4
THE RED SECTION
nature publishing group
ACG PRESIDENTIAL INTRODUCTION Harry Sarles Jr, MD1 Am J Gastroenterol 2014; 109:4; doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.412
Good morning. I have the distinct privilege to introduce our President, Dr Ron Vender, to you today. Ron was born in Chicago, where he grew up as the second child in a family of five children. Ron has one sister and three brothers. Ron was affectionately known as Ronnie in the neighborhood and over the years became a diehard Cubs and Blackhawks fan. All of Ron’s brothers and his sister have grown to become successful professionals. Ron’s mother, Mariel, has passed and his father, Earl a salesman, continues to live in a retirement community. Ron graduated cum laude from Harvard College. He attended medical school, and did his internship, residency, and GI fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Ron discovered his attraction to gastroenterology in the latter years of medical school while working on his graduation thesis with Howard Spiro as his advisor. Dr Spiro seduced Ron into the field and ultimately became a life-long friend and mentor to Ron. Ron entered practice and became the first Chief of Gastroenterology at Milford Hospital in Connecticut. Ron confided to me that everything he has used in his career he learned at the 90-bed Milford Hospital. Ron went on to become co-managing partner of the Gastroenterology Associates of New Haven, Connecticut. At the hospital, St Raphel in New Haven, Connecticut, Ron became Medical Director
of the Digestive Disease Center, Program Director of the GI Fellowship Program and ultimately the Chief of Gastroenterology. In 1998, Ron cofounded the Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut, a 14 physician, 7 PA-member private GI group. He also established the Endoscopy Center of Connecticut, the first privately owned ASC in the state. In 2008, Ron left private practice to accept the position as Chief Medical Officer for Yale Medical Group, a 900 member faculty practice group and serves as the associate dean for Clinical Affairs at Yale School of Medicine where he is today. Ron’s college leadership life really began when he served as governor representing Connecticut on the ACG Board of Governors during 1996–2002. Ron joined and became Chair of the National Affairs Committee at that time as well. Under his leadership the committee broadened its portfolio to include state legislative initiatives, national regulatory and legislative agendas. On National Affairs, Ron was able to work closely with college icons like Jay Popp and Dave Johnson, who mentored and inspired him. He then served as a Medical Advisor for Connecticut becoming the second state in the country to mandate insurance coverage for colon cancer prevention. Other ACG duties have included membership on the Strategic Planning Group, Publications Committee, Board of
Trustees, Credentials and Finance Committees. Ron is now our president. Ron is an accomplished speaker, author, and recipient of multiple career awards including the ACG Governors Bill Cary Leadership Award. The AGA honored Ron with the distinguished clinician award in 2008, and the Yale School of Medicine recognized his contributions as an outstanding teacher with Vincent DeLuca Award in both 2002 and 2006. Ron is an accomplished physician, gastroenterologist, teacher, and leader. However, his most important role in life has been that of husband, father, and now grandfather. His family is his primary focus. Ron has been married to Amy, his wife, for 39 years. Their son, James, is married to his wife Ashley and Ron’s granddaughter is Elliott. Ron is devoted to his family. Ron is also an accomplished athlete completing his first standard triathlon at the age 54. He is a former tennis player who converted to golf and has enjoyed playing some of the greatest courses around the world. At the age of 55, Ron suffered a health scare that forced him to give up many activities but also refocused his appreciation and love for his family and friends. He has also appreciated more than ever his ability to make contributions at work and on behalf of the ACG. Please join me and welcome our president Dr Ron Vender for his presidential address.
1
Rockwall, Texas, USA
The American Journal of GASTROENTEROLOGY
VOLUME 109 | JANUARY 2014 www.amjgastro.com
THE RED SECTION
nature publishing group
ACG PRESIDENTIAL INTRODUCTION Harry Sarles Jr, MD1 Am J Gastroenterol 2014; 109:4; doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.412
Good morning. I have the distinct privilege to introduce our President, Dr Ron Vender, to you today. Ron was born in Chicago, where he grew up as the second child in a family of five children. Ron has one sister and three brothers. Ron was affectionately known as Ronnie in the neighborhood and over the years became a diehard Cubs and Blackhawks fan. All of Ron’s brothers and his sister have grown to become successful professionals. Ron’s mother, Mariel, has passed and his father, Earl a salesman, continues to live in a retirement community. Ron graduated cum laude from Harvard College. He attended medical school, and did his internship, residency, and GI fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Ron discovered his attraction to gastroenterology in the latter years of medical school while working on his graduation thesis with Howard Spiro as his advisor. Dr Spiro seduced Ron into the field and ultimately became a life-long friend and mentor to Ron. Ron entered practice and became the first Chief of Gastroenterology at Milford Hospital in Connecticut. Ron confided to me that everything he has used in his career he learned at the 90-bed Milford Hospital. Ron went on to become co-managing partner of the Gastroenterology Associates of New Haven, Connecticut. At the hospital, St Raphel in New Haven, Connecticut, Ron became Medical Director
of the Digestive Disease Center, Program Director of the GI Fellowship Program and ultimately the Chief of Gastroenterology. In 1998, Ron cofounded the Gastroenterology Center of Connecticut, a 14 physician, 7 PA-member private GI group. He also established the Endoscopy Center of Connecticut, the first privately owned ASC in the state. In 2008, Ron left private practice to accept the position as Chief Medical Officer for Yale Medical Group, a 900 member faculty practice group and serves as the associate dean for Clinical Affairs at Yale School of Medicine where he is today. Ron’s college leadership life really began when he served as governor representing Connecticut on the ACG Board of Governors during 1996–2002. Ron joined and became Chair of the National Affairs Committee at that time as well. Under his leadership the committee broadened its portfolio to include state legislative initiatives, national regulatory and legislative agendas. On National Affairs, Ron was able to work closely with college icons like Jay Popp and Dave Johnson, who mentored and inspired him. He then served as a Medical Advisor for Connecticut becoming the second state in the country to mandate insurance coverage for colon cancer prevention. Other ACG duties have included membership on the Strategic Planning Group, Publications Committee, Board of
Trustees, Credentials and Finance Committees. Ron is now our president. Ron is an accomplished speaker, author, and recipient of multiple career awards including the ACG Governors Bill Cary Leadership Award. The AGA honored Ron with the distinguished clinician award in 2008, and the Yale School of Medicine recognized his contributions as an outstanding teacher with Vincent DeLuca Award in both 2002 and 2006. Ron is an accomplished physician, gastroenterologist, teacher, and leader. However, his most important role in life has been that of husband, father, and now grandfather. His family is his primary focus. Ron has been married to Amy, his wife, for 39 years. Their son, James, is married to his wife Ashley and Ron’s granddaughter is Elliott. Ron is devoted to his family. Ron is also an accomplished athlete completing his first standard triathlon at the age 54. He is a former tennis player who converted to golf and has enjoyed playing some of the greatest courses around the world. At the age of 55, Ron suffered a health scare that forced him to give up many activities but also refocused his appreciation and love for his family and friends. He has also appreciated more than ever his ability to make contributions at work and on behalf of the ACG. Please join me and welcome our president Dr Ron Vender for his presidential address.
1
Rockwall, Texas, USA
The American Journal of GASTROENTEROLOGY
VOLUME 109 | JANUARY 2014 www.amjgastro.com
