Young GI Angle: Young physicians and researchers within UEG – Perspectives and a toolbox for future development

In this issue, a new format is added to the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Journal – The Young GI Angle. This format will provide valuable guidance, perspectives and insight for young gastroenterologists and researchers in various stages of their training and career. The Angle is meant to serve as a tool for personal and team growth, and help identify potential educational, funding, and collaboration opportunities within UEG. Senior professionals and educators may also find this content stimulating.

Often, topics will be covered from both the senior and the younger perspectives. In this segment, we describe the perspective of the young GI network activities within UEG, the vision behind the momentum for promoting these activities and how readers can use them for personal and team development.

The Senior perspective. Michael Manns (UEG President).

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) has to be regarded as an umbrella bringing together and protecting all what gastroenterology and hepatology stands for. This includes Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Endoscopy, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Functional GI disorders, Pancreatology, Nutrition, Gastrointestinal Oncology plus Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Our fascinating specialty is rather complex covering basic, translational and clinical research as well as patient care in all the areas described above and applying sophisticated technologies including cell and molecular biology, interventional endoscopy and modern surgery. On the other hand, the general public is not well aware what gastroenterology and hepatology – and thus UEG – stands for. Even for politicians deciding on research funding, GI diseases are just associated with unpleasant symptoms rather than representing a major health burden to the European population. Therefore, we have to convey the message to the public and the politicians that diseases of the GI tract and the liver are indeed a major health threat to the European population of growing importance. Major research efforts and funding resources have to be allocated to biomedical research in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Together with other stakeholders and as a member society of the BioMedAlliance, UEG at the European level intensively works on increasing support for biomedical research in general and gastrointestinal and liver diseases in particular. Our past president Colm O’Morain is now President of the BioMedAlliance, which can be regarded as a major achievement. Based on the efforts of the BioMedAlliance, the European Commission has established the Scientific Panel for Health (SPH) as an advisory body to the European Commission to promote biomedical research in Europe, myself being a member of SPH and thus representing UEG.

The intelligence and inspiration of the individual are crucial for the development of future gastroenterology in Europe. Therefore, we have to invest in young talented gastroenterologists. The Young Talent Group (YTG) of UEG is of utmost importance to attract the most capable and most talented individuals of the young generation to biomedical research. Young gastroenterologists have to be convinced to develop their careers in basic, translational and clinical research and/or patient care for gastrointestinal diseases. Then the future looks bright for UEG and its YTG!

In this context we have to continuously work on developing the UEG Week as the premier international congress for gastroenterology on the globe. Within UEG Week, YTG has already become increasingly visible. However, these efforts have to be intensified. In the future, YTG should contribute more to the scientific programme of UEG Week. Young gastroenterologists should present their best research at UEG Week.

In addition to the high-quality and well-attended Post Graduate Teaching Course at UEG Week, we have to provide small preceptorships at established centres of excellence throughout Europe in addition to exchange programmes on a personal level for individual YTG members. In order to further improve the overall level of research as well as patient care in gastroenterology and hepatology throughout Europe, we need to attract the most brilliant young talented physicians and scientists to our field. The brightest should receive clinical and or scientific training at the best centres throughout Europe. High level cross-border mentorship programmes need to be established and facilitated by UEG.

The Younger Perspective. Tomer Adar, Florian Rieder (UEG’s Young Talent Group)

The efforts for advancing young gastroenterologists and researchers within UEG have recently gained a strong momentum, after UEG’s Young Talent group (YTG) was established. While some activities are highly prevalent and visible during UEG Week, many are active and accessible throughout the year. This section is one of them.

The vision for this section is to be a valuable tool, especially relevant for early and mid-level GI career stages (Young GI Network).¹ This section will cover different topics, often providing both the senior and younger points of view, to provide a well-rounded and relevant perspective. It can be perceived as a “Hitchhiker’s Guide” to gastroenterology, providing readers with tangible tools for personal and team advancement.

The Angle is an important feature, but one should be aware that the toolbox available within UEG is quite extensive. UEG’s website (www.ueg.eu) provides easy access to the various options already available, which may help you in your everyday needs as well as in long-term planning. UEG E-learning can be accessed for courses, presentations and other educational material; open calls for participation in UEG’s Summer School and other courses are posted on the website routinely, as well as various funding opportunities and training programmes. A new exchange programme within UEG, the UEG Visiting Fellowship Programme, has been announced recently.

To conclude, The Young GI Angle is a novel and valuable format in the UEG Journal, but only one of many more available to you from the UEG toolbox.