ASGE HANDS Award Honorees
The inaugural HANDS Award also brought forward inspiring nominations from across the field. ASGE is pleased to recognize the following honorees for their contributions to patient care, education, and the communities they serve.
Anne Fan Liu, MD
Brigham and Women's HospitalBoston, MA
Dr. Anne Fan Liu is recognized for her commitment to expanding access to gastrointestinal care in medically underserved communities around the world. In 2026, she volunteered on medical missions in Uzbekistan, Rwanda, and Guatemala, providing free screening and diagnostic endoscopy services to patients with limited access to specialized GI care. Through partnerships with local hospitals and global health organizations, she helped identify significant gastrointestinal diseases, support cancer screening initiatives, and strengthen local healthcare capacity through education and mentorship, bringing high-quality digestive healthcare to vulnerable populations across three continents.
Bryan Sauer, MD, MSc, FASGE
UVA Digestive Health CenterCharlottesville, VA
Dr. Bryan Sauer co-founded Central America Outreach & Endoscopy (CARE) to expand access to gastrointestinal care for underserved communities in Guatemala and Honduras. Since 2019, CARE has completed more than 500 endoscopic procedures during 16 medical mission trips, bringing together gastroenterologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, nurses, anesthesia providers, trainees, and endoscopy staff to deliver free endoscopy services and GI consultations. Through its ongoing partnerships and recurring missions, CARE provides critical digestive healthcare while helping build awareness and access to specialty care in communities with limited medical resources.
David Fleischer, MD, MASGE
Mayo Clinic (Emeritus)Scottsdale, AZ
As a founding member of the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC), Dr. David Fleischer has played a pivotal role in advancing the care of patients with esophageal cancer across Eastern and Southern Africa. Through hands-on endoscopy training, international collaboration, public outreach, and support for clinical infrastructure, his leadership has helped expand access to lifesaving palliative care, train healthcare professionals across eight countries, and build sustainable networks dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with this devastating disease.
Gyanprakash Avinash Ketwaroo, MD, MSc
Yale School of MedicineOrange, CT
Through the CaribHealth Foundation, Dr. Gyanprakash Avinash Ketwaroo is expanding access to advanced endoscopic care for underserved populations across Jamaica and the Caribbean. By leading recurring medical missions, provider training, and equipment donation efforts, he has helped introduce critical procedures, including the first ERCPs in Montego Bay, Jamaica, while building sustainable endoscopy capacity throughout the region.
Mili Parikh, MD
California Pacific Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA
As a gastroenterology fellow, Dr. Mili Parikh recognized an opportunity to address the growing burden of colorectal cancer in India through education and awareness. She launched a colorectal cancer screening education initiative across Gujarat, delivering lectures in Gujarati, Hindi, and English to patients, healthcare providers, and trainees at hospitals, medical schools, and community centers. Through partnerships with local gastroenterologists, community organizations, and media outlets, Dr. Parikh reached more than 1,000 individuals, helping increase awareness of colorectal cancer prevention, screening, and early detection while encouraging greater access to digestive healthcare services.
Mohammad Naymul Hasan, MD
National Gastroliver Institute & HospitalDhaka, Bangladesh
Dr. Mohammad Naymul Hasan has dedicated his time and expertise to improving awareness, prevention, and management of fatty liver disease in Bangladesh. In response to the growing burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), he developed and led an educational program for more than 110 healthcare professionals, created a practical Fatty Liver Handbook to support evidence-based care, and established a dedicated Fatty Liver Clinic providing patient education, lifestyle counseling, and long-term follow-up. Through these efforts, he is helping build healthcare capacity, expand access to liver disease education, and create a sustainable model for improving digestive health throughout Bangladesh.
Saad Khalid Niaz, MD, MRCP, FRCP
Sindh Institute of Advanced Endoscopy & GastroenterologyKarachi, Pakistan
Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz is recognized for establishing and leading Pakistan's first public-sector advanced endoscopy service, providing free, high-quality endoscopic care to patients who otherwise could not afford treatment. Through his leadership, the program evolved into a state-of-the-art Advanced Endoscopy Center that now performs approximately 10,000 procedures annually, including ERCP, EUS, cholangioscopy, and other advanced therapeutic interventions. Serving patients from across Pakistan and neighboring countries, Dr. Niaz has also trained more than 50 gastroenterologists and numerous endoscopy technicians, helping elevate the standard of advanced endoscopy nationwide while ensuring sustainable access to life-changing care for underserved populations.
Sangeeta Agrawal, MD, FASGE
Dayton VA HospitalDayton, OH
Dr. Sangeeta Agrawal is recognized for her extraordinary commitment to improving health, education, and quality of life for underserved communities through Global Pragathi, a nonprofit organization she co-founded in 2013. For more than a decade, Global Pragathi has worked to address the social determinants of health in rural communities across Southern India through preventive healthcare programs, educational initiatives, community infrastructure improvements, women's empowerment programs, workforce development, and scholarships for economically disadvantaged students.
Shani Clay, MD, FASGE
Wellstar GastroenterologyAtlanta, GA
Dr. Shani Clay is recognized for her commitment to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of gastroenterologists. Through her leadership in ASGE's diversity and workforce development initiatives, she has expanded access to hands-on learning, mentorship, and career guidance for students and trainees from underrepresented backgrounds, helping build a stronger and more inclusive future for GI.
