Patched but Still Leaky: An Update on the Pipeline for Women in Gastroenterology.

Background: Women remain underrepresented in gastroenterology (GI). Studies have identified that a lack of formal mentorship for women contributes to this underrepresentation. While many GI divisions have adopted models for supporting GI fellows and faculty, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding mentorship options for internal medicine (IM) residents interested in GI.

Native Aortic Valve Endocarditis Linked to Cat Exposure: A Case Report and Review.

is an uncommon human pathogen, but documented infections have been mostly associated with exposure to dogs. There are only five documented cases of endocarditis secondary to , with all cases except one documenting exposure to a canine. We present a 74-year-old male with a history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, CKD 3, moderate aortic stenosis and remote exposure to agent orange, who was found to have native valve endocarditis without exposure to a dog.

Sarcopenic obesity in patients awaiting liver transplant: Unique challenges for nutritional recommendations.

Sarcopenic obesity increases the risk of mortality in patients with liver disease awaiting liver transplantation and in the post-transplant period. Nutrition recommendations for individuals with sarcopenia differ from recommendations for patients with obesity or sarcopenic obesity. While these nutrition guidelines have been established in non-cirrhotic patients, established guidelines for liver transplant candidates with sarcopenic obesity are lacking.

Parental leave, childcare policies, and workplace bias for hepatology professionals: A national survey.

Background: The presence of workplace bias around child-rearing and inadequate parental leave may negatively impact childbearing decisions and sex equity in hepatology. This study aimed to understand the influence of parental leave and child-rearing on career advancement in hepatology.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of physician members of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) was distributed through email listserv in January 2021.

Five Strategies Leaders in Academic Medicine Can Implement Now to Enhance Gender Equity.

Abundant disparities for women in medicine contribute to many women physicians considering leaving medicine. There is a strong financial and ethical case for leaders in academic medicine to focus on strategies to improve retention. This article focuses on five immediate actions that leaders can take to enhance gender equity and improve career satisfaction for all members of the workplace.

Associations of Race and Ethnicity with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Decompensation, and Mortality in US Veterans with Cirrhosis.

Background: Among patients with cirrhosis, it remains unclear whether there are racial/ethnic differences in cirrhosis complications and mortality. We examined the associations between race/ethnicity and risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis decompensation, and all-cause mortality overall and by cirrhosis etiology.

Methods: US Veterans diagnosed with cirrhosis from 2001 to 2014 (n = 120,992), due to hepatitis C virus (HCV; n = 55,814), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD; n = 36,323), hepatitis B virus (HBV; n = 1,972), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; n = 17,789), or other (n = 9,094), were followed through 2020 for incident HCC (n = 10,242), cirrhosis decompensation (n = 27,887), and mortality (n = 81,441).

The impact of COVID-19 on endoscopy and cancer screening: a focus on access and equity.

The SARS-CoV2 pandemic has had a profound and lasting impact on healthcare delivery. Gastrointestinal endoscopy services were limited during the early phases of the pandemic, which has resulted in ongoing procedural backlog. Procedural delays have had continuing effects including delayed colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses and exacerbation of existing disparities in the CRC-screening and treatment pathways.

Association of Body Surface Area With Access to Deceased Donor Liver Transplant and Novel Allocation Policies.

Importance: Small waitlist candidates are significantly less likely than larger candidates to receive a liver transplant.

Objective: To investigate the magnitude of the size disparity and test potential policy solutions.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A decision analytical model was generated to match liver transplant donors to waitlist candidates based on predefined body surface area (BSA) ratio limits (donor BSA divided by recipient BSA).

The Palpable Nodule after Autologous Fat Grafting: Distinguishing Benign versus Malignant Lesions in Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Nodule formation after autologous fat grafting to the breast is the most common complication. In the reconstructive population, this generates significant patient anxiety and presents a diagnostic challenge. The authors characterized palpable nodule occurrence after autologous fat grafting in breast reconstruction and compared benign versus malignant nodule characteristics.

Analysis of Speaker Introduction Formality by Gender at the American College of Gastroenterology 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Background: Gender-based differences in the use of professional titles during speaker introductions have been described in other medical specialties.

Aims: Our primary aim was to assess gender-based differences in the formality of speaker introductions at the American College of Gastroenterology 2020 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. Our secondary aim was to assess gender-based differences in the formality of speaker self-introductions.

Real-World Data on the Impact of COVID-19 on Endoscopic Procedural Delays.

Introduction: The initial surge of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted national recommendations to delay nonurgent endoscopic procedures. The objective of this study was to provide real-world data on the impact of COVID-19 on endoscopic procedures in a safety-net healthcare system and cancer center affiliated with a tertiary academic center.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used a combination of electronic health record data and a prospective data tool created to track endoscopy procedures throughout COVID-19 to describe patient and procedural characteristics of endoscopic procedures delayed during the initial COVID-19 surge.

Baby Steps in the Right Direction: Toward a Parental Leave Policy for Gastroenterology Fellows.

The American Board of Medical Specialties announced in July 2020 the adoption of a parental leave policy for residents and fellows allows for a minimum of 6 weeks of leave. This policy includes caveats: vacation and/or sick leave can be applied toward these 6 weeks, this leave can only be utilized once during training (whether for parental, caregiver, or medical leave), and this policy only applies to training programs of 2 or more years' duration. Although the new existence of a parental leave policy is a step in the right direction, trainees are in need of a more robust and evidence-based policy.

Management of code status in the periendoscopic period: a national survey of current practices and beliefs of U.S. gastroenterologists.

Background And Aims: This study aims to assess current practices and perspectives of gastroenterologists on approaches to code status before inpatient endoscopy.

Methods: Self-reported data were obtained through a voluntary, anonymous survey of gastroenterologists and gastroenterology trainees in the United States. The survey assessed respondents' approach to, beliefs, and knowledge regarding inpatient periprocedural code status discussions.