Editorial introductions.

Abstract

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology was launched in 1985. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of gastroenterology is divided into 12 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Anthony N. KallooAnthony N. KallooDr Anthony N. Kalloo is Chairman of Medicine at Maimonides Medical Center and Professo Emeritus of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA. He is the former Director of The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Hospital (2005-2020). He has special interests in Natural Orifice Surgery, therapeutic endoscopy, biliary and pancreatic diseases and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. After receiving his medical degree from the University of West Indies Medical School, West Indies, Dr Kalloo interned and completed his residency in Internal medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., USA. He completed his fellowship training program at the combined Georgetown University, USA, VA Medical Center and NIH program. Prior to joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1988, he was an Instructor in Medicine at Georgetown University. Dr Kalloo is a past Panel Chair for Gastroenterology and Urology Devices with the United States Food and Drug Administration. In 2009 he was recognized as the Distinguished Educator of the Year of the Award by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In 2014 he received the Endoscopy Award of the German Society of Endoscopy for outstanding Research and contribution in the field of endoscopy. In 2015 he received the BJ Vakil Oration from The Society of GI Endoscopy of India bestowed on an international expert for his contribution to the field of GI Endoscopy. He has over two hundred peer-reviewed publications and over 100 patents. In 2015 he became a member of the inaugural chapter of the National Academy of Inventors at The Johns Hopkins University. This group represents the top 3% of all Faculty inventors since 1969, and the top 1.5% of active Johns Hopkins Faculty. Dhiraj YadavDhiraj YadavDr Yadav is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief for Clinical Research and Academic Development in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. He has an active clinical practice with a focus on pancreatic diseases. His research interests are in the epidemiology of acute and chronic pancreatitis, and has published several key papers on the epidemiology of pancreatitis, especially its population distributions, the role of alcohol and tobacco in pancreatitis, and the natural history of disease. He is funded by the NIH and the DoD, and is the co-chair of the NIDDK-funded Type 1 diabetes in acute pancreatitis consortium (T1DAPC). He is the co-Principal Investigator on several ongoing multicenter studies, including a longitudinal cohort study of chronic pancreatitis (PROCEED), a randomized clinical trial assessing the role of minor papilla sphincterotomy in recurrent acute pancreatitis and pancreas divisum (SHARP), an observational cohort study on the risk and mechanisms of diabetes in acute pancreatitis (DREAM), and an observational study evaluating the role of short term increase in drinking as a risk factor for pancreatitis (ACCESS-AP). Dr Yadav has over 200 peer reviewed publications and abstract submissions each. He is actively involved in resident and fellow teaching, and co-directs the Enhancing Mentoring to Improve Research in Gastroenterology (EMERGE) program in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at UPMC. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on acute and chronic pancreatitis.