Abstract
The Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH) was established to improve health equity in Black communities and to provide academic and social support for Black gastroenterologists and hepatologists. In this Viewpoint, four members of ABGH (early career, mid-career and late career) discuss their route into gastroenterology and hepatology, how academia and medicine can promote inclusivity and equity, and their advice to Black students interested in a career in medicine or science.
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Acknowledgements
J.A.C.-M. acknowledges the late Dr M. J. Kreek of the Rockefeller University for a lifetime of mentorship. A.G. and R.W. acknowledge the Board of Directors for the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists. Board of Directors: S. M. Balzora, R. Williams, U. Iroku, V. Antoine-Gustave, A. Anyane-Yeboa, R. M. Carr, D. M. Gray II, A. Guillaume, R. Issaka, F. May and P. M. White.
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Joan A. Culpepper-Morgan is the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology as well as Program Director of the GI Fellowship of Harlem Hospital in New York City, USA. She is a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College. She completed Gastroenterology Fellowship training at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and The Rockefeller University. Her research interests are in health disparities and gut opioids. Pronouns: she/her/hers. Twitter: @CulpepperJoan.
Alexandra Guillaume is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University Hospital in New York, USA. She is the Director of the GI Motility Center and externally is co-founder and Board of Director of the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists. Guillaume has a special interest in diversity initiatives particularly at the undergraduate level of training to improve the recruitment of under-represented minorities to medicine and presently serves on the Executive Subcommittee of Admission to the medical school. Pronouns: she/her/hers. Twitter: @guillaume_md.
Jeremy Louissaint is a current transplant hepatology fellow at Columbia University Medical Center, USA. His research interests are focused on leveraging telehealth to improve the ambulatory care of persons with cirrhosis. Pronouns: he/him/his. Twitter: @jlouissaint89.
Renee Williams is an Associate Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is the Associate Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Director of the Saul J Farber Program in Health Equity and the GME Education Pillar co-director for NYU Langone’s Institute for Excellence in Health Equity. Her interests include health disparities and medical education. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the American College of Gastroenterology. Pronouns: she/her/hers. Twitter: @DrR_Williams.
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Culpepper-Morgan, J.A., Guillaume, A., Louissaint, J. et al. Black voices in gastroenterology and hepatology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 19, 559–563 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-022-00642-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-022-00642-6