In 2001, the ACG Board of Trustees approved an International Affiliate Society program. The goals of the program include:
- Raising international awareness of College activities and ACG awareness of international educational activities
- Increasing international attendance and contributions to the ACG Annual Meeting
- Increasing awareness and participation in the ACG International GI Training Grant program
- Assisting our Affiliate Partners in their educational mission to their members
- Where appropriate, assisting International Affiliates in adapting US / ACG public health outreach programs to their local medical community and patients
- Increasing readership and international contributions to the American Journal of Gastroenterology
Currently, there are four international GI societies that have met the requirements and been approved for ACG Affiliate status.
Brazil
Federação Brasileira de Gastroenterologia
fbg.org.br/
The Brazilian Federation of Gastroenterology (FBG), is a non-profit organization that represents and promotes the field of gastroenterology in Brazil. It is made up of about 4,300 professionals and is one of the 64 medical specializations that form the Scientific Council of the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB).
The FBG was established in 1949 to enhance and develop the scientific knowledge of gastroenterology in Brazil. It is comprised of 23 regional federations throughout the country.
The FBG is affiliated with the Interamerican Gastroenterology Association (AIGE) and the World Gastroenterology Organization (OMGE). Its scientific journal is the Gastroenterology Archives (Arquivos de Gastroenterologia), and it supports several programs that focus on scientific updates for the associated entities.
The FBG organizes the Brazilian Week of the Digestive System, which is an annual event of international magnitude and the most significant gastroenterology event in Brazil.
Italy
Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy
sigeitalia.it
The Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy (SIGE) has ancient origins, founded in Milan in 1935 by an initiative of Professors Ferdinando Micheli and Cesare Frugoni. Over time, SIGE has strongly pursued the goal of promoting research in the field of gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy, supporting and expanding the training of specialists and researchers to advance knowledge in this field, and deeply contributed raising public awareness of the social and economic impact of digestive diseases.
Currently, SIGE counts about 1,000 members, including trainees, academic and non-academic specialists.
At the National level, together with AIGO and SIED, SIGE is part of FISMAD, the Italian Federation of Digestive System Diseases Societies, and within this consortium SIGE co-organizes an annual congress. Furthermore, SIGE is registered with the Federation of Italian Medical-Scientific Societies-FISM. Furthermore, at the international level, the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy is part of UEG, contributing to its activities through its delegates at the activities of UEG Committees.
The activities of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy – particularly those aimed at education and research – are disseminated through its website (www.sigeitalia.it), and newsletters. Research activities conducted by the members are published in the leading international journals in the field, including Digestive and Liver Disease, the official journal of SIGE.
In recent years, SIGE has promoted for its members the Advanced Endoscopy School and the Nutrition School (aimed at residents and young specialists), a SIGE Course “for Young Investigators”, an Abdominal Ultrasound Course, and, in partnership with University Gastroenterologists, a course directed at medical trainees with the objective of making young professionals increasingly autonomous in their research activities, encouraging and facilitating international outreach. These courses are held annually. Moreover, since 2023, numerous Clinical Fellowships were funded to allow young participants to exchange training and professional experiences at various centers across the country. Lastly, since 2022 SIGE has taken the lead in producing several Guidelines published by the National Institute of Health on its platform and has established its own Research Center to promote and fund multicenter studies.
SIGE has adapted to the ISO 9001-2015 Quality System (R.N.: IT – 112057) and is Standard Provider no. 1227.
Japan
The Japanese Gastroenterological Association
jpn-ga.jp
The Japanese Gastroenterological Association (JGA) was founded in 2004 concentrating on topics related to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Another association for GI issues in Japan is the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE), which covers not only the GI tract but also the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. Apart from the JSGE, there are individual associations that focus on a single organ. The JGA features detailed research on the GI tract and clinical cases.
The JGA holds an annual meeting during which educational and clinical programs are discussed and conducts “IGICS” international program focusing on a single topic. We jointly established the GI week organization with The Japanese Society of Ulcer Research and The Japanese Association for Capsule Endoscopy and are conducting multifaceted activities. We also hold educational lectures twice a year.
We have an extraordinary passion for strengthening the association with nearly 6,000 members, six regional committees and four clinical practice guidelines contributing to clinical practice. The participation of members from not only gastroenterology but also a wide range of academic fields, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, pathology, acute medicine and pharmacology, is in line with the mission of the JGA of being a “comprehensive academic society for GI diseases.”
Mexico
Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología
gastro.org.mx
The Asociacion Mexicana de Gastrotenterologia (AMG) is a scientific society founded in 1935 as a proposal to support the knowledge on gastroenterology in Mexico, and it currently continues to do so.
AMG is mainly aimed at:
- Disseminating knowledge and encouraging the development of Gastroenterology in Mexico.
- Promoting the teaching and academic activities for our Members and Associates.
- Annually organizing 3 regional meetings across the Country; one of which is a state‐of‐the‐art meeting (held every August) focusing on providing a critical review of the top informatition provided in International Congresses (called ECOS); also, in November we hold our annual Gastroenterological Mexican Week with a average attendance of 1,500‐2,000 people.
- Establishing academic relationships with other international societies and associations such as the American Neurogastroenterology and MotilitySociety (ANMS), Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva (SEPD), and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), among others.
- Promoting and sponsoring studies and research related to Gastroenterology.
- Supporting programs for Residents in Gastroenterology and related specialties.
- AMG established an Editorial Support Committee which works jointly with our publisher, Elsevier, to edit Revista de Gastroenterologia de Mexico, the official scientific Journal of our Association.
Our society currently counts 1,800 Members including Gastroenterologists, as well as other related specialists such as Endoscopists, Surgeons, Pediatricians, Hepatologists, Internal Medicine Doctors, and Radiologists. Our administrative and financial structure has remained sound and robust over time, which is why in 2015 we celebrated our 90th year as an Association.