Eligibility

Candidates for Women’s Executive Leadership Conference must:

• Be a current AGA member in North America.
• Be a physician, surgeon, or scientist with an MD, PhD, DVM, or equivalent, beyond seven years of graduation from their GI fellowship.
• Have a stated commitment to personal and institutional leadership.
  

Professional titles include, but are not limited to:

Academic:

• Associate or full professor
• Division chiefs 
• Fellowship program directors
  

Private Practice:

• Partners in practice
• Managing partner
• Board members
• Program directors
• Positions equivalent
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The conference is designed for 50 women clinicians, researchers, and scientists who are experienced in their careers and in positions of influence in academia and private practice.

Women’s Executive Leadership Conference candidate criteria:

• Current AGA member in North America
• Physician, surgeon, or scientist with an MD, PhD, DVM, or equivalent, beyond seven years of graduation from their GI fellowship.
• Stated commitment to personal and institutional leadership development and advancement of women and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
  

Professional titles include, but are not limited to:

Academic:

• Associate or full professor
• Division Chiefs within the first two years of their appointment
• Fellowship program directors
• Medical Directors
• Assistant Deans

Private Practice:

• Partners in practice
• Managing Partner
• Board members
• Program directors
• Positions equivalent
  

Hospital Systems:

• Sub-specialty Vice-President
• Section Chief
• Service-Line Lead
• Program Directors/Program Leads

Sharpen your leadership skills for greater impact and advancement.

• Expect in-depth executive-level leadership development via didactics, panel discussions, and knowledge sharing.
• Ignite your inspiration with expert-led sessions on affecting systemic changes, communicating your value, self-work, efficiency tips and more.

Engage with inspiring luminaries and prominent peers in GI.

• Participate in various activities to gain and share strategies, advice and guidance for success.
• We’ve made sure to mix in social activities to make time to recharge and connect during the immersive 1.5-day conference.
• As an advanced leadership opportunity, applicants are vetted for exclusive access to the conference.

Advance gender equity in GI and hepatology.

• Learn about values-driven leadership and how your unique point of view and position of influence are pivotal in shaping teams committed to gender equity.
• Gain insights on implementing change in the workplace so you can innovate beyond the status quo.
• Opportunity to further your own professional goals as a leader.

AGA Women’s Executive Leadership Conference

March 13-14, 2026

Phoenix, AZ 

Agenda

Friday, March 13
6-8 a.m.	Registration and Check-in
7-8 a.m.	Networking Breakfast
8:15-8:30 a.m.	Welcome and Program Overview
8:30-9:15 a.m.	Getting to Know You Icebreaker
9:15-10 a.m.	Executive Leadership 101
10-10:30 a.m.	Networking Break
10:30-11:15 a.m.	Strategies to Effectively Communicate Your Value as a Leader
11:15-Noon	Understanding Your Leadership Style
Noon-1:30 p.m.	Working Lunch and Solution Circle Session
1:30-2:15 p.m.	Panel Discussion: My Three Best Leadership Tips That Saved Hours of Work
2:15-3 p.m.	Networking Break
3-3:45 p.m.	From Data to Decisions: AI’s Role in Transforming Leadership
3:45-4:30 p.m.	Managing Up and Down
4:30-5:15 p.m.	Closing
5:15-5:30 p.m.	Group Photo
5:30-5:35 p.m.	Break
5:35-7 p.m.	Networking Dinner
7:30-7:45 p.m.	Transport to Social Event
7:30-9:30 p.m.	Social Event
9:30-10 p.m.	Return to Hotel via Shuttle
Saturday, March 14
7-8 a.m.	Networking Breakfast
8-8:15 a.m.	Welcome and Overview of Day 1
8:15-9 a.m.	Pathways to Society Leadership
9-10 a.m.	How to Prepare for and Be Successful in a C-Suite Role
10-11 a.m.	Negotiations
11-12:15 p.m.	Panel Discussion: What I Wish I Had Known During My First Year in Leadership
12:15-1 p.m.	Finance and Business 101
1-1:45 p.m.	Navigating Conflict
1:45-2 p.m.	Wrap Up and Send Off

 

 

Course directors:

Fasiha Kanwal, MD, MSHS
Professor and Section Chief
Baylor College of Medicine
@KanwalFasiha

 

 

Aimee Lucas, MD, MS, AGAF
Associate Professor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
@AimeeLeeLucasMD

 

 

 

Faculty:

Kim Barrett
Vice Dean for Research and Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Membrane Biology
UC Davis School of Medicine
@DrKimEBarrett

 

 

 

Alejandra Castillo-Roth
Gastroenterologist
Northern NM Gastroenterology Associates

 

 

 

Lynn Grone
VP, Organizational
American Gastroenterological Association

 

John Hart
Founder and CEO
The Impact Center

 

Aja McCutchen
Physician
Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates
@mccutchendr

 

 

 

Lilani Perera
IBD Specialist
Advocate Aurora Healthcare Gastroenterology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Gastroenterology

 

 

More to be announced soon!