• Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award
• Samuel S. Weiss Award
• ACG Minority Digestive Health Care Award
• Masters of the American College of Gastroenterology
• Baker Presidential Lectureship
• The J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecturer
• David Y. Graham Lecturer
• David Sun Lectureship in Postgraduate Education
• Emily Couric Lecturer

Over the last seventy-four years, the American College of Gastroenterology has developed a comprehensive program to acknowledge contributions made to the College and to GI patient care by outstanding individuals. Both the College’s Awards program and its special invited lectureships serve to recognize some of the leaders in the field of clinical gastroenterology.

Past and current awardees and special lecturers have made significant and lasting contributions to the profession of gastroenterology, as well as contributions to the quality of patient care that is available to persons afflicted with various GI conditions.

The Awards Committee solicits recommendations from the ACG membership for all awards. In May, the Awards Committee meets and develops its recommendations based upon those nominations and other recommendations that are received. In turn, the recommendations of the Awards Committee are discussed and acted upon by the ACG’s Board of Trustees. Similarly, invited guest lecturers are suggested by the President and the Chair(s) of the Annual Postgraduate Course. The prospective nominees are evaluated both by the Educational Affairs Committee, and subsequently, by the entire Board of Trustees. The appreciation and admiration of one’s peers is one of life’s finest honors, and the caliber of the awardees and special guest lecturers that have been selected each year certainly reflects the highest level of quality in the GI field.

This section will serve to generate both a fuller awareness and appreciation by all ACG members of the contributions made by each of our awardees and lecturers. We hope you will join with the College’s Board and Officers, and the countless GI patients who have benefited from their knowledge, in offering a hearty congratulations and thank you to this year’s honorees, whose careers and contributions are highlighted below.

Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award

The Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award (formerly the ACG Clinical Achievement Award) is presented to not more than one Member/Fellow in any year and is made in recognition of distinguished contributions to clinical gastroenterology over a significant period of time. Specific criteria include, in addition to a career of distinguished clinical practice of gastroenterology, contributions in patient care, clinical science, clinical education, technological innovation, and public and community service.

2009 Recipient: Christina M. Surawicz, M.D., MACG | Bio and Photo

Past Recipients:

Samuel S. Weiss Award

The Samuel S. Weiss Award was established as a service award in commemoration of the founding father of the College, Samuel S. Weiss, whose efforts and initiative resulted in the establishment of the College in 1932. It is presented periodically, and not necessarily annually, to a Fellow of the College in recognition of outstanding career service to the American College of Gastroenterology. Nominations are solicited and reviewed by the Awards Committee and the recipients must be approved by the ACG Board of Trustees.

Past Recipients:

ACG Minority Digestive Health Care Award

This new ACG achievement award will recognize an ACG Member or Fellow whose work in the areas of clinical investigation or clinical practice has improved the digestive health of minorities or other underserved populations of the United States. These efforts can be shown by community outreach activities through clinical or educational programs, or research in an area of digestive disease that negatively impacts minority populations such as colorectal cancer, hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis and other GI cancers. The award will be given when appropriate and may not be given annually. Nominations are solicited and reviewed by the Awards Committee and the recipients must be approved by the ACG Board of Trustees.

Past Recipients:

Masters of the American College of Gastroenterology

Because of their recognized stature and achievement in clinical gastroenterology and/or teaching, and/or because of their contribution to the College in service, leadership, and education, the following individuals have been recommended by the Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees for designation as Masters.

2009 Masters Recipients:
Ira L. Flax, M.D., FACG | Bio and Photo
John W. Popp, M.D., FACG | Bio and Photo
Michael A. Safdi, M.D., FACG | Bio and Photo

