The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has announced the appointment of Thomas Deas Jr., MD, MMM, FASGE, to president, according to a news release (pdf).
Dr. Deas assumed his duties in May. His term runs for one year.
Dr. Deas currently practices gastroenterology with Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves as the medical director of the Fort Worth Endoscopy Center and the Southwest Fort Worth Endoscopy Center. He has served on the North Texas Specialty Physicians board since 1998, is chief medical officer of Sandlot, a subsidiary of NTSP, and is president of Care N Care, a Medicare Advantage PPO wholly-owned by NTSP.
Dr. Deas is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology. He received his MD from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. Postgraduate medical training at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio included an internal medicine residency, chief of residents and gastroenterology fellowship.
"It is a great honor to serve as ASGE's president," said Dr. Deas, in the release. "In the coming year, I want our membership to gain a deeper appreciation of ASGE's value. If endoscopy is your practice, ASGE truly is your partner in advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy. One of my top priorities as president will be to encourage implementation of information technology solutions among the ASGE membership. I have a strong interest in IT as a means to improve patient care. IT tools that provide vital clinical information at the point of care or provide decision support tools and reminders and registries to improve population management are essential to improving the quality of care and reducing the burgeoning cost of care. I am convinced that IT solutions have the same potential as endoscopic technologies to improve patient care in the years ahead."
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