Decoding the DDW Postgraduate Course: A Comprehensive Guide
The Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is a premier global meeting that brings together experts in gastroenterology and hepatology to explore the latest advancements and challenges in digestive health. The DDW offers a unique opportunity to delve into every facet of the field.
Overview of DDW
DDW is the place to connect and share ideas with colleagues from around the world. DDW 2026 will be held in Chicago, May 2-5. Attendees can participate either in person or online, with access to livestreamed and on-demand content. Those who cannot attend the full four-day meeting can register for the AGA-ASGE Postgraduate Course only.
Why Attend DDW?
DDW provides a platform to:
- Explore the latest clinical guidance.
- Discover the most effective strategies for implementation.
- Connect and share ideas with colleagues from around the world.
- Immerse yourself in a world of knowledge, innovation, and meaningful connections.
- Take control of your curriculum through a robust, self-driven program.
- Meet with the field’s brightest minds.
Postgraduate Course: An In-Depth Look
The annual AGA Postgraduate Course at DDW reviews new strategies for evaluating and treating gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. The course focuses on surgical and medical advances and emerging technology trends.
Course Structure and Content
The course combines general sessions and breakout discussions that explore the gut from top to bottom, as well as the liver, biliary tree, and pancreas.
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Hot Topics
The first day of programming opens with a "Hot Topics" general session.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The second session focuses on inflammatory bowel disease.
Interactive Luncheon Breakout Sessions
Saturday’s luncheon breakout sessions feature interactive discussions with time for questions and answers.
Biliary Tree and Pancreas
These sessions focus on real patient cases.
Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine
Sunday’s programming begins with presentations on the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.
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Colon and Rectum
The final session focuses on disorders of the colon and rectum.
Who Should Attend?
The course is designed for anyone who wants to take great care of their patients, including:
- Practicing GIs and hepatologists
- Trainees
- Nurse practitioners
- Physician assistants
- Clinicians sitting for their Boards or recertification examinations
Continuing Education and MOC Credit
The AGA Postgraduate Course provides both CME and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit. A separate registration and fee are required for the AGA Postgraduate Course.
Key Topics Covered in the Postgraduate Course
The AGA-ASGE Postgraduate Course offers a comprehensive review of various topics, including:
Colon Cancer
- Changing colon cancer outcomes one polyp at a time
- Debate: Non-endoscopic testing for colorectal cancer
- Cold vs. hot polypectomy: why, when and where
- How to deal with laterally-spreading rectal polyps
- Optimizing polyp detection
- Extra vigilance required: strategies for colonoscopy in the high-risk patient
- Management of perforation during polypectomy
Liver Disease
- Challenges in the management of liver disease
- Management of severe alcohol-associated hepatitis disease
- Diagnostic challenges to liver space-occupying lesions in chronic liver disease
- New techniques for the diagnosis and management of clinically significant portal hypertension
- Challenges in managing gastric varices (with video cases) and refractory variceal bleeding
Pancreatitis
- Updates in pancreatitis: from acute to chronic pancreatitis
- Thinking beyond narcotics: toolkit to treat pain in chronic pancreatitis
- Preventing post-ERCP acute pancreatitis: what really works?
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency - supporting digestion when the pancreas fails
- Managing complications of acute pancreatitis
Microbiome in Gastrointestinal Disease
- The impact of microbiome in gastrointestinal disease
Obesity and Metabolic Diseases
- Obesity and metabolic diseases
- NAFLD to MASLD: Year in review
- Pharmacotherapy for obesity
- Patient-centered care for patients with obesity
- Helping patients choose - panel discussion of cases - pharmacotherapy vs. endobariatric procedure vs. surgery
- Picking up the baton - Managing patients post-bariatric surgery
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Managing the whole IBD patient: treatment to prevention
- IBD: Year in Review, What’s Coming Next
- Redefining remission in patients with IBD - Implementing treat-to-target strategies
- AI technologies in the assessment of disease severity in IBD
- The impact of diet on development and treatment in IBD
- Battling risk aversion. Sleep soundly and prescribe JAKinibs. All things pouches
- Therapeutic endoscopy in IBD: When is there a role?
Heartburn
- Thinking beyond GERD: Diagnostic approach to heartburn
- PPI and beyond - Pharmacology for GERD
- Endoscopic management of GERD: Indications and long-term results
- Reflux after bariatric surgery
Dysphagia
- The gastroenterologist’s role in upper esophageal dysphagia
- EoE management from symptomatic relief to histologic remission
- Endoscopic therapies for benign dysphagia
Inpatient Endoscopy
- Toolkit for inpatient endoscopy
Gas and Bloating
- Chief complaint: Bloating- How to approach and provide early relief
- Panel discussion of cases
Obstructive Jaundice
- Approach to Obstructive Jaundice
- Imaging a patient of obstructive jaundice - what should be the priorities
- Endoscopic management of difficult CBD stones
- The current role of therapeutic EUS in pancreatic cancer
- Videos showcasing different techniques
GI Oncology
- Barrett’s update: what is really cool
- Preventing gastric cancer
- Pancreatic “incidentalomas” - cysts and IPMNs
- Advances in resection of premalignant lesions
Additional Topics
- Endoscopy and therapeutics with surgically-altered anatomy
- Manage Anticoagulant & Antiplatelet Drugs in Common Clinical Scenarios Like A Pro!
- Adding hemorrhoid treatment to your service line
- ESD vs. Christen K.
Accessing DDW Content
All attendees can access the DDW Mobile App and Desktop Planner. All non-ticketed scientific sessions will be captured and available to attendees to watch through DDW On Demand.
Read also: Postgraduate Certificate Details
Registration and Important Dates
Registration and housing are now open. Register early to save. The final day to save on DDW registration is February 25.
Additional Information
- ePosters: DDW posters are available online.
- Visa Information: If you need a visa to attend DDW, plan accordingly.
- MOC Credit: MOC credit will only be offered for the AGA-ASGE Postgraduate Course in conjunction with DDW.
- Certificate of Attendance: Attendees can obtain a certificate of attendance through the DDW 2026 mobile app. Please fill out this form to claim CME or print a Certificate of Attendance for DDW 2021 through 2025.
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