Past Recipients:
Edgar Achkar, M.D., MACG
James L. Achord, M.D., MACG
Arthur H. Aufses, M.D., MACG
Luis Balart, M.D., MACG
Simmy Bank, M.D., MACG
Peter A. Banks, M.D., MACG
Jamie S. Barkin, M.D., MACG
K. Orrin Barrow, M.B.B.S., MACG
Ivan T. Beck, M.D., MACG
Gerald Becker, M.D., MACG
Robert L. Berger, M.D., MACG
J. Edward Berk, M.D., MACG
Harold Bernhard, M.D., MACG
Leslie H. Bernstein, M.D., MACG
Leonidas H. Berry, M.D., MACG
H. Worth Boyce, Jr., M.D., MACG
Eugene M. Bozymski, M.D., FACG
S. Philip Bralow, M.D., MACG
Lawrence J. Brandt, M.D., MACG
W. Scott Brooks, M.D., MACG
William D. Carey, M.D., MACG
Donald O. Castell, M.D., MACG
Sarkis J. Chobanian, M.D., FACG
Harris R. Clearfield, M.D., MACG
Edwin M. Cohn, M.D., MACG
Henry Colcher, M.D., MACG
Juan R. Colon-Pagan, M.D., MACG
Angelo E. Dagradi, M.D., MACG
David Dreiling, M.D., MACG
Douglas A. Drossman, M.D., MACG
Atilla Ertan, M.D., MACG
Richard G. Farmer, M.D., MACG
Sidney M. Fierst, M.D., MACG
Joseph F. Fitzgerald, M.D., MACG
Martin H. Floch, M.D., MACG
P. Gregory Foutch, D.O., MACG
James T. Frakes, M.D., FACG
Gerald Friedman, M.D., MACG
John T. Galambos, M.D., MACG
Martin D. Gelfand, M.D., MACG
Franz Goldstein, M.D., MACG
David Y. Graham, M.D., MACG
Victor W. Groisser, M.D., MACG
Frank A. Hamilton, M.D., M.P.H., MACG
Theodore Hersh, M.D., MACG
Chesley Hines, M.D., MACG
Basil I. Hirschowitz, M.D., FACG
Walter H. Jacobs, M.D., MACG
Robyn G. Karlstadt, M.D., FACG
Seymour Katz, M.D., MACG
James F. King, M.D., MACG
Burton I. Korelitz, M.D., MACG
Robert E. Kravetz, M.D., MACG
Shiu-Kum Lam, M.D., FACG
Eric R. Lee, M.D., MACG
Suzanne Lemire, M.D., MACG
Myron Lewis, M.D., MACG
Charles J. Lightdale, M.D., MACG
Arthur E. Lindner, M.D., MACG
Richard P. MacDermott, M.D., MACG
Willis C. Maddrey, M.D., MACG
John McMahon, M.D., MACG
George W. Meyer, M.D., MACG
William A. Millhon, M.D., MACG
H. Juergen Nord, M.D., MACG
F. Warren Nugent, M.D., MACG
Bergein F. Overholt, M.D., MACG
Joel F. Panish, M.D., MACG
John P. Papp, M.D., MACG
Peter M. Pardoll, M.D., FACG
Moses Paulson, M.D., MACG
Daniel Pelot, M.D., MACG
David A. Peura, M.D., MACG
C. S. Pitchumoni, M.D., MACG
Daniel H. Present, M.D., MACG
Linda Rabeneck, M.D., FACG
George B. Rankin, M.D., MACG
Joel E. Richter, M.D., MACG
Arvey I. Rogers, M.D., MACG
William S. Rosenthal, M.D., MACG
David B. Sachar, M.D., MACG
Richard E. Sampliner, M.D., MACG
Melvin Schapiro, M.D., MACG
Eugene R. Schiff, M.D., MACG
Edward S. Schneir, M.D., MACG
Bernard M. Schuman, M.D., MACG
Marvin M. Schuster, M.D., MACG
Ashok N. Shah, M.D., FACG
Jerome H. Siegel, M.D., MACG
E. Marvin Sokol, M.D., MACG
Mitchell A. Spellberg, M.D., MACG
Howard Spiro, M.D., MACG
Radhika Srinivasan, M.D., MACG
Frederick Steigmann, M.D., MACG
Christan M. Surawicz, M.D., MACG
Albert C. Svoboda, Jr., M.D., MACG
Juan T. Tomasini, M.D., MACG
Esther A. Torres, M.D., MACG
Jorge E. Valenzuela, M.D., MACG
Arnold Wald, M.D., MACG
Joseph E. Walther, M.D., MACG
Richard L. Wechsler, M.D., MACG
Jerome D. Waye, M.D., MACG
C. Noel Williams, M.D., MACG
David W. Williams, M.D., MACG
Sidney J. Winawer, M.D., MACG
Rowen K. Zetterman, M.D., FACG
Alvin M. Zfass, M.D., MACG

Baker Presidential Lectureship

This lectureship was established by the family of the late Dr. Henry Baker, President of the College from 1960-1961. The lecture, which was given between 1974 - 2003, was intended to recognize a College member with a distinguished career in teaching and investigation. The final presentation of this lectureship was given by Dr. Loren Laine in 2003 at the ACG Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2004, a new lectureship, The David Y. Graham Lecture, was established by the College to replace the Baker Lecture.

The J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecturer

The J. Edward Berk Distinguished Lecturer, formerly known as The Stuart Lecturer, is a person prominent in gastroenterology or a related area. This individual is nominated by the President and the appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.

This lectureship was established in recognition of the significant contributions made by J. Edward Berk, M.D., MACG, to clinical gastroenterology during his long and distinguished clinical and academic career. A nationally and internationally renowned physician and teacher, Dr. Berk also served as ACG President from 1975-1976.

2009 Lecturer: Michael F. Sorrell, M.D., FACG - Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist: Identical or Complementary? | Bio and Photo

David Y. Graham Lecturer

The David Y. Graham Lecturer is a distinguished individual in the field of gastroenterology. The presenter is chosen by the President and is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. This named lectureship was established in 2004 in recognition of the many contributions to clinical gastroenterology by David Y. Graham, M.D., MACG. The lectureship was made possible through a donation by Otsuka America, Inc., and Meretek Diagnostics, Inc. Dr. Graham gave the inaugural presentation.

2009 Lecturer: Peter J. Kahrilas, M.D., FACG - Esophageal Motor Disorders in Terms of High Resolution Pressure Topography: What Has Changed? | Bio and Photo

David Sun Lectureship in Postgraduate Education

The David Sun Lectureship in Postgraduate Education was established by Mrs. Sun in memory of her husband, Dr. David Sun, who died at the peak of his career. He was an outstanding gastroenterologist and investigator.

The Lecturer, with a distinguished background in gastroenterology or an allied field, is chosen by the Course Directors of the Postgraduate Program subject to the approval of the Educational Affairs Committee and the Board of Trustees.

2009 Lecturer: Fergus Shanahan, M.D., FACG - Gut Microbes: From Bugs to Drugs | Bio and Photo

Emily Couric Lecturer

The Emily Couric Annual Lecture was developed by the ACG, the Virginia Gastroenterogical Society and the Old Dominion Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates to honor Virginia State Senator Emily Couric, who died of pancreatic cancer in October of 2001. Senator Couric was a strong advocate for healthcare issues, particularly in her instrumental work to pass the nation's first legislation mandating health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening. The Emily Couric Lecturer is someone prominent in the field of GI cancer related topics. This individual is nominated by the President and the appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.

2009 Lecturer: Dennis J. Ahnen, M.D. - The Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence Revisited - Has the Era of Genetic Tailoring Finally Arrived? | Bio and Photo