24 gastroenterologists in the headlines

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From practice acquisitions and openings to academic awards, here are 24 gastroenterologist in recent Becker’s headlines: 

1. Gastroenterologist Michelle Kang Kim, MD, PhD, was been named chair of the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is a specialist in gastrointestinal carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumors, and her research is centered on the development of gastrointestinal cancer and prognosis in carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumors. 

2. University of Miami Health System, known as UHealth, acquired Physicians Group of South Florida, effective Nov. 2. The deal moved the North Miami practice’s three gastroenterologists to UHealth SoLé Mia Medical Center. David Cohen, MD, Arin Newman, MD, and Daniel Wolfson, MD, now see gastroenterology and endoscopy patients on the fourth floor of the North Miami ambulatory center. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

3. The American College of Gastroenterology named the winners of its nine awards for 2026 during its award ceremony on Oct. 10.

Here are the ACG’s award winners for 2026:

  • The Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award: Joseph Murray, MD.
  • Community Service Award: Jean Fox, MD. 
  • Distinguished Mentorship and Teaching Award: Guilherme Macedo, MD, PhD, and Kathryn Peterson, MD.
  • Distinguished NP/PA Teaching Award: Lenore Lamanna, RN, EdD.
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Lubna Kamani, MD. 
  • International Leadership Award: Anita Afzali, MD, and David Fleischer, MD.
  • Master of the American College of Gastroenterology: Maurice Cerulli, MD; Immanuel Ho, MD; Costas Kefalas, MD; Paul Kwo, MD; Satish Rao, MD, PhD; David Rubin, MD; and John Saltzman, MD.
  • NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence: Sandip Sall, DNP.
  • Samuel S. Weiss Award: Carol Burke, MD.

4. Paramus, N.J.-based Valley Health System named Moo Cho, MD, as medical director of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition for Valley Medical Group. 

5. Costas Kefalas, MD, was elected as president of the American College of Gastroenterology for the 2026-27 term. Dr. Kefalas is president of Akron (Ohio) Digestive Health and a community gastroenterologist at a private practice. He joined the American College of Gastroenterology in 2000 and became a trustee in 2019. 

6. Miami-based Gastro Health named Maria Abreu, MD, its senior vice president of inflammatory bowel disease clinical care and innovation. Dr. Abreu comes to Gastro Health from Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was executive director of the F. Widjaja IBD Institute. 

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.

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