Women’s History Month 2025

Celebrating Women in Gastroenterology

by Dr. Corlan Eboh, Dr. Mazer Ally & Dr. Mohammad Ali; ACG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

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Spotlights

ACG Women in GI Committee
ACG Women in GI Committee at ACG 2024 in Philadelphia

The ACG Women in GI Committee, first formed in 1994 and currently under the leadership of Committee Chair Dr. Kara De Felice and Co-Chair Dr. Kathryn Hutchins, is making significant strides in supporting and advancing women in gastroenterology through career development, mentorship, and well-being initiatives.

Over the past year, the committee has been exceptionally productive. At the 2024 ACG Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, they hosted several impactful events. The Career Opportunities for Women in GI Luncheon, organized by Dr. Hutchins and Dr. Yesenia Greef, was a resounding success, drawing over 180 attendees. Designed to highlight diverse experiences in gastroenterology, the luncheon featured thought-provoking panel discussions covering mentorship, microaggressions, and networking.

The committee also hosted the Navigating, Networking, and Negotiating Your First Job Workshop, led by Dr. Pegah Hosseini-Carroll and Dr. Sarah Malik, providing early-career gastroenterologists with critical career guidance. Additionally, the inaugural WISE GI: Women’s Initiative for Success and Empowerment in Gastroenterology brought together over 50 attendees for a half-day course focused on professional development and networking. Spearheaded by Dr. Calley Levine and Dr. Jennifer Katz, this initiative will continue at the upcoming ACG Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kara DeFelice and ACG Board of Trustees Liaison Dr. Aasma Shaukat, the committee successfully reinstated the Leadership in Gastroenterology Conference, which had been on hold since the pandemic. The 2025 conference, “Leading with Guts,” held on March 14 in New Orleans, LA, was met with great enthusiasm. Sessions covered topics such as forging a path to leadership, team building, investing in personal and professional growth, and embracing career opportunities beyond direct patient care.

The committee has also made strides in education and awareness through its Online Task Force Podcast Series, led by Dr. Lydia Aye and Dr. Irma Hashmi. This year, the series focused on GI and liver diseases in pregnancy, addressing key topics such as IBD management, surgical considerations, and advanced endoscopic procedures during pregnancy. The ACG GI in Pregnancy Monograph Podcast provides valuable insights and resources for gastroenterologists navigating these complex issues and a helpful resource for all.

Through these thorough and dynamic initiatives, the ACG Women in GI Committee continues to drive progress in mentorship, education, and professional growth, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive future for women in GI. As they look ahead to the upcoming ACG Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, it is clear that the committee remains dedicated to driving progress and ensuring that women in GI have the tools, resources, and network they need to thrive.

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Col. (Ret.) Dawn M. Torres, MD, FACG, FAASLD
Transplant Hepatologist, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
Medical Director, Central/East HUB for National Transplant Services

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the American College of Gastroenterology proudly recognizes the exceptional contributions of Col. (Ret.) Dawn M. Torres, MD, FACG, FAASLD. Dr. Torres is a trailblazer in U.S. Army medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology.
 
Currently, Dr. Torres is a transplant hepatologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and serves as the Medical Director for the Central/East HUB for National Transplant Services.
 
Dr. Torres dedicated her career to serving our nation, holding numerous senior leadership positions in the U.S. Army. As a distinguished military officer, she served as the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director for the National Capital Consortium, Consultant to the Surgeon General for Army Gastroenterology and Chief of the Walter Reed Gastroenterology Division. Additionally, she served as Squadron Surgeon for the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in Kalsu, Iraq, where she was awarded the Bronze Star in 2011.
 
One of the most rewarding aspects of Dr. Torres’ remarkable career is her passion for teaching. As a fellowship program director, she mentored many young military physicians in GI and hepatology, earning multiple teaching awards, including the prestigious James Leonard Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has also been a steadfast advocate for gender diversity in medicine, working to mentor and empower young female military physicians. Her efforts have been instrumental in increasing female representation and fostering an inclusive environment within the U.S. Army Gastroenterology Department.
 
Dr. Torres is a nationally recognized researcher in metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), with numerous publications and book chapters. She graduated from the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, completed her internal medicine residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, her gastroenterology fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center, and her transplant hepatology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.
 
At the ACG, we are incredibly proud to honor Dr. Dawn M. Torres during Women’s History Month. Her achievements inspire gastroenterology and hepatology communities and our country. Her legacy will continue to influence and uplift future generations.

Dr. Dawn M. Torres (center)

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Baharak Moshiree, MD, FACG
Professor of Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
Co-Director, Foregut and Gastric Digestive Health Center at Atrium Health

In honor of Women’s History Month, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) proudly recognizes Dr. Baharak “Baha” Moshiree, a distinguished gastroenterologist whose contributions to research, education, and patient care continue to shape the future of the field.

