by Dr. Mazer Ally, Dr. Sujaata Dwadasi, Dr. Corlan Eboh, Dr. Raj Jessica Thomas; ACG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
This May, the American College of Gastroenterology proudly celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll spotlight the trailblazing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose contributions have significantly enriched the field of gastroenterology.
Join us each week as we highlight individuals and organizations that exemplify innovation, leadership, and commitment to excellence. These stories not only showcase the substantial achievements of AAPI professionals but also highlight the diverse cultural perspectives that enhance and strengthen our specialty.
Let’s dive into this vibrant celebration and explore the inspiring impacts that shape the future of gastroenterology!
Weekly Spotlight
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the American College of Gastroenterology proudly highlights the work of individuals who have made significant contributions to our field.
Anjana A. Pillai, MD, FACG
Dr. Anjana Pillai is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine and a board-certified gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist who specializes in the management of chronic liver disease and hepatobiliary malignancies. Dr. Pillai is the Medical Director of University of Chicago’s multidisciplinary liver tumor program, Co-Director of the Adult Living Donor Liver Transplant Program, and the Program Director for the ACGME-accredited Transplant Hepatology Fellowship.
Over the years, she has made an immense impact in transplant hepatology and on the lives of her patients, trainees, and co-workers with her electric spirit.
Dr. Pillai is active in national and international societies serving on several committees, including the UNOS National Liver Review Board for adult HCC and the Governing Board for the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA). She is also the current Chair of the American Society of Transplant Liver and Intestinal Community of Practice (LICOP) Executive Committee and the Co-Chair of the Liver Cancer SIG of the AASLD. She is also the Co-Founder and course director of HCC-LIVE, an annual conference highlighting the multidisciplinary approach to advancing liver cancer care.
As a South Asian female gastroenterologist and hepatologist, she has overcome many barriers to achieve her success. I [Dr. Sujaata Dwadasi] have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Pillai during my residency and fellowship. She has been a role model not only for me but for many of her other trainees through the years. She always shows enthusiasm for teaching and provides endless support and guidance for her mentees. In addition to her stellar achievements, she is dedicated to her family and friends. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and two beautiful children. It is an honor to spotlight Dr. Pillai for her achievements during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Tina Aswani-Omprakash, MPH
Tina Aswani-Omprakash, MPH, is a Crohn’s disease patient who has accumulated several autoimmune ailments over the years. She is an avid blogger, speaker, patient thought leader, and researcher who advocates for chronic illnesses, disabilities, and lifesaving ostomy surgery.
She is a multi-award-winning patient leader based out of New York City. Her principal aim is to normalize the rhetoric around chronic illnesses and disabilities in order to help diverse groups of patients own their ailments to live fuller, happier lives. Through her writing, lobbying, social media advocacy, and speaking engagements, she spearheads public health causes, including those proposing research for and creating awareness for IBD, lifesaving ostomy surgery, fistulizing disease, and initiatives supporting health equity for women and racial and ethnic minorities.
Tina maintains a blog and advocacy platform called Own Your Crohn’s and co-founded South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA) to form a patient-clinician-led non-profit initiative in order to minimize disparities and improve education in the growing South Asian IBD population.
Her expertise includes public health policy, legislative advocacy, and clinical research, in addition to diversity and inclusion to voice the concerns of patients around the world who are suffering in shame, in silence, and from significant health disparities. She sits on the patient advisory board for the United Ostomy Associations of America in addition to being a leader of the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI) Taskforce within HealtheVoices. She works extensively with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation to drive forward the patient voice in GI care.
Read about Tina’s experience as an IBD patient and advocate in the South Asian community in the Winter 2021 cover story of ACG MAGAZINE.
Linda Anh B. Nguyen, MD, FACG
Dr. Linda Nguyen, a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Clinic Chief at Stanford Healthcare, is a prominent figure in gastroenterology. Her passion for her work is particularly evident in her expertise in gastrointestinal motility disorders such as gastroparesis and the management of disorders of gut-brain interaction.
Her career is marked by her significant contributions to research, which includes understanding the role/impact of physiologic testing on clinical care and exploring novel therapies for the treatment of GI motility disorders and pain. She is passionate about developing cross-disciplinary collaborations that advance the treatment of chronic digestive disorders.
In 2021, Dr. Nguyen was honored with the Stanford Medicine Master Clinician Award, a testament to her exceptional dedication to patient care and clinical excellence. Her commitment to her patients and her field is also evident through her active participation in various national committees, including but not limited to the American College of Gastroenterology!
Dr. Nguyen is also deeply invested in quality-of-life issues, professional development, and physician wellness, underscoring her holistic approach to medicine and leadership. Her efforts in these areas reflect her belief in advancing medical practice and nurturing the next generation of medical professionals.
Roy K. Wong, MD, MACG
This week we honor Col (Ret.) Roy Wong, MD, MACG. Dr. Wong is a gastroenterologist and esophageal motility specialist who has worked in the Department of Defense in service to our country for over 45 years. He has trained hundreds of gastroenterology fellows and has made a significant impact in military gastroenterology.
Roy was born on December 29, 1945, in Honolulu and grew up in Hawaii. He is the son of third and fourth generation Chinese parents whose ancestors immigrated in the 1880s to Kohala, Hawaii (the big island). He had humble beginnings where he developed a strong sense of self-determination.
He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawaii and Medical Doctorate at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and shortly thereafter was commissioned into the US Army and served in the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Seoul, Korea. It was his time in Korea which he credits as the most important in his life, as this is where he met his wife Hansuk.
Dr. Wong completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, in 1978 and has since developed the legacy of an amazing professional career. Col. Wong has also served as a consultant to the Surgeon General and was the Gastroenterology Service Chief at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 1990 to 2009. He is a Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and has contributed to hundreds of publications in the field of GI. His research has also contributed to the development of a safe and effective method of pneumatic balloon dilation in achalasia.
Dr. Wong has remained active in the ACG, serving over four decades as member and chair of multiple committees. He served on the Board of Governors from 2000-2002 and received the Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award for his distinguished career in education and patient care. For his years of service and leadership to the College, he received the designation of Master of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Wong is dedicated to his family, his wife Hansuk and children Peter and Hannah. He loves spending time with his grandchildren and lives a life in service to God. He has stated, ‘‘In all that has happened in my life, I feel that God has played a significant role in guiding me where I am today. He is probably the single most influential being in my life next to my wife.’’
Dr. Mazer Ally: As one of Dr. Wong’s former GI fellows, he taught me about the love of our profession. He has developed a fulfilling and honorable career with continued service to our military service members. He is a master educator and continues to this day to be an integral part of the teaching legacy at Walter Reed. Dr. Wong is one of the true heroes in our field. We are honored to highlight this incredible individual for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Educational Resources
ACG Racism in Medicine Webinar Series
- Allyship and Action: In Solidarity Against Anti-Asian Racism
Dr. William Chey, Dr. Monica Nandwani, Dr. Linda Nguyen, Dr. Calvin Pan, Dr. Chung Sang Tse & Dr. Stella Yi
Health Equity & DEI Module on the ACG Education Universe
ACG’s Health Equity & DEI Module features a comprehensive educational program dedicated to providing updates on diversity, equity and inclusion topics. The modules include content specifically designed to allow the learner to increase knowledge and develop strategies that can be implemented into practice.