Acing the Pancreaticobiliary Questions on the GI Board Exam

Brennan M. R. Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG, AGAF is Professor of Medicine, Director of Health Services Research, and Director of the Master's Degree Program in Health Delivery Science at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Spiegel attended Tufts University where he majored in philosophy and community health, and received his MD with Alpha Omega Alpha honors from New York Medical College. He received training in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at UCLA, where he developed the material for the Acing books while studying for Boards, and completed advanced studies in health services research at the UCLA School of Public Health, where he received a master's degree in health services. He received a Research Career Development Award through the Veteran Administration (VA) during which time he was trained in health services methodology.

Dr. Spiegel's research interests have focused on functional GI disorders, IBDs, acid-peptic dis-orders, chronic liver disease, GI hemorrhage, and colon cancer screening. He also studies the role of digital health technologies in clinical practice, including patient-provider portals, social media analytics, wearable biosensors, and therapeutic virtual reality. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, VA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Hearst Foundation, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), California Initiative for the Advancement of Precision Medicine, The Marc and Sheri Rapaport Fund for Digital Health Sciences & Precision Health, and the American College of Gastroenterology, among other sources.

Hetal A. Karsan, MD, FACG, FASGE, FAASLD, FACP is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine in the Division of Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine. He practices as a clinical gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and partner at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates and also maintains a clinical practice at Emory University. He is the Editor of the Red Section and Associate Editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Karsan attended Indiana University, where he earned his bachelor of science in biology and won awards from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for undergraduate biomedical research. He obtained his doctor of medicine from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Thereafter, he received training in internal medicine at Boston University, where he completed his medical internship and residency and also served as acting Chief Medical Resident. He went on to complete his fellowship at UCLA Medical Center, where he trained in gastroenterology, advanced interventional endoscopy, and transplant hepatology. While at UCLA, he also pursued advanced clinical research training through the UCLA School of Public Health. He is Board-certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology.

Dr. Karsan is active in a number of professional organizations and editorial boards. He is Board-certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology and actively participates in clinical outcomes research. In his leisure time, he enjoys sports, traveling, baking, and spending time with his family.