Dr. James Weber has been named president and chair of the board of directors of the Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA). Dr. Weber and members of DHPA’s 12-member Executive Committee will lead DHPA’s health policy efforts to promote and preserve accessible, high quality and cost-efficient care in the independent gastroenterological medical practice setting.
Dr. Weber succeeds Dr. Michael Weinstein, president and CEO of Capital Digestive Care, who will remain on the DHPA Executive Committee as immediate past president. Under Dr. Weinstein’s leadership, DHPA has been at the forefront of Stark Law modernization and has worked on behalf of patients to improve access to physician-administered medication. DHPA has led initiatives to provide resources on efforts in state legislatures to limit or eliminate Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements, and to educate patients and primary care physicians about colorectal cancer screening options.
“DHPA accomplished a lot for independent GI practices and the patients we serve, and it’s been great to serve alongside my colleagues to promote and support independent GI practices,” said Dr. Weinstein. “Dr. Weber has been involved since day one and is the perfect person to continue DHPA’s growth and advocacy in our nation’s capital and in our respective state houses.”
Under Dr. Weinstein’s leadership, DHPA grew from 77 practices in 30 states to 92 GI practices in 38 states, representing more than 2,200 physicians who care for more than 2.5 million people each year.
“With Dr. Weinstein at its helm, DHPA further strengthened its position as the voice for independent GI practices and the patients we serve. I am honored to have the opportunity to build upon his leadership,” said Dr. Weber. “I look forward to continuing to work with my DHPA colleagues to demonstrate that independent GI physicians provide a high quality, less expensive and more convenient alternative to care provided in hospital outpatient departments.”
Dr. Weber previously served as vice president of DHPA and is the founder of Texas Digestive Disease Consultants and CEO of the GI Alliance.
A new slate of DHPA Executive Committee members was also appointed. Dr. Latha Alaparthi of Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut has been named vice president; Dr. Mehul Lalani of Regional GI has been named treasurer; Dr. Paul Berggreen of Arizona Digestive Health has been named secretary; Dr. Glenn Littenberg of inSite Digestive Health Care has been named chair of health policy; Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam of Huron Gastroenterology has been named Chair of Data Analytics; Dr. Nadeem Baig of Allied Digestive Health has been named chair of communications; and Dr. George Dickstein of Greater Boston Gastroenterology, Dr. David Stokesberry of Digestive Disease Specialists, and Dr. Sanjay Sandhir of Dayton Gastroenterology were appointed as at-large members of the Executive Committee. Kevin Harlen continues his service on the DHPA Executive Committee as executive director.
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