StaffDr. Irving M. Pike (’78), a physician hospital executive and expert on endoscopic quality indicators, has been elected by the membership as the 2017-18 President of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), a national medical organization representing more than 14,000 clinical gastroenterologists and other specialists in digestive diseases.
In this position, he will direct ACG’s programs, which include continuing medical education in the clinical, scientific and patient-related skills of gastroenterology, national and state medical affairs, health policy issues and clinical investigation.
Pike has been senior vice president and chief medical officer at John Muir Health in Contra Costa County, California, since 2012 and is president of the John Muir Specialty Medical Group. Pike continues to be active as a gastroenterologist and provides gastrointestinal care as a volunteer for a local indigent clinic.
Pike is also the founding director and, from 2009-17, served as the president of the GI Quality Improvement Consortium Ltd., an educational and scientific 501(c)(3) organization and a joint venture of the ACG and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The GIQuIC’s purpose is to improve the quality of gastroenterology patient care throughout the United States and abroad.
A member of the ACG Board of Trustees since 2007, Pike has served as an officer of the college since 2013. He has contributed as a member of the ACG Credentials Committee (2000-01) and Practice Management Committee (2002 to present; Chair, 2004-07). He also served as Co-Chair of an ACG-ASGE Joint Task Force for Development of Endoscopic Quality Indicators (2005-06).
Dr. George L. Echols (’59) received the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award from Georgia Military College, which honors alumni who have distinguished themselves in their profession for service to humanity and dedication.
Dr. Edwin Grimsley (’86), a professor of internal medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine, was appointed senior associate dean for its Macon campus in July. Grimsley will continue to serve as associate dean for clinical education for the Macon campus and as compliance officer for Mercer Medicine.
Dr. Thomas L. Hatchett Jr. (’89) is the new vice chair of the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, which strives to identify the physician workforce needs of Georgia communities and to meet those needs through the support and development of medical education programs.
The National Association of Professional Women recognized Dr. Karen Garby (’92) as a 2017-18 inductee into its VIP Woman of the Year Circle, for leadership in health care. NAPW is the nation’s leading networking organization exclusively for professional women, boasting more than 850,000 members, a thriving eChapter and over 200 operating local chapters. An interventional radiologist, Garby is the director of Venous Intervention at Comprehensive Interventional Care in Mesa, Arizona.
Dr. Michael K. Garver (’92), a pediatrician in Great Falls, Montana, was recently inducted into the International Association of HealthCare Professionals. Garver has been in practice for more than two decades and is serving patients as lead pediatrician and owner of Premier Care Pediatrics in Great Falls. He also is an autism parent support group facilitator as well as chairman of the board and owner of VEMR Inc., a patented modular EMR software, specific to vaccination records.
Dr. Brad Buckler (’04) has been named physician-in-chief for the Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah. Buckler is a practicing neonatologist and corporate medical director for MEDNAX, Inc. / Pediatrix Medical Group of Georgia.
Dr. Abigail Cline (’17) is the winner of the 2017 Essay Competition sponsored by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The Lasker Foundation seeks to improve the field of medicine through recognition of research excellence, education
and advocacy. The Foundation’s essay contest engages scientists and physicians in training by asking them to discuss the role of biomedical research in society.
