Springtime is an especially busy time for the AGA. Here's a quick rundown of some items that may interest you --

In the U.S., Congress is back in session, and the AGA is front and center advocating for policies that support the science and practice of gastroenterology. In an encouraging development, Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) offered an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution late last week to add $7 billion into the budget that funds NIH and other labor and education programs. The AGA joined the Coalition for Medical Research in sending a letter to the Senate urging support for the amendment. The major hurdles facing us in securing enactment of the Specter-Harkin changes include convincing the House to follow the lead of the Senate. The House has been much less favorable toward increasing the budget beyond the Bush Administration's numbers but we will be joining our allies to press the House to support the Specter-Harkin proposal. While it is too early to tell the specific impact of Specter-Harkin on NIH funding for Fiscal Year 2007, the NIH could receive meaningful increases if the proposal prevails. Be sure to help us if called upon - this legislation is key to our future of our specialty and that of our patients!

Speaking of the future, the AGA held our Academic Skills Workshop earlier this month, and it was a winner. I was impressed with the caliber of the young physicians who attended. They're smart, dedicated people who I'm proud are affiliated with the AGA. In their hands, the future of gastroenterology looks bright. We've received great feedback from attendees who valued the focus on grant preparation and review, manuscript preparation, oral and poster presentations, and career guidance. Each attendee was paired with a faculty member for mentoring, an interaction that the attendees valued greatly. Meeting with these future leaders was a highlight of my presidency. Thanks to the faculty members and to Course Directors Dr. John Carethers and Dr. David Lieberman who made the workshop a success.

I recently returned from a trip to New Orleans, where I had the opportunity to meet with local GI groups and talk with gastroenterologists who are rebuilding their lives and practices after Hurricane Katrina. Despite incredible pressures and hardship, the medical community has a positive spirit and is putting patient care first. During the Presidential Plenary session at DDW we'll hear from two of our members who helped lead one of the best-managed health care transitions in the days after the storm. Ian Taylor, dean of the Tulane School of Medicine and Peter Traber, president and CEO of Baylor College of Medicine, will share their experiences evacuating the Tulane medical center and dealing with the huge numbers of medical evacuees in the Houston area. Their incredible story and the experiences of colleagues from the Gulf Coast illustrate the meaning of professionalism.

I want to highlight one of many important events taking place at DDW this year - the AGA International Leadership Colloquium. This is our fourth year of convening sister GI societies and groups from around the world to discuss issues facing the field of gastroenterology on a global scale. The colloquium provides a forum for international GI society representatives to have their voices heard concerning education and research challenges. This year, we will focus on trends that will impact gastroenterology in the future. TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. has provided support for the colloquium. After DDW, we'll report back to AGA members on the colloquium's proceedings via a summary that we will post on our Web site.

Kristin and I look forward to seeing you at DDW and wish you safe travels