Why Should You Join TSGE?

By far, this is the best “gut club” you’ll ever join.

Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy is the only organization specifically dedicated to the issues and challenges facing Gastroenterology in Texas. Membership is limited to physicians practicing gastroenterology and/or gastrointestinal endoscopy, and those enrolled in an approved training program directly related to gastroenterology.

If you are not a member, here is what you are missing:

* High-quality educational programs at reduced registration. Our annual ACG/TSGE Texas Course features nationally and internationally recognized faculty and valuable CME. The meeting is held each September. It also offers CNE for your GI nurses, and scholarships for fellows.

* Federal Advocacy. TSGE has a strong relationship with the American College of Gastroenterology and the Texas Medical Association. Our society works in concert with these groups to fight on your behalf. Our top priority continues to be the preservation of physician ownership of endoscopy centers.

* State Advocacy. Through our partnership with Texas Medical Association, we watch for regulations and legislation that may affect your specialty. TSGE contributed significant time and money to support the passage of the Colon Cancer Screening Mandate in 2001 and Tort Reform in 2003.

In 2008, TSGE board members worked with the Texas Medical Board to write rules for a disclosure bill regarding direct billing for pathology services, ensuring that the rules are aligned with legislation. Our board members also successfully testified before the TMA House of Delegates to defeat a resolution that called for mandatory reporting of every diagnostic imaging referral in your practice.

During the 2009 Legislative Session, TSGE successfully defeated three pieces of legislation that were intended to ban physician ownership. TSGE worked closely with the TMA to prevent the corporate practice of medicine.

Here are some testimonials from your colleagues:

I have been a member of TSGE for almost twenty years. TSGE has long been an educational resource with "national" caliber annual meetings. However, as times have changed in medicine, TSGE has evolved into one of the most prominent and successful state societies in the political arena. In 2001, with inspiration from the American College of Gastroenterology, TSGE spearheaded the passage of SB 1467, the colorectal screening bill for normal risk individuals not on Medicare. Two years later TSGE defended an attack on SB 1467 from the business and insurance interests. In the 2005 legislature, the TSGE provided leadership in defending physician ownership of ambulatory endoscopy centers against the interests of the state hospital and radiology associations. Finally, through TSGE, I have made lasting friends with gastroenterologists around the state. Indeed, some of my best friends in medicine are those established through TSGE activities.

Shad Dabaghi, MD, FACG
Past President
Austin, Texas


TSGE has provided me the opportunity to join with my other colleagues from throughout the state to speak as a unified voice on legislative issues and insurance policies that affect my practice and my patients. Needless to say, these efforts have been very successful, and in fact led to other state GI societies instituting similar strategies.

TSGE has also enabled me to complete my CME requirements (including ethics hours) at our annual meeting, which in my opinion, rivals any National GI meeting. In addition, it allows me to make new friends and rekindle old friendships.

By far, this is the best “gut club” you’ll ever join.

Delbert L. Chumley, MD, FACG
Past President
San Antonio, Texas

TSGE speaks and acts politically to represent the collective voice of gastroenterologists in Texas. We have been heard loudly and clearly by our state legislators, who have voted into being such important measures as liability caps and mandatory insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening.

TSGE puts on the best regional GI course in the nation each year, with attendance approaching 500, yet still we remain active in the fraternal sense. We have the best GI specialists in the country here, and I have gotten to know them each personally. If I have a difficult clinical problem, help is just a phone call away.

Loren Owensby, MD, FACG
Past President
Victoria, Texas