measuring quality in gastrointestinal endoscopy both within and outside of academic centers. These awards are supported by the ASGE Foundation and the ASGE Foundation Fujinon Fund through a grant from the Endoscopy Division of FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc.

Swati Patel, MD, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado

Olympus Corporation of the Americas Endoscopic Research Career Development Award

This award provides salary and/or research and educational support necessary for the investigator to enhance his/her career development in endoscopic research. It is intended for faculty (existing or incoming) who have demonstrated promise and have some record of accomplishment in research.

Timothy Imler, MD, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

Cook Medical Don Wilson Awards

The Don Wilson Award provides advanced fellows or junior faculty with the opportunity to train outside of their home country with a premier GI endoscopist or group to advance their training. The award was named to honor Dr. Don Wilson, who was a strong advocate and supporter of international education and training in GI endoscopy. The awards are underwritten by a grant from Cook Medical.

Amit Bhatt, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Susana Gonzalez, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York

Helmut Neumann, MD, Erlangen University Medical Center, Erlangen, Germany

Cook Medical Marsha Dreyer Awards

Marsha Dreyer was passionately committed to the support of continuing education opportunities for GI professionals around the globe. In a fitting tribute to her, Cook Medical has established the Marsha Dreyer Award developed to provide up to four scholarships for international physicians to attend DDW® annually. These awards are underwritten by a grant from Cook Medical.

Peter Basford, MBBS, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, United Kingdom

Hyuk Soon Choi, MD, Institute of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Farzan Fahrtash-Bahin, MBBS, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia

Gheorghe Hundorfean, MD, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

John Karstensen, MD, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark

Diversity Awards

The Diversity Award is granted to physicians who submitted outstanding abstracts for DDW®, promoting gender– and minority–related healthcare research. The Diversity Awards are supported by the ASGE Foundation Fujinon Fund through a grant from the Endoscopy Division of FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc.

Ethnicity

Shashideep Singhal, MD, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York

Gender

Sameer Islam, MD, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona

Endoscopic Audiovisual Awards

The Audiovisual Awards recognize outstanding educational productions related to GI endoscopy techniques. The videos demonstrate accepted techniques or show difficult cases, complications or innovations within the field of endoscopy and are showcased at the ASGE Learning Center at DDW®.

Endoscopic Audiovisual Award Winner

Roy M. Soetikno, MD, FASGE, VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California

Endoscopic Audiovisual Award Honorable Mentions

Tonya R. Kaltenbach, MD, FASGE, VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California

Shou Jiang Tang, MD, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi

PENTAX Advanced Fellows Video Editing Awards

Produced by GI fellows, these compelling videos are recognized for their unique and outstanding efforts in addressing issues in GI endoscopy. These awards are supported by a grant from PENTAX Medical Company.

Emmanuel C. Gorospe, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Navin Paul, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Wajeeh Salah, MD, University Hospitals Case Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Euclid, Ohio

ASGE Outstanding Manuscript Award

The ASGE Outstanding Manuscript Award recognizes an exceptional manuscript written by a fellow and published in GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Mitchal A. Schreiner, MD, MPH, Southwest Gastroenterology Associates, P.C., Albuquerque, New Mexico

ASGE Community Outreach Award

This ASGE Community Outreach Award for Trainees recognizes Trainees for doing good works in their community related to digestive health. The 2013 award is presented for raising awareness about colon cancer screening and prevention through the creation of a short patient education video.

Victoria Gomez, MD, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida

NYSGE Florence Lefcourt Award

This award supports collaborative educational outreach projects in the greater New York area. This award is funded by the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (NYSGE) Endowment Fund and administered by the ASGE Foundation. The award is named to honor Florence Lefcourt, NYSGE's Executive Director, who has served the Society since 1976 and remains a tireless and devoted leader in the GI endoscopy community.

Mark B. Pochapin, MD, FASGE, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York

2013 Endowed Lectures

The 2013 endowed lectures are sponsored by the ASGE Foundation.

Annual Postgraduate Course - Monday, May 20

Basil I. Hirschowitz, MD Endowed Lecture

Richard A. Kozarek, MD, FASGE, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

ASGE/AGA Presidential Plenary Session - Saturday, May 18

J. Edward Berk, MD, DSc, FASGE Endowed Lecture

Prateek Sharma, MD, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri

Jack A. Vennes, MD and Stephen E. Silvis, MD Endowed Lecture

Michael B. Wallace, MD, MPH, FASGE, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

ASGE Ambassador Program

ASGE Ambassadors-Brazil

Qiang Cai, MD, PhD, FASGE, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

Ricardo A. Dib, MD, Hospital Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil

Angelo P. Ferrari Jr., MD, PhD, Hospital Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil

Ian Gan, MD, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

Thiago Festa Secchi, MD, Hospital Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil

ASGE Ambassador-Solomon Islands

Stuart R. Gordon, MD, FASGE, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire

Provided by American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy