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DARRELL PARDI: When we look at change in medicine, we realize we can let it change around us, and then we react to it, or we can lead that change. So we've been encouraged by our current leadership to be comfortable taking risk.
LAURA RAFFALS: We have clinician led innovation. But every single person is recognizing the gaps that exist in our field. So one of the things that sets GI apart from other specialties is the procedures that we do. And we have teams of people that are leading the development of new devices, new technologies, and new ways to apply old technologies to bring new solutions to patients.
So one of the exciting things that we're pursuing currently is this idea of endoscopic innovation, where internally, we kind of mimic what the surgeons do with bariatric surgery that is less invasive, and less expensive than surgery.
LAURA RAFFALS: It's critical to collaborate with colleagues around the world through something we call our e-board.
DARRELL PARDI: So if we see a difficult case that we're not sure what the right answer is, or what the next step is, we will bring it to this e-board.
LAURA RAFFALS: And what we've learned is, these patients, their cases, we've changed management courses. And it's really changed outcomes for these patients.
DARRELL PARDI: We're able to maintain the ranking for example, in US News and World Report, because we're not satisfied. And we're not content with the status quo.
LAURA RAFFALS: I see the opportunity for GI is to continue training the future of GI.
DARRELL PARDI: We recruit residents into our GI fellowship program that allows us to select the best residents from across the world. We're also very willing to commit resources. So when a new area develops in GI, we have someone here who has that expertise.
LAURA RAFFALS: So you come out of your GI training, having been taught by key thought leaders in every single sub-specialty of gastroenterology.
DARRELL PARDI: And then while they're here, we develop their skills in endoscopy, patient care, research.
LAURA RAFFALS: And if we can always invest in our teams, we'll continue to be successful.
DARRELL PARDI: My aspiration is to build on the legacy that leadership teams before us have developed, and through that, use it as a foundation to transform medicine from within.
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