Women in GI educational network

What is WIGEN?

The Women in GI Educational Network (WIGEN) is a national organization established in 2021 for the purpose of promoting the careers of junior women in academic Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The number of women in GI has grown exponentially in the recent past and has been accompanied by the rise of many women to leadership positions in professional societies and academic institutions. National recognition of expertise and accomplishments is critical for advancement in academic medicine. WIGEN is designed to provide opportunities to engage in invited talks, take part in relevant educational opportunities for refining skills, and enhance national exposure. The networking which is inherent in this project is an important component of professional development and success.

What does the database include?

This website consists of a database with information submitted by participants which includes academic status, professional interests and expertise, and formal lecture topics. It also contains a repository of educational information about lecture presentation and insights on academic progress.

What is the purpose of the network?

The primary activity of the network is to facilitate connections between participants and the member institutions which have interests in inviting women lecturers for various academic opportunities such as grand rounds, research talks, or symposia discussions.

Who is eligible to join the network?

WIGEN invites all interested junior women in GI to consider participation. Our belief is that the term ‘junior women’ is flexible and not necessarily defined by age or rank. Promotional criteria vary from one institution to another and any female faculty member who feels she can benefit from the program is welcome.

Our Objectives

Under the umbrella of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, we are committed to:

  • Recruitment of women faculty and fellow to the field of Gastroenterology
  • Maintaining women faculty in Gastroenterology
  • Career development
  • Educating and encouraging research in women's health issues in Gastroenterology

Steering committee

The committee is comprised of faculty from different tracks, including MDs and PhDs, fellows, research staff/students, and ad-hoc non-GI faculty.

Annual Radhika Sirinvasan, MD Women in GI Lectureship

  • 2011: Andrea Reid, MD, MPH
    Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist
    Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  • 2012: Helen M. Sheilds, MD
    Associate Master, Oliver Wendell Holmes Society
    Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
  • 2013: Sheila Crowe, MD
    Professor of Medicine, Director of Research
    University of California San Diego
  • 2014: Gail Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF
    Division Director and Professor of Medicine
    Loyola Medicine, Chicago
  • 2015: Kim Barrett, PhD
    Professor of Medicine, Dean of Graduate Studies
    Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Diego
  • 2016: Grace Elta, MD
    Professor of Internal Medicine
    University of Michigan
  • 2018: Marcia Cruz-Correa, MD, PhD
    Professor of Medicine & Biochemistry
    University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • 2019: Lin Chang, MD
    Vice-Chief, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
    Program Director, UCLA GI Fellowship Program
    David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Conferences

AAMC Mid-Career Women Leadership Conference

  • 2012: Kyong-Mi Chang, MD
  • 2013: Rebecca Wells, MD
  • 2014: Nuzhat Ahmad, MD
  • 2016: Laurel Fisher, MD

AAMC Early-Career Women Leadership Conference

  • 2016: Christine Hsu, MD

AGA Women in GI Leadership Conference

  • 2015: Laurel Fisher, MD
  • 2016: Kathryn Hamilton, PhD and Christina Twyman-Saint Victor,MD, MTR
  • 2017: Faten Aberra, MD, MSCE and Kim Forde-McClean, MD, MHS, PhD

Network resources

Resources – articles, books, publications and podcasts for women in gastroenterology.

Articles

Women's Health:

  • Dr. Laurel Fisher, MD, Editor and Dr. Gary Falk, MD, Consultiong Editor of the special issue in Gastroenterology Clinics of North America on Women's Health in Gastroenterology.
  • ACG, Pregnancy Monograph

Books

  • Friedman SD.  Total Leadership, Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life.  Harvard Business Press. 2008.
  • Goldsmith, Marshall. Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It.  Hyperion. 2009.
    http://www.mojothebook.com
  • Kegan, Robert and Lahey, Lisa.  Immunity to Change: How to Overcome it and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization. Harvard Business Press. 2009.
  • Sandberg, Sheryl. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Knopf. 2013.