PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The 2026 AFS Foregut Fellows Accelerated Program is a specialized, multidisciplinary curriculum designed for surgical and gastroenterology fellows pursuing advanced training in the evaluation and management of foregut disease. Over two focused days, participants engage with expert faculty through didactic lectures, procedure videos, hands-on workshops, and interactive case discussions. Day 1 provides an accelerated foundation in gastroparesis — from pathophysiology to medical, endoscopic, and surgical therapy — followed by an introductory motility course covering high-resolution manometry, the Chicago Classification v4.0, and FLIP panometry. Day 2 delivers a rigorous, practical course on the full spectrum of reflux measurement modalities. By training surgeons and gastroenterologists side by side, the program fosters the collaborative, physiology-informed approach that defines modern foregut care.
Date: September 9-10, 2026
Location: Gaylord National, Washington DC
Intended Audience
This program is designed for fellows in general surgery, foregut surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and gastroenterology who are developing expertise in the diagnosis and management of foregut disorders.
Selected participants will receive registration for the 2026 Foregut Fellows Accelerated Program, two (2) nights hotel, airfare (up to $750), and function meals.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Describe the pathophysiology of gastroparesis and identify appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic options, including medical, endoscopic, and surgical approaches.
- Demonstrate foundational proficiency in the principles of gastric neuromodulation and programming the Enterra device.
- Interpret high-resolution manometry (HRM) studies using the Chicago Classification v4.0, including key metrics such as IRP, DCI, DL, and individual swallow analysis.
- Recognize and differentiate esophageal motility disorders — including achalasia, EGJOO, hypermotility disorders (DES, jackhammer esophagus), and hypomotility disorders (IEM, absent contractility).
- Apply FLIP panometry in the evaluation of foregut disease.
- Select the appropriate reflux testing modality — catheter-based pH, impedance, or wireless — based on the clinical scenario.
- Conduct, analyze, and report reflux testing in accordance with current standards, including the Lyon Consensus.
- Integrate esophageal physiology and reflux testing results into shared surgical and gastroenterology decision-making for patients with foregut disease.
PROGRAM AGENDA
DAY 1 · WEDNESDAY September 23, 2026
Gastroparesis, Esophageal Physiology Testing & Introductory Motility Course
| TIME | TOPIC | FACULTY |
|---|
| 7:30 AM |
Breakfast |
|
| 7:45 AM |
Introductions and Agenda Overview |
|
GASTROPARESIS: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENTS
| 8:00 AM |
Pathophysiology of Gastroparesis |
Linda Nguyen |
| 8:30 AM |
Diagnosis and Medical Management of Gastroparesis |
Reena Chokshi |
| 9:00 AM |
Surgical Therapy for Gastroparesis: Options and Guidelines |
Christy Dunst |
| 9:30 AM |
Clinical Scenarios |
Reena Chokshi / Christy Dunst / John Lipham / Linda Nguyen |
| 10:00 AM |
Break |
Break |
| 10:15 AM |
Procedure Videos |
Christy Dunst / John Lipham |
| 10:45 AM |
Hands-On: Neuromodulation Principles and Programming the Enterra Device |
Reena Chokshi / Linda Nguyen / Enterra Medical |
ESOPHAGEAL PHYSIOLOGY TESTING — PRELUDE TO MOTILITY COURSE
| 11:15 AM |
Motility in Gastroenterology Practice |
Reena Chokshi |
| 11:30 AM |
pH Testing in Gastroenterology Practice |
Linda Nguyen |
| 11:45 AM |
Implications of pH Testing and Motility for Surgeons |
John Lipham |
INTRODUCTORY MOTILITY COURSE
| 12:00 PM |
Course Opens — Introductory Motility Course |
|
| 12:30 PM |
The HRM Starting Line: Understanding Protocol and Pressure Landmarks |
Adrianna Lazarescu |
| 1:00 PM |
Metrics that Matter in HRM: IRP, DCI, DL, and Individual Swallows |
Catherine Ngo |
| 1:20 PM |
Turning Colors into Conclusions: Chicago Classification v4.0 |
Mayssan Muftah |
| 2:20 PM |
Pressure at the Junction: Achalasia and EGJOO |
Vani Konda |
| 2:40 PM |
FLIP Panometry: Indications and Use in Foregut Disease |
Dusty Carlson |
| 3:50 PM |
When the Esophagus Overperforms: Hypermotility Disorders (DES and Jackhammer Esophagus) |
Joan Chen |
| 4:10 PM |
When the Esophagus Underperforms: Hypomotility Disorders (IEM and Absent Contractility) |
Missy DeSouza |
| 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
Networking Reception (location TBD) |
|
Course times reflect speaker blocks; brief transitions between talks are built in.
DAY 2 · THURSDAY September 24, 2026
Reflux Measurement Course
| TIME | TOPIC | FACULTY |
|---|
| 7:00 AM |
Course Opens — Reflux Measurement Course |
Moderators: Ben Rogers, Roger Tatum |
| 7:30 AM |
Introduction to Primary Reflux Testing Modalities: Catheter-Based, Impedance, and Wireless |
Josh Sloan |
| 7:45 AM |
Matching the Clinical Scenario to the Testing Modality |
Abraham Khan |
| 8:00 AM |
Setting Up a Reflux Test |
Shreya Chablaney |
| 8:30 AM |
Hands-On: Software Set-Up and Analysis |
All Speakers |
| 9:30 AM |
Generating a Report |
Kourtney Kemp |
| 9:45 AM |
Symptom Correlation, Reflux Scores, and the Lyon Consensus |
Prakash Gyawali |
| 10:00 AM |
Hands-On: Reporting |
All Speakers |
| 10:30 AM |
Wireless pH: Probe Placement, Reporting, and Pitfalls |
Anh Nguyen |
| 11:00 AM |
Diagnostic Conundrums — Panel Discussion |
All Speakers |
| 11:30 AM |
Sponsored Lunch |
|
| 12:30 PM |
Course Adjourns |
|
FACULTY
Course faculty are drawn from leading academic centers across the United States and include representatives from both the American Foregut Society and its partner gastroenterology motility community. A full faculty roster, disclosures, and biographical information will be circulated to registered participants prior to the program.
THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS
