Evolving the relationship between the AGA and Gastroenterology with Tom Serena

In this podcast episode, Tom Serena, chief executive officer of the American Gastroenterological Association, discusses the role of private equity in specialty societies, the hunger to be involved in innovation and more.

•    Intro :24
•    The interview/about Serena :29
•    Can you tell us about your upbringing and how it helped you become who you are today? :50
•    Were there certain early individuals or experiences that you think have been impactful or important to your career today? 1:43
•    Have you always been a natural leader, or did you grow into it?  2:38
•    What are some things you learned from your coach? 3:30
•    Is there a pathway that you unintentionally took that led you to medical societies and medical society leadership?  5:09
•    Over the thirty years you have been involved with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), when did you know that you were going to be a core part of the leadership team?  6:38
•    How have you seen the GI field change over the last thirty years? 8:24
•    Do you think there has been a shift in the culture of our specialty for major organizations like AGA to be more open to a wider range of physicians and stake holders? 11:00
•    Where do you think we’re going over the next few years with private equity? 14:08
•    Can you tell us more about the AGA’s GI Opportunity Fund? What prompted the AGA to partner with venture capital and how has the experience been so far? 19:19
•    Are there things that organization leaders are more likely to invest or not invest in? 21:47
•    Berry, Chey and Serena on non-traditional ways physicians are looking to make use of their medical training. 23:24
•    How have larger legacy societies like AGA and ACG view the emergence of more nuanced clinical societies, and how do they impact the way the AGA tries to execute its mission? 27:05
•    Can you talk about ABIM’s impact on health care and the GI specialty? 30:01
•    What are some of the biggest challenges facing AGA and GI as a field moving forward? 33:17
•    Outside of the Opportunity Fund, what are other ways that the AGA is working to solve challenges around physician burnout, autonomy and reimbursement? 34:43
•    Any life lessons you want to share with listeners? 36:22
•    Thank you, Tom 37:39
•    Thanks for listening 37:58

Tom Serena is chief executive officer of the American Gastroenterological Association. Tom joined AGA in 1994 and has served as the organization’s CEO since 2010. His previous role was VP of finance. He has been heavily focused on governance, helping the governing board to become the stewards of AGA’s future, with an emphasis on strengthening board - committee - staff relationships.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to [e-mail]. Follow us on X @HealioGastro @sameerkberry @umfoodoc. For more from Serena, follow @TSerenaAGA on X. For more from the AGA, visit www.gastro.org and follow @AmerGastroAssn on X.

Disclosures: Berry and Chey report no relevant financial disclosures. Serena reports he is an investor in the GI Opportunity Fund.