First, a bit of promotion. At last month’s CME event sponsored by the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alan Gunderson, MD, asked attendees to “save the date” of September 19, 20, and 21. Billed as Metabolic Health in Motion, a two-day international conference focusing on MASLD (formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) will be followed by a fund-raising road race, all hosted in Iowa City. More information to come soon.

Though Gunderson would deliver his own presentation in the afternoon, delivering a series of GI-related clinical pearls he called “hacks,” he also served as emcee for the day, introducing the other nine presenters. Each of them presented updates in a variety of topics from anemia to medical marijuana.

Presenter topics included:

M. Salman Ansari, MD
Evaluation of Functional GI Disorders

Masaaki Kurahashi, MD
Breath Testing

Lori Winborn
Ultra Processed Foods

Antonio Sanchez, MD
MASLD

Avraham Levin, MD
Anal Cancer—Primary Care Screen

Ruchi Sharma, MBBS
PCABS

Beth Cooper, PA-C
Red Flags

Erin Christakos, PA-C
Evaluation of Anemia: A Practical Approach

Alan Gunderson, MD
Medication/Treatment Hacks

Mohamad Mokadem, MD
Cannabis—Is It Time?

After each presentation, each speaker took questions from the audience, which consisted of regional physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants. Often those conversations continued while others took advantage of snacks outside the hotel ballroom or spoke with some of the sponsoring vendors about other new devices or medications they might consider incorporating into their practice.

The day also included a lively lunch, during which attendees got to know each other better or, in many cases, caught up on each other’s lives. The afternoon was just as rich with content as the morning, with the final presentation of the day delivered via recording, but still holding the audience’s attention.

Congratulations to the division on another successful CME event, and special thanks to Taryn Owens and Hilary Humphrey for their work in helping to organize the day.