Newswise — Prateek Sharma, MD, gastroenterologist and member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, has been named president of The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE). The ISDE is a multidisciplinary international organization comprised of approximately 1,000 esophageal disease experts.

“Dr. Sharma is a global expert in the field of Barrett’s esophagus, which is a precursor to esophageal cancer,” said Roy Jensen, MD, KU Cancer Center director. “His contributions to the field, including the use of minimally invasive endoscopic methods and development of worldwide imaging criteria, have fundamentally shifted the way clinicians approach this disease and early esophageal cancer.”

As ISDE president, Dr. Sharma will lead the society’s education and research activities, as well as organize its biennial World Congress on Esophageal Diseases in 2020.

“The ISDE is a world leader in the development and dissemination of information about the esophagus,” Dr. Sharma said. “I am honored to be president of this esteemed organization and look forward to leading its efforts to improve patient lives.”