FITE Leadership
DAVID LOREN, MD, FASGE
President
Dr. David Loren MD, FASGE is proud to serve as the inaugural president of FITE. His practice is located at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia where his clinical and research endeavors focus on novel techniques and technologies in therapeutic endoscopy and in particular applications of endoscopic oncology.
Dr. Loren collaborates nationally and internationally on research programs with a combination of NIH and industry funding for his research efforts. He is a passionate educator of fellows, residents, and medical students, as well as of established physicians and is the Chairperson for the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Jefferson. Dr. Loren oversees Endoscopic Services for the Jefferson Health Network’s hospital system.
He brings a robust background through his work with foundations and societies over the past twenty years, is a Fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and is Past President and Treasurer of the Delaware Valley Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Loren is a gastroenterologist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is affiliated with Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. He received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
DAVID DIEHL, MD, FASGE
Vice President
I am originally from Los Angeles, and attended UCLA as an undergraduate, for Medical School and completed Internal Medicine Residency and Chief Residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. I was GI Fellow at both UC San Francisco and UCLA. I was previously Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA Medical Center and Director of Endoscopy at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU School of Medicine and Director of Endoscopy at Bellevue Hospital Center.
I am currently Clinical Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and Director of Interventional Endoscopy and Director of the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville Pennsylvania.
I am President-elect of the Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology. I look forward to partnering with the Governing Board, Councilors, Ambassadors, and members to help accomplish the mission and vision of FITE as we start our journey together.
MOHIT GIROTRA, MD, FACG, FACP
Secretary
Dr. Mohit Girotra was recently recruited to the Swedish Digestive Health Institute from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida, where he was an Associate Professor and Director of Endoscopy in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology.
After finishing his medical school from the Christian Medical College in India, Dr. Girotra trained at the Johns Hopkins/Sinai Internal Medicine Program, where he developed his passion for GI, and also became invested with American College of Physicians (ACP) serving as Co-Chair for ACP-Chief Residents Association. Following his GI fellowship, he stayed on as general GI faculty at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Later he completed his therapeutic endoscopy fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto.
Dr. Girotra has been actively involved in education/mentoring and takes pride in helping his residents/fellows excel academically. He is also passionate about research, having authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and received several research recognitions. His clinical and research interests include therapeutic pancreatico-biliary endoscopy (ERCP, EUS), advanced luminal endoscopy, emerging technologies and endoscopic innovation.
Dr. Girotra looks forward to serving FITE as its inaugural Secretary, to accomplish the vision and mission of this foundation.
ANTONIO MENDOZA LADD, MD,
Treasurer
Dr. Mendoza Ladd is originally from Guatemala. He attended medical school at Universidad de San Carlos where he graduated Cum Laude. He trained in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City; and then completed an interventional endoscopy fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Mendoza Ladd was recently recruited by the University of New Mexico as an Associate Professor and Director of Endoscopy with the specific objective of developing the third space endoscopy program in the division of gastroenterology. Prior to joining UNM, Dr. Mendoza Ladd spent 6 years developing interventional endoscopy in Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas. Besides 3rd space techniques, Dr. Mendoza Ladd’s clinical interests include management of acute and chronic pancreatitis, GI oncology, all aspects of therapeutic endoscopy and healthcare outcomes in Hispanics in the United States.
Dr. Mendoza Ladd is an active member and fellow of the ACG, ASGE and the AGA. He is also a member of the American Pancreatic Association (APA) and the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA). As a FITE Treasurer, Dr. Mendoza Ladd contributes by executing the objectives and vision of the foundation.
Founders & Trustees
MICHEL KAHALEH, MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE
Co-Founder and Trustee, & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Michel Kahaleh, MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE is an American gastroenterologist and an expert in therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and other minimally invasive endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Kahaleh is a Professor of Medicine, the Clinical Director of Gastroenterology, Chief of Endoscopy and Director Pancreas Program at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
He is the Founder and Director of both the Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound Society (TEUS) and Innovative Digestive Health Education and Research Inc. (IDHER); as well as one of the Founders and Directors of Foundation for Interventional and Therapeutic Endoscopy (FITE).
NEIL SHARMA, MD
Co-Founder and Trustee, & Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Sharma has served as the founder and Director of both Interventional Oncology & Surgical Endoscopy (IOSE) at Parkview since 2013. These programs have grown and blossomed under his leadership, increasing in volume, innovation, and complexity drawing patients from around the country for state of the art care and clinical trials. Dr Sharma serves faculty at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Sharma is actively involved in a number of clinical trials and publications on interventional/surgical endoscopy and GI malignancies. He has lectured and presented nationally, served as faculty at a variety of conferences, and has extensive publications & research experience as primary investigator on prospective trials for complex interventional endoscopy, EUS, ERCP, ESD, 3rd space/surgical endoscopy, and esophageal and pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Sharma founded the fellowship training program at Parkview Health in advanced interventional endoscopy, and serves as its program director – training and mentoring future leaders in therapeutic endoscopy. He has a passion for education and mentorship. Dr Sharma has been invited lecturer for grand rounds, GI oncology and live endoscopy courses in the USA and internationally.
On July 1st 2016 he assumed the role of President of Parkview Cancer Institute (PCI). His proven track record of program design, organization, growth and development being applied across the spectrum of cancer care. The vision for the Parkview Cancer Institute has been to deliver state of the art cancer care in a novel disease state and patient-centered medical model. PCI has set the standard for patient care experience, redefining multidisciplinary care models, innovation in oncology surgery, medicine and research.
CHRISTOPHER C. THOMPSON, MD
Co-Founder
Dr. Christopher C. Thompson is the Director of Endoscopy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program Director and clinical faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Dr. Thompson’s clinical interests include endoscopic surgery applied to foregut conditions, with a focus on endoscopic treatment of obesity, GERD, Zenker’s diverticula, achalasia, gastroparesis, postsurgical complications, and pancreatobiliary disease. He spends the majority of his time performing these advanced endoscopic procedures and also cares for these patients in the ambulatory setting. The remainder of his time is devoted to research in endoscopic surgery, with a focus on device development, clinical outcomes, and endoscopic education.
MONICA GAIDHANE, MD, MPH, ACRP-CP
Co-Founder and Trustee, & Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Gaidhane is an Associate Professor, Research Program Director and Physician skilled in disease surveillance, clinical trials, biostatistics and data management. Currently working on pancreaticobiliary, gastroenterology, oncology and obesity related multi-site database/registry studies and drug/device trials at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University.
12 years of experience includes management of over 34 studies,105 publications and 175 abstracts. Coordinated and managed 14 Endoscopy Medical Education Conferences (in-person and virtual).
She is a Co-Founder and COO of both Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound Society (TEUS) and Innovative Digestive Health Education and Research Inc. (IDHER); as well as one of the Founders and Directors of Foundation for Interventional and Therapeutic Endoscopy (FITE).
SHYAM THAKKAR, MD
Co-Founder and Trustee, & Chief Innovation Officer
Dr. Thakkar is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, at West Virginia University Medicine. He also holds a joint appointment as an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. His clinical and scientific practice focuses on advanced therapeutic endoscopy, and he is currently developing an interventional endoscopy service line to support the state of West Virginia dedicated to quality care, research, education, and innovation.
With respect to research and innovation, Dr. Thakkar spends a significant amount of time as an investigator. His areas of research focus are on artificial intelligence, pancreatic cancer, and natural orifice surgery. He is the primary investigator in a project utilizing artificial intelligence to measure the surface area and quality of endoscopic exams. As part of his work at WVU Medicine, he oversees a research team focused on outcomes and opportunities to advance therapeutic endoscopy.