Get to Know Us
The Latino Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology was created from a shared recognition of two realities.
On one hand, Hispanic and Latino physicians continue to be underrepresented in leadership, research, and academic spaces within gastroenterology and hepatology. On the other hand, Hispanic communities in the United States still face real barriers to digestive and liver health care, ranging from language and access to a lack of clear, trustworthy information.
This society was built to respond to both.
It brings together professionals who want to support each other, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the field. At the same time, it aims to make digestive health information more accessible and relevant to the communities we serve.
At its core, this is about connection between colleagues, between knowledge and patients, and between medicine and the communities that need it most.
Mission
To promote gastrointestinal health among Hispanic and Latino communities, and to promote and develop the careers of Hispanic and Latino medical students, trainees, and gastroenterologists.
Objectives
-
Improve adherence to current recommendations regarding gastrointestinal health in Hispanic and Latino communities through educational materials and outreach initiatives.
-
Promote and develop the careers of Hispanic and Latino medical students, trainees, and gastroenterologists through research, networking, mentorship, and collaborative scholarship.
-
Increase the proportion of Hispanic and Latino practicing gastroenterologists in the USA.
Board Members
Commitment. Representation. Impact.
This group brings together physicians and professionals who share an interest in gastroenterology and hepatology and who value having a space to connect with others in the field.
What brings us together is not just our work, but the intention to support one another, exchange ideas, and grow professionally without losing sight of the communities we care about.
Each person brings a different path and perspective, but there is a shared understanding of why this matters—both within the field and beyond it.
Luis F. Lara, MD
Division Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Cincinnati.
Interest: Pancreatic diseases, acute and chronic conditions, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic islet auto transplantation, and mid–gastrointestinal bleeding.
Hernando González Quiros, MD, FASGE
Director Advanced Endoscopy Mount Sinai, Miami Beach.
Interest: Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) & Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS).
Eleazar Montalvan-Sanchez, MD
Department of Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale School of Medicine (PGY-6)
Interest: Gastroenterology and hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, gastric cancer prevention, medical education, and clinical research.
Jonh J. Pineda Bonilla. MD, FACG
Director General and Advanced Endoscopy, LewisGale Medical Center, VA.
Interest: Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy, Third-Space Endoscopy, and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Antonio Mendoza Ladd MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE
Professor of Medicine / Director of Endoscopy at UC Davis
Interests: Therapeutic EUS, third-space endoscopy, acute pancreatitis, and emerging applications of endoscopic technologies.
Camille Lupianez Merly, MD
PGY-5 GI Fellow, University of Florida-Jacksonville
David Guevara, MD
Research Scholar at the University of Michigan
Research Interests: Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cysts.
Félix Ignacio Téllez Ávila MD, M.Sc., PhD, FASGE
Associate Professor
Director of Advanced Endoscopy
Gastroenterology & Hepatology Division
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Interests: Advanced pancreatobiliary endoscopy, therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound.
Cadman Leggett, MD
Clinica Mayo, Minnesota
Interests: Esophageal diseases, diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophagus, advanced endoscopic and third-space resection, advanced imaging, and artificial intelligence.
Jorge D. Machicado MD,
MPH, FASGE
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Interest: Chronic pancreatitis; pancreatic cysts; pancreatobiliary endoscopy; clinical trials.
Olaya Brewer Gutierrez, MBBS, FASGE
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital, with leadership roles in endoscopy, GI services, and the Johns Hopkins Heartburn Center.
Interest: Endoscopic antireflux interventions, Pancreatobiliary endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, Third space endoscopy, Complex polypectomies.
Jellyana Peraza, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine. Division of Digestive Diseases. Yale School of Medicine
Interest: Inflammatory bowel disease and medical education.
Pedro DeJesus Escobedo, MD
Internal Medicine Resident (PGY-2),
Indiana University School of Medicine
Interest: General Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Euriko Torrazza Perez, MD, MSPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of New Mexico
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Leandro Sierra Carrero, MD
Internal Medicine Resident (PGY-2), Cleveland Clinic
Interest: Transplant Hepatology; Cholestatic Liver Disease; MALSD.