John I. Allen, M.D., MBA, AGAF, of Yale University School of Medicine, will continue his service to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the broad GI community throughout the coming year in his new role as president of the AGA Institute. Dr. Allen’s term began at the conclusion of Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2014.
During his presidency, Dr. Allen plans to continue AGA’s tripartite mission of research, clinical practice, and education. All three pillars will be supported by robust advocacy and networking with national organizations that create health care law, regulations, and policies.
Dr. John I Allen
Important research endeavors include the growing endowment for research support targeted especially at investigators beginning their academic career (AGA Research Foundation) and the Center for GI Innovation and Technology. AGA education will transform into new, exciting modalities that speak to both beginning and advanced-career gastroenterologists.
"[Dr. Allen’s] vision for AGA is shaped by his personal experiences as a physician, clinical researcher, teacher, and patient," said Robert A. Ganz, M.D., a long-time colleague of Dr. Allen’s from Minnesota Gastroenterology, P.A. "He recognizes that the specialty of GI faces enormous challenges and is unwavering in his commitment to support AGA members in this new era of health care delivery."
Anticipating the coming changes in health care, Dr. Allen has led the AGA in developing a series of programs under the "Roadmap to the Future of GI," designed to provide a portfolio of tools that directly help practitioners thrive in a period of great change in health care. The goals of the Roadmap are to deliver high-quality care, demonstrate quality, and maximize revenue.
Over the past decade, Dr. Allen has served AGA in increasing capacities. In 2007, Dr. Allen was selected to chair the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Committee, a committee responsible for all aspects of clinical practice, including quality measures and practice management. In 2009, Dr. Allen was nominated and elected to be a community practice councillor to the AGA Governing Board.
"During his tenure, [Dr. Allen] was one of the hardest working, productive, and valuable members of the board, leading crucial efforts in practice-related initiatives," said Loren A. Laine, M.D., AGAF, professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine, and past president, AGA Institute. "It was no surprise, and well-deserved, when [Dr. Allen] was elected vice president in 2012, with succession to president in 2014."
Dr. Allen graduated with honors from Rice University in Houston, TX, in 1973, and the University of New Mexico Medical School, Albuquerque, in 1977, completing internship, residency, and gastroenterology specialty training at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Dr. Allen then spent 10 years as faculty in the department of medicine at University of Minnesota.
From 1991 through 2013, Dr. Allen helped build Minnesota Gastroenterology into a large single-specialty gastroenterology practice in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and develop their nationally known quality improvement program.
On April 1, 2013, Dr. Allen assumed the role of clinical chief of the section of digestive diseases and a professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Dr. Allen and his wife Carolyn, an advanced endoscopy nurse, have two grown children: Jennifer and Josh.
The June issue of Gastroenterology provides an in-depth profile of Dr. Allen’s upbringing, education, career, and accomplishments.
