ABOUT US
The Southern California Society of Gastroenterology (SCSG) is a non-profit professional society dedicated to enhancing the practice of gastroenterology by enriching gastroenterologists in the region through continuing medical education. The SCSG aims to provide an environment of professional growth and social exchange for its members.
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The changing approach to medicine and education over the years has been reflected in the evolving format of the SCSG. The annual SCSG GI Symposium and Liver Symposium meetings have become well-established premier GI-focused conferences in the western United States. The success of the SCSG lies in its willingness to change and the active participation of its membership. Further innovations will undoubtedly occur as the SCSG enters its fourth decade.
SCSG OFFICERS
President
Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD
Keck Medicine at USC
Los Angeles, CA
Vice President
Steven-Huy Han, MD
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
Treasurer
Walid Ayoub, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
COUNCILORS
Rudolph Bedford, MD
Providence
Los Angeles, CA
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Gina Choi, MD
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
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John Donovan, MD
Keck Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA
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Gareth Dulai, MD, MSHS
Southern California Permanente
Medical Group
Downey, CA
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Marc Edelstein, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
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Eric Esrailian, MD, MPH
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
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Kevin Ghassemi, MD
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
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Ke-Qin Hu, MD
UCI Health
Orange, CA
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Jeffrey Kahn, MD
Keck Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA
Charles Menz, MD
Island View Gastroenterology Associates
Ventura, CA
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Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
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Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
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Paul Pockros, MD
Scripps Clinic
La Jolla, CA
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Amandeep Sahota, MD
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
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Sarah Sheibani, MD
Keck Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA
Waleed Shindy, MD
inSite Digestive Health Care
Pasadena, CA
Jacques Van Dam, MD, PhD
Keck Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA
SCSG History
In late 1949, Southern California physicians interested in gastroenterology recognized the need for a local society focused on this specialty. The founders sought to address challenges faced by physicians in attending national gastroenterology meetings held primarily in the Eastern or Midwestern United States.
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Their vision for the Southern California Society of Gastroenterology (SCSG) included bringing leading investigators in the field to Southern California, fostering communication among local institutions, and providing opportunities for younger physicians. The SCSG was formally established in 1950, with initial meetings held at the home of Dr. William C. Boeck.
Since its inception, the SCSG has grown steadily, now boasting almost 300 members representing various disciplines related to gastrointestinal diseases. The society has been a key contributor to the advancement of gastroenterology training in Southern California, attracting professionals from across the country and abroad.
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The SCSG's commitment to adapting to evolving trends in medicine and education is evident in the success of its annual GI Symposium and Liver Symposium meetings, which have become premier conferences in the western United States. The society's success hinges on its adaptability and the active engagement of its members. As the SCSG approaches its fourth decade, further innovations are expected to shape its continued impact on the field of gastroenterology.