In the News

What's the future of single-use endoscopes? - December 2022
Dr. V. Raman Muthusamy, director of endoscopy at UCLA Health, was asked, What’s the future of single-use endoscopes? In the interview with GI & Hepatology News, he discussed the safety of endoscopic procedures as well as improved procedural access and enhanced ergonomics of single-use devices, and also addressed reductions in cost, refining their indications, and developing recycling programs to minimize their environmental impact.

Danny Issa, MD, nominated to ASGE member engagement committee - 2022

The ASGE member engagement committee works to incorporate membership development activities; increase membership of underrepresented groups in ASGE based on ongoing assessment of member needs, trends and demographic changes; and provide strategic suggestions to the Governing Board on membership needs and retention. Dr. Issa is an interventional endoscopist and health sciences assistant clinical professor of medicine.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, leads study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology on single-use duodenoscope - August 2020

Dr. Muthusamy and colleagues published the article Clinical evaluation of a single-use duodenoscope for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology on a single-use duodenoscope. The disposable instrument may reduce outbreaks of infections associated with endoscope reuse. Dr. Muthusamy was also the first to use the instrument to perform a successful cannulation in a study animal and the first to use it in a human case in Spring of 2019. The single-use scope, the EXALT™ Model D Single-Use Duodenoscope, has been FDA approved for use in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures, and was granted Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA to ensure patients and healthcare providers have timely access to this device.

Lead AGA News – Automated endoscope drying cabinets reduce bacterial growth – V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, and Ryan Perumpail, MD - February 2020

Healio (2/26, Young) reports on research showing, "Storing endoscopes in a cabinet with an automated drying system reduced the time needed to dry the external surfaces and internal channels of the scopes while reducing bacterial growth." In order "to test drying times, researchers took reprocessed bronchoscopes, colonoscopes and duodenoscopes and stored them in either an automated drying cabinet or a standard cabinet," assessing dryness at 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, three hours and 24 hours using cobalt chloride paper. The findings were published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, serves as course director of ASGE’s Quality and Safety Course in Chicago - May 2019

Dr. Muthusamy has served as the course director of ASGE’s Improving Quality and Safety in Your Endoscopy Unit course since it was first held in Fall of 2008. The course serves as a vital primer on defining and measuring quality and discussing techniques to safely make endoscopy more efficient. The content of this course is dynamic, addressing the fundamentals as well as emerging trends and evidence in GI quality and safety. Dr. Muthusamy also currently serves as a member of the ASGE Quality Assurance in Endoscopy Committee, which aims to expand practice support to meet the evolving needs of gastroenterologists and healthcare teams by providing essential tools, education, guidance and services pertaining to quality improvement; delivering high-quality, safe, patient-centered care; and reimbursement.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, leads AGA's Annual Tech Summit in San Francisco - 2019

Dr. Muthusamy, the current chair of the American Gastroenterological Association’s (AGA) Center for GI Innovation and Technology, is also the chair of the Annual Tech Summit’s planning committee. The two-day, summit bridges the divide between a growing need for new clinical tools and the ability to move innovative solutions to market. By bringing together and fostering collaboration among innovators, clinicians, MedTech companies, regulatory agency representatives and venture capitalists, AGA is helping to ensure a pipeline for GI innovation that ultimately will improve delivery of care and patient outcomes.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, and Ani Kardashian, MD, lobby on Capitol Hill for measures to improve GI care - 2019

Drs. Muthusamy and Kardashian attended the ACG Legislative Fly-In for the ACG Governors and Young Physician Leadership Scholars on Capitol Hill to lobby for measures to improve GI care. They met with California house representatives and senators to advocate for policy changes to reduce barriers to colorectal cancer screening. They also educated congressional leaders and health-policy staff on the administrative and regulatory burdens facing practicing gastroenterologists and emphasized the importance of providing high-quality patient care.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS,lLeads an American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) conference on improving colorectal cancer screening and surveillance - 2018

The AGA convened a two-day conference of colorectal cancer and technology experts to develop recommendations on improving colorectal cancer screening and surveillance. “This is a retreat of many of the foremost experts in colorectal cancer screening prevention. We will spend two days evaluating how we screen patients, and asking how we can push ourselves to do even better. Artificial intelligence, emerging endoscopic technologies, the microbiome and diagnostic markers are all on the table for discussion,” says Dr. Muthusamy, director of endoscopy for UCLA Health System and chair of the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology. The conference took place in Washington, DC in early December.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, publishes book – Clinical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 3rd Edition - 2018

Clinical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 3rd Edition, by Drs. V. Raman Muthusamy, Vinay Chandrasekhara, Mouen Khashab and B. Joseph Elmunzer is now thoroughly up-to-date both in print and online. This all-new editorial team makes this reference an easy-to-use source of reliable information on a full range of topics, including anatomy, pathophysiology and therapeutic management options, in addition to the latest GI procedures and technologies. It also includes updated videos and revised photographs, anatomical drawings and other images.

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, selected incoming chair of the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology - 2017

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recognizes that innovation and the development of new technologies are integral to advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology and improving patient care and health outcomes for digestive diseases. AGA has established the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology to support the development of technologies that can improve patient care under the guidance of evidence-based standards. The center will serve as an objective, GI-specific resource to assist members; GI researchers; entrepreneurs; and the medical device, therapeutics and investment communities in their work to bring new technologies to the marketplace. Dr. Muthusamy has been selected as the incoming chair and will serve a three-year term.

Dennis Jensen, MD and V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, named Helio Gastroenterology 200 Innovators in gastroenterology and hepatology - 2016

The editors and publisher of Healio Gastroenterology compiled the inaugural Healio Gastroenterology 200, a list of gastroenterology and hepatology professionals we identified as leading innovators across the specialties from inflammatory bowel disease to endoscopy, from hepatitis C virus to esophageal disease. The list is a compilation of physicians who either work to educate their colleagues; conduct research into new and novel technologies to advance the profession; or innovate the unique aspects of gastroenterology and hepatology. View full list 

Dr. Muthusamy elected ACG Governor - 2016

V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, director of interventional and general GI endoscopy, was elected American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) governor for the region of Southern California A. His three-year term begins after the annual meeting in October 2016.

Unusual bowel issues may be linked to pancreatic insufficiency - 2016

Stephen Kim, MD, interventional endoscopy, was featured July 22 in Everyday Health, about the importance of having a frank discussion with your doctor about unusual bowel issues that may be linked to pancreatic insufficiency.

GI trade website covers new guidelines - 2015

A Jan. 21 article on Healio: Gastroenterology about new guidelines cautioning the preventive use of antibiotics before GI endoscopy procedures, featured comments from Dr. V. Raman Muthusamy, director of interventional and general endoscopy and health sciences clinical professor of medicine, division of digestive diseases.