Inland Empire Gastroenterology Society Launches

LOMA LINDA>> The first Inland Empire-GI Society meeting was held Aug. 18 at the Riverside Medical Clinic and Medical Center in Riverside, California, with visiting professor, Prasad G. Iyer, MD, MS, FACG of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Tejinder M. Kalra, Director of Clinical Gastroenterology Loma Linda University Medical Center and associate professor of medicine of Gastroenterology for the School of Medicine, was elected to lead the newly formed Inland Empire Chapter of the Society of Gastroenterology by community Gastroenterologists. “Dr. Michael Volk, head division of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda Medical Center, and I have been planning this event since last year," Kalra said. "We wanted to take advantage of the Visiting Professorship program started by the American College of Gastroenterology about three years ago, that supports academic and clinical programs for the GI faculty, Fellows, and trainees as well as for the community of practicing physicians. Forming the Inland Empire Gastroenterology Society offers a platform for this and other learning opportunities.” “We were very fortunate to have Dr. Iyer with us and to have active participation of the community gastroenterologists,” Kalra added. Iyer spoke to the group on the diagnosis, management and surveillance of the cancer risk of a malady known as Barrett's Esophagus, of which Iyer is a world-renowned authority. On Aug 19, Iyer addressed Loma Linda University GI Division's faculty members and fellows on Barrett's and other esophageal disorders. He followed his lecture by consulting with individual faculty on difficult cases and research ideas.