AGA Regional Practice Skills Workshops

The AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee was formed in 2013 to address the needs of those at the beginning of their careers in gastroenterology. The committee is composed of 12 trainee and early career members, whose mission is to develop and support programs relevant to the needs of young clinicians and researchers in the field of GI. In an initial needs assessment, a survey of GI fellows/trainees was undertaken, which revealed a gap in preparation for the transition from fellowship to practice. In particular, respondents expressed a desire to better understand issues related to practice skills, including health care economics, billing/coding, contract negotiation, and health policy. In addition, some trainees felt uncomfortable bringing questions about their private practice job search to academic faculty, who in turn may not have the necessary experience to provide answers regarding various private practice models and opportunities. Furthermore, fellows have little time and opportunity to learn about the rapidly shifting health care environment that will directly affect their future GI practice. To address these unmet needs, the AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee (in partnership with the Practice Management and Economics Committee as well as the Education and Training Committee) developed a workshop to educate fellows and early career GIs about practice and employment models, contracts and negotiations, compliance, health care policy, and other pertinent topics.

These workshops were designed with a half-day curriculum and based regionally to facilitate attendance as well as to capture the local practice patterns in different regions. They were launched during the 2014-2015 academic year in three cities – Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago – and received extremely positive feedback from participants.

 

Since then, 16 additional workshops have been held in the following locations: Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Houston; San Diego; New York; Stanford, Calif.; Pinehurst, N.C.; and Iowa City, Iowa (simulcast). At various times, workshops were held in partnership with local societies such as the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology, and the Texas Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, which offered additional opportunities for networking. Overall, the 19 regional practice skills workshops held over the last 4 years have reached 420 fellows and early career GIs.

The workshop agenda is focused on issues related to transitioning to life as an independent practitioner, which may not be adequately covered during training. The agenda is similar across locations and includes sessions on career options in research and clinical practice, how to evaluate a job, contract negotiations, health care reform, and work-life balance. Additional topics have been added to certain workshops to tailor it for the region, such as sessions in California related to working at Kaiser Permanente. Local leaders in private practice and regional health systems are often invited as speakers, presenting great opportunities for networking and potential job interviews. The workshops were primarily designed for second- and third-year fellows who are embarking on the job search. However, our feedback shows that medical residents interested in GI as well as early career practitioners also find the material very relevant because it describes the breadth of job possibilities and practical tips for a successful career. As the workshops have evolved, additional topics have been added based on attendee feedback, including those on financial management (e.g., disability insurance, retirement planning), social media, and leadership. All workshops include catered meals and are free to both AGA members and nonmembers.

Workshop attendees highly value the opportunity to network with other participants and pose questions to the speakers in person. However, in the past year we have also explored digitally streaming sessions with great success. In California, the workshop was streamed live from UCLA to an audience in Stanford and Iowa, who were also able to interact with the speakers remotely. The live streaming was very well received, as it offered increased access with the opportunity for real-time interactions with speakers. Based on the positive feedback, we are expanding its use in this current cycle, with the workshop in Ohio on Feb. 16 slated to be the first to be streamed live across the country. We also anticipate making the stream of the upcoming workshop in Boston on March 30 available to all interested fellows and early career GIs in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Recognizing that the content delivered in these workshops will not change significantly over short periods of time, the highest-rated sessions have been archived on the AGA website for viewing off-line. This allows select content to be viewed on demand by those who cannot attend the live workshops or those who want a refresher course prior to their actual job interview. The current library of 23 videos from various workshop presentations is available on the AGA website and social media platforms and have already generated 1,863 views. To view some of the more recent videos, click here.

 

Moving forward, we anticipate hosting ongoing workshops at large regional sites, in collaboration with local GI societies, while also continuing to offer live streaming for those who cannot attend in person. We will also expand our library of on-demand content for remote viewing. We look forward to reaching trainees and early career GIs across the country and providing the most relevant and up-to-date materials. Those interested in attending one of the workshops can find more information at http://www.gastro.org/trainees. The Trainee and Early Career committee is also looking to expand to additional cities in future years so that more trainees and early-career GIs can participate in these workshops. As the workshops evolve, we welcome your input regarding additional topics or new formats for presenting the material. If you are interested in having a workshop hosted in your city, please let us know! Contact Carol Brown, senior manager of constituency programs, at cbrown@gastro.org.

Dr. Ketwaroo is assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine, and therapeutic endoscopist, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston. Dr. Liang is instructor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, NYU Langone Health, and staff physician, VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Ms. Brown is senior manager of constituency programs, AGA. Ms. NuQuay is senior director, member relations and constituency programs, AGA.

The AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee was formed in 2013 to address the needs of those at the beginning of their careers in gastroenterology. The committee is composed of 12 trainee and early career members, whose mission is to develop and support programs relevant to the needs of young clinicians and researchers in the field of GI. In an initial needs assessment, a survey of GI fellows/trainees was undertaken, which revealed a gap in preparation for the transition from fellowship to practice. In particular, respondents expressed a desire to better understand issues related to practice skills, including health care economics, billing/coding, contract negotiation, and health policy. In addition, some trainees felt uncomfortable bringing questions about their private practice job search to academic faculty, who in turn may not have the necessary experience to provide answers regarding various private practice models and opportunities. Furthermore, fellows have little time and opportunity to learn about the rapidly shifting health care environment that will directly affect their future GI practice. To address these unmet needs, the AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee (in partnership with the Practice Management and Economics Committee as well as the Education and Training Committee) developed a workshop to educate fellows and early career GIs about practice and employment models, contracts and negotiations, compliance, health care policy, and other pertinent topics.

These workshops were designed with a half-day curriculum and based regionally to facilitate attendance as well as to capture the local practice patterns in different regions. They were launched during the 2014-2015 academic year in three cities – Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago – and received extremely positive feedback from participants.

 

Since then, 16 additional workshops have been held in the following locations: Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Houston; San Diego; New York; Stanford, Calif.; Pinehurst, N.C.; and Iowa City, Iowa (simulcast). At various times, workshops were held in partnership with local societies such as the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology, and the Texas Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, which offered additional opportunities for networking. Overall, the 19 regional practice skills workshops held over the last 4 years have reached 420 fellows and early career GIs.

The workshop agenda is focused on issues related to transitioning to life as an independent practitioner, which may not be adequately covered during training. The agenda is similar across locations and includes sessions on career options in research and clinical practice, how to evaluate a job, contract negotiations, health care reform, and work-life balance. Additional topics have been added to certain workshops to tailor it for the region, such as sessions in California related to working at Kaiser Permanente. Local leaders in private practice and regional health systems are often invited as speakers, presenting great opportunities for networking and potential job interviews. The workshops were primarily designed for second- and third-year fellows who are embarking on the job search. However, our feedback shows that medical residents interested in GI as well as early career practitioners also find the material very relevant because it describes the breadth of job possibilities and practical tips for a successful career. As the workshops have evolved, additional topics have been added based on attendee feedback, including those on financial management (e.g., disability insurance, retirement planning), social media, and leadership. All workshops include catered meals and are free to both AGA members and nonmembers.

Workshop attendees highly value the opportunity to network with other participants and pose questions to the speakers in person. However, in the past year we have also explored digitally streaming sessions with great success. In California, the workshop was streamed live from UCLA to an audience in Stanford and Iowa, who were also able to interact with the speakers remotely. The live streaming was very well received, as it offered increased access with the opportunity for real-time interactions with speakers. Based on the positive feedback, we are expanding its use in this current cycle, with the workshop in Ohio on Feb. 16 slated to be the first to be streamed live across the country. We also anticipate making the stream of the upcoming workshop in Boston on March 30 available to all interested fellows and early career GIs in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Recognizing that the content delivered in these workshops will not change significantly over short periods of time, the highest-rated sessions have been archived on the AGA website for viewing off-line. This allows select content to be viewed on demand by those who cannot attend the live workshops or those who want a refresher course prior to their actual job interview. The current library of 23 videos from various workshop presentations is available on the AGA website and social media platforms and have already generated 1,863 views. To view some of the more recent videos, click here.

 

Moving forward, we anticipate hosting ongoing workshops at large regional sites, in collaboration with local GI societies, while also continuing to offer live streaming for those who cannot attend in person. We will also expand our library of on-demand content for remote viewing. We look forward to reaching trainees and early career GIs across the country and providing the most relevant and up-to-date materials. Those interested in attending one of the workshops can find more information at http://www.gastro.org/trainees. The Trainee and Early Career committee is also looking to expand to additional cities in future years so that more trainees and early-career GIs can participate in these workshops. As the workshops evolve, we welcome your input regarding additional topics or new formats for presenting the material. If you are interested in having a workshop hosted in your city, please let us know! Contact Carol Brown, senior manager of constituency programs, at cbrown@gastro.org.

Dr. Ketwaroo is assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine, and therapeutic endoscopist, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston. Dr. Liang is instructor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, NYU Langone Health, and staff physician, VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Ms. Brown is senior manager of constituency programs, AGA. Ms. NuQuay is senior director, member relations and constituency programs, AGA.

The AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee was formed in 2013 to address the needs of those at the beginning of their careers in gastroenterology. The committee is composed of 12 trainee and early career members, whose mission is to develop and support programs relevant to the needs of young clinicians and researchers in the field of GI. In an initial needs assessment, a survey of GI fellows/trainees was undertaken, which revealed a gap in preparation for the transition from fellowship to practice. In particular, respondents expressed a desire to better understand issues related to practice skills, including health care economics, billing/coding, contract negotiation, and health policy. In addition, some trainees felt uncomfortable bringing questions about their private practice job search to academic faculty, who in turn may not have the necessary experience to provide answers regarding various private practice models and opportunities. Furthermore, fellows have little time and opportunity to learn about the rapidly shifting health care environment that will directly affect their future GI practice. To address these unmet needs, the AGA Trainee and Early Career Committee (in partnership with the Practice Management and Economics Committee as well as the Education and Training Committee) developed a workshop to educate fellows and early career GIs about practice and employment models, contracts and negotiations, compliance, health care policy, and other pertinent topics.

These workshops were designed with a half-day curriculum and based regionally to facilitate attendance as well as to capture the local practice patterns in different regions. They were launched during the 2014-2015 academic year in three cities – Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago – and received extremely positive feedback from participants.

 

Since then, 16 additional workshops have been held in the following locations: Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Houston; San Diego; New York; Stanford, Calif.; Pinehurst, N.C.; and Iowa City, Iowa (simulcast). At various times, workshops were held in partnership with local societies such as the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology, and the Texas Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, which offered additional opportunities for networking. Overall, the 19 regional practice skills workshops held over the last 4 years have reached 420 fellows and early career GIs.

The workshop agenda is focused on issues related to transitioning to life as an independent practitioner, which may not be adequately covered during training. The agenda is similar across locations and includes sessions on career options in research and clinical practice, how to evaluate a job, contract negotiations, health care reform, and work-life balance. Additional topics have been added to certain workshops to tailor it for the region, such as sessions in California related to working at Kaiser Permanente. Local leaders in private practice and regional health systems are often invited as speakers, presenting great opportunities for networking and potential job interviews. The workshops were primarily designed for second- and third-year fellows who are embarking on the job search. However, our feedback shows that medical residents interested in GI as well as early career practitioners also find the material very relevant because it describes the breadth of job possibilities and practical tips for a successful career. As the workshops have evolved, additional topics have been added based on attendee feedback, including those on financial management (e.g., disability insurance, retirement planning), social media, and leadership. All workshops include catered meals and are free to both AGA members and nonmembers.

Workshop attendees highly value the opportunity to network with other participants and pose questions to the speakers in person. However, in the past year we have also explored digitally streaming sessions with great success. In California, the workshop was streamed live from UCLA to an audience in Stanford and Iowa, who were also able to interact with the speakers remotely. The live streaming was very well received, as it offered increased access with the opportunity for real-time interactions with speakers. Based on the positive feedback, we are expanding its use in this current cycle, with the workshop in Ohio on Feb. 16 slated to be the first to be streamed live across the country. We also anticipate making the stream of the upcoming workshop in Boston on March 30 available to all interested fellows and early career GIs in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Recognizing that the content delivered in these workshops will not change significantly over short periods of time, the highest-rated sessions have been archived on the AGA website for viewing off-line. This allows select content to be viewed on demand by those who cannot attend the live workshops or those who want a refresher course prior to their actual job interview. The current library of 23 videos from various workshop presentations is available on the AGA website and social media platforms and have already generated 1,863 views. To view some of the more recent videos, click here.

 

Moving forward, we anticipate hosting ongoing workshops at large regional sites, in collaboration with local GI societies, while also continuing to offer live streaming for those who cannot attend in person. We will also expand our library of on-demand content for remote viewing. We look forward to reaching trainees and early career GIs across the country and providing the most relevant and up-to-date materials. Those interested in attending one of the workshops can find more information at http://www.gastro.org/trainees. The Trainee and Early Career committee is also looking to expand to additional cities in future years so that more trainees and early-career GIs can participate in these workshops. As the workshops evolve, we welcome your input regarding additional topics or new formats for presenting the material. If you are interested in having a workshop hosted in your city, please let us know! Contact Carol Brown, senior manager of constituency programs, at cbrown@gastro.org.

Dr. Ketwaroo is assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine, and therapeutic endoscopist, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston. Dr. Liang is instructor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, NYU Langone Health, and staff physician, VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Ms. Brown is senior manager of constituency programs, AGA. Ms. NuQuay is senior director, member relations and constituency programs, AGA.