Essential Updates in GI & Hepatology for Primary Care

The field of GI and Hepatology is continuously evolving, and staying abreast of the latest advancements can be challenging. Join experts from the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's Center for Digestive Health for a focused, half-day program designed for primary care providers (PCPs), internists, family practice providers, and advanced practice providers (APPs).

This concise yet comprehensive course offers practical insights and guidelines directly applicable to your practice. The aim is to equip you with actionable, evidence-based strategies to elevate your daily patient care.

• Up-to-Date Knowledge: Get a clear understanding of the latest breakthroughs, treatment nuances, and emerging guidelines in gastroenterology and hepatology.

• Practical Takeaways: Each session is structured to provide practical, relevant information you can integrate into your practice immediately.

• Improved Patient Outcomes: Learn how to better identify, assess, and manage common GI-related symptoms and diseases, leading to more effective care for your patients.

• Efficient Referral & Co-Management: Understand when to refer, what critical information to provide, and how to effectively co-manage complex cases with specialists.

Topics will include essential updates on: IBD, fatty liver disease (MetALD), dietary trends in GI, IBS medication management, acute pancreatitis, Barrett's esophagus, pancreatic cancer screening, diverticulitis, unexplained nausea, and an introduction to EUS for primary care applications.

Don't miss this opportunity to refresh your knowledge and enhance your skills in a time-efficient format. Invest just a half-day to significantly impact your GI and hepatology patient care.

1. Explain strategies to best utilize current inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments
2. Recognize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical implications of concurrent metabolic dysfunction and alcohol use in steatotic liver disease
3. Identify at least one possible adverse effect of a popular diet, supplement or food additive popular on social media
4. Discuss the neuromodulation medications for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
5. Describe complications and management strategies for those complications of acute pancreatitis
6. Review surveillance strategies for Barrett's esophagus
7. Discuss current approach to pancreas cancer screening as well as its strengths and limitations
8. Describe contemporary surgical approaches for diverticulitis management
9. Explain various interventions performed using Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Register to attend this half-day course in person or participate via livestream:

$100.00 - Attend in person

$100.00 - Attend via Livestream - link will be provided.

Online registration for livestream attendance is open until the course start time. You will receive the livestream link in your confirmation email.

For registration assistance, email the CME department at [email protected].

The Virginia Mason Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Virginia Mason Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM):  Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 4.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Parking: Parking is not included with registration. Virginia Mason's downtown parking facilities are limited and reserved for patients, therefore we offer this map of public lots with walking routes to the Lindeman Pavilion.

Seattle Public transportation: Metro Bus routes serving the First Hill neighborhood include 2, 10, 12, 60, 193, and 303. Please consult the Metro Trip Planner for route information and schedules.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Virginia Mason Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Otto S. Lin, MD, MSc
Program Director, VMFH GI Fellowship Program
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Seattle, WA

Course Co-Director, Faculty

Gautam Mankaney, MD
Section Head, Gastroenterology Section
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Seattle, WA

Course Co-Director, Faculty

Phat T Chiem, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Edward Cuaresma, MD
Virginia Mason Hospital & Seattle Medical Center
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Laurens Janssens, MD
Gastroenterology
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Randeep Kaur, MD
Gastroenterologist
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Kunjali T. Padhya, MD, FACG
Gastroenterologist
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Membership on Advisory Committees or Review Panels, Board Membership, etc.-Sanofi-Aventis (Relationship has ended)

Ella Sanman, ARNP
Gastroenterology
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Issaquah, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Vlad Simianu, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Colon and Rectal Disorders, Center for Digestive Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Consulting Fee-C-SATS (Relationship has ended)|Membership on Advisory Committees or Review Panels, Board Membership, etc.-BD (Relationship has ended)|Other: Travel and Education Support-Intuitive Surgical (Relationship has ended)

Amar Vedamurthy, MD
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Timothy L. Zisman, MD, MPH
Gastroenterologist
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Seattle, WA

Faculty

Grant or research support-Eli Lilly and Company (Relationship has ended)|Grant or research support-AbbVie|Grant or research support-Bristol-Myers Squibb (Relationship has ended)|Grant or research support-Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Relationship has ended)|Grant or research support-Roche|Grant or research support-Janssen

Sarah A. Ackermann, CCRC
Director, Research and Academics
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - VMMC
Seattle, WA

Planning Committee Member

Friday, July 31, 2026