WDHD 2015 Events & Success Stories

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Vienna, Austria

In recognition of WDHD 2015, the United European Gastroenterology (UEG), the European Society of Neurology and Motility (ESNM), and the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) produced an educational animation video that explains the causes of heartburn. View the video here.

When: May 31, 2015
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Contact: Brazilian Society of Gastroenterology (FBG)

Event Description:
On May 31 in Villa Lobos Park in São Paulo, from 08:00 to 17:00, the FBG distributed informative materials to the public about digestive diseases.

FBG in the News (World Digestive Health Day campaign - TV Globo of Alagoas) Dr. James Ramalho, Vice President of the FBG, spoke about Heartburn in an interview with Good Morning Alagoas. To view the interview click here!

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Contact Information: Catherine Mulvale, Executive Director, CDHF (director@cdhf.ca)

To support WDHD, the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) has created a social media campaign which will educate Canadians and raise awareness about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its associated symptom, heartburn. The CDHF recognizes the personal and socioeconomic impact GERD has on Canadians and seeks to further educate on the causes, impact, risk factors, and treatment options available. Follow our WDHD social media campaign on Twitter, using the hashtag #CDHFGERD and on Facebook at http://bit.ly/CDHFFacebook.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Contact Information: Shrida Sahadevan (shrida@ualberta.ca)

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation Initiative at the University of Alberta is sponsoring "Light Up the Bridge" of the High Level Bridge in Edmonton, AB, Canada in the color red to honor World Digestive Health Day.

They are also fundraising for their parent organization Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF). They will raise funds that will support CDHF's initiatives in researching digestive health advancements in terms of treatment and diagnosis as well as education tools for the public about digestive health and disorders.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile
Contact Information: Ana Maria Madrid (amadrid@hcuch.cl or anamariamadrid@gmail.com)

Sponsored by the Chilean Society of Gastroenterology through its President, Dr. Marco Arrese, and in collaboration with Pharma Laboratory Investi, this session will consist of a stand with videos, talks for the public on heartburn, reflux and esophagitis. Materials will be given out to the public with tips on healthy eating, symptoms and alarms, when to consult, etc.

When: May 26, 2015
Location: San Salvador, El Salvador
Contact Information: Association of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy of El Salvador (www.agedes.com)

This event will display information about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in radio, TV and electronic media, and newspaper. It will also show health information in malls about the illness and complications for patients.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Bhubaneswar, India
Contact Information: Prof. Dr. S.P. Singh, Head, Dept. of Gastroenterology, S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack 753007, Orissa, India
Tel: +91 671 2505466 [Home] +91 671 2323624 [Clinic]
(spsingh.cuttack@gmail.com, scb_gastro_dept@hotmail.com, fattyliver@gmail.com, or kal_gas_foundation@hotmail.com).

This event will be jointly organized by Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation, the Department of Gastroenterology at SCB Medical College, and the Odisha State Chapter of Indian Society of Gastroenterology. The event will be an awareness campaign about implications of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for the general public. A public education program will be launched with the release of educational brochures on GERD in Odia (the regional language of Odisha) and Hindi (the national language of India). This will be accompanied by a Press Meet to create awareness on "Heart Burn." Besides, a CME program will be organized for postgraduate students, family physicians, internists, and gastroenterologists. In addition, during the entire month of May, a CME program on GERD for the peripheral doctors in different districts of the State will be conducted.

When: May 28-30, 2015
Location: Global Hospital, Mumbai, India
Contact Information: Dr. Amit Maydeo, Baldota Institute of Digestive Sciences, Global Hospital, Mumbai, Phone: +91 22 67670143

Around 300 police personnel from the Mumbai police force will be examined on the first day. On the second day, almost half of them will undergo free endoscopic and sonograhic examinations. After reaching a working diagnosis, all of them will be prescribed medications and advised lifestyle management, including yoga.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact Information: C/o Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia/Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Jl. Diponegoro No. 71, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 314 8680 / +62 21 837 92121 Fax: +62 21 314 8681 / +62 21 837 93131
E-mail: iddw.gastroenterologi@yahoo.co.id / pt_mts@indo.net.id
Contact Persons: Ms. Darwi 0815 1439 7009 / Ms. Nia 0856 1728 676

One symposium was held about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Indonesian Digestive Disease Week. There were 600 participants in attendance at this event, consisting of general practitioners, internists, and gastroenterologists.

When: May 16, 2015
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact Information: Ari Fahrial Syam, MD, PhD, FACP, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia/Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jl. Diponegoro No. 71, Jakarta Pusat

Dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, General Secretary of the Indonesian Society of Gastroenterology, sent a press release about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to the media. Read the full article at https://staff.blog.ui.