Dr. Moshiree currently serves as a Professor of Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Foregut and Gastric Digestive Health Center at Atrium Health. She is a nationally recognized expert in neurogastroenterology and motility disorders, with a career spanning groundbreaking research, academic leadership, and a steadfast commitment to mentoring the next generation of gastroenterologists.

Her research has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of gastroparesis — a disorder that predominantly affects women — irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and cystic fibrosis-related GI disorders. She has led numerous clinical trials and received substantial funding for her studies, driving innovations in the diagnosis and management of complex motility conditions. Notably, her leadership in the GALAXY study has provided critical insights into the gastrointestinal symptom burden in cystic fibrosis.

Beyond her research, Dr. Moshiree is a passionate advocate for medical education and mentorship. She has been instrumental in training medical students, residents, and fellows, earning accolades such as the 2024 Fellows Teaching Award at Carolinas Medical Center. Within the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS), she has contributed as the Chair of Education for the Clinical Training Program for fellows. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through her work with the ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council, as an Edgar Achkar Visiting Professor, Co-Director of the ACG 2023 Postgraduate Course in Vancouver, Canada, the Women in GI Circle, ACG’s Awards Committee and the ACG Research Committee.

Dr. Moshiree’s influence extends beyond academia — she has actively contributed to clinical innovations, including the development of novel diagnostic tools for GI motility disorders. Her patented “Blue Dye Muffin Gut Transit Study” for assessing gut transit in nonverbal children and adults with neurodevelopment disorders exemplifies her innovative approach to patient-centered care.

Her contributions to gastroenterology have been recognized through numerous awards, including the ACG Board of Governors Service Award, Wake Forest Established Investigator Award, and the Teal Acorn Award at Atrium Health.

Dr. Moshiree’s career exemplifies the strength and leadership of women in medicine. She seamlessly blends scientific discovery, clinical excellence, and a steadfast commitment to mentorship. This Women’s History Month, ACG proudly celebrates her lasting impact and the legacy she continues to build in gastroenterology.

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Women in ACG Leadership

ACG Board of Trustees

ACG Committee Chairs

• Alyn L. Adrain, MD, FACG (Constitution and Bylaws Committee)
• Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG (Educational Affairs Committee)
• Carol A. Burke, MD, MACG (Archives Committee)
• Amanda K. Cartee, MD, FACG (FDA Related Matters Committee)
• Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG (Public Relations Committee)
• Kara M. De Felice, MD, FACG (Women in GI Committee)
• Sarah M. Enslin, PA-C (Advanced Practice Providers Committee)
• Sara N. Horst, MD, MPH, FACG (Professionalism Committee)
• Patricia D. Jones, MD, FACG (Research Committee)
• Inessa Normatov, MD, FACG (Pediatric Gastroenterology Committee)
• Sonali Paul, MD, MS, FACG (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee)
• Sapna V. Thomas, MD, FACG (Practice Management Committee)

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Educational Resources

ACG Webinars

• Career Opportunities for Women in GI
  Dr. Lin Chang, Dr. Danielle Marino, Dr. Shireen Pais, Dr. Kumkum Patel, Dr. Vonda Reeves, Dr. Aasma Shaukat & Dr. Lavanya Viswanathan
• Hidden in Plain Sight: Bringing Women Into the Scope of Gastroenterology
  Dr. Amy Oxentenko
• Ergonomics in Endoscopy: What Do Women Do Differently?
  Dr. Asmeen Bhatt
• Promoting Gender Diversity in Non-Clinical Realms: Engaging Women in Research and Authorships
  Dr. Millie Long
• It’s Time to Break Another Glass Ceiling: Women and Interventional Endoscopy
  Dr. Allison Schulman
• Exploring Gender Diversity in GI
  Dr. Asmeen Bhatt, Dr. Millie Long & Dr. Allison Schulman

Articles from The American Journal of Gastroenterology

• Women in Medicine: Honoring the Past and Bringing Women Further Into the Scope of Gastroenterology
  Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACG
• The Time Is Now to Understand and Address Sex-Related Disparities in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, FACG & Amy S. Oxentenko, MD
• Let’s Have Some Clarity on Academic Parity
  Debbie L. Shawcross, MBBS, MD & Florence Wong, MBBS, MD
• The Need for Allyship in Achieving Gender Equity in Gastroenterology
  Bilal, et al.
• Gender, Race, and Ethnicity Representation Among Gastroenterologists: A Review of Recent Trends
  Rahal, et al.
• Survey Finds Gender Disparities Impact Both Women Mentors and Mentees in Gastroenterology
  Rabinowitz, et al.
• Identifying Gender Barriers for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Assessing the Need for a Multigender Endoscopy Team: A Prospective Multicenter Study
  Khara, et al.
• Gender Trends in Authorship of Gastroenterology Randomized Controlled Trial Literature
  Liu, et al.

Further Resources

In 2022, the IGD developed a digital guide highlighting the five GI societies’ individual DEI initiatives, research opportunities, pipeline development programs, education, and awards in a helpful at-a-glance format with links to learn more.