From independent practice builders to academic innovators, these five gastroenterology leaders are shaping how GI care is delivered, researched and led in 2026:
Joseph Cassara, MD Board president of Gastroenterology of the Rockies (Denver)
Dr. Cassara is board president of Gastroenterology of the Rockies and a practicing gastroenterologist specializing in advanced therapeutic endoscopic procedures. He has been nationally recognized for his leadership in advanced endoscopy, clinician-patient communication and physician leadership development, and founded a national center of excellence focused on clinician-patient communication.
Aasma Shaukat, MD Gastroenterologist and outcomes researcher of NYU Langone Health (New York City)
Dr. Shaukat is a gastroenterologist and outcomes researcher at NYU Langone Health who has been nationally recognized for advancing colorectal cancer prevention, screening quality, and early detection. She has more than 15 years of experience in colonoscopy innovation, with a focus on improving procedure quality, developing advanced polyp removal techniques and integrating AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Brian Jacobson, MD Director of program development of the gastroenterology division at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
Dr. Jacobson is a gastroenterologist and director of program development for the gastroenterology division at Massachusetts General Hospital, with expertise in advanced endoscopic procedures. His work at one of the country’s highest-ranked GI programs spans clinical care, program strategy and endoscopic innovation.
Jennifer Christie, MD Division head of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and President of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Dr. Christie leads a nationally recognized team of clinicians, researchers and educators at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus specializing in general gastroenterology, interventional endoscopy, transplant hepatology and inflammatory bowel disease. She currently serves as president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, one of the field’s most influential professional societies.
Dinesh Madhok, MD CEO of Borland Groover (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Dr. Madhok was named CEO of Borland Groover as part of a leadership restructuring aimed at positioning the organization for future growth. Borland Groover is one of the largest independent GI practices in the Southeast, and Dr. Madhok’s appointment — alongside a new CFO, COO, and CHRO — signals a deliberate push to build the executive infrastructure needed to compete in an increasingly consolidated GI market.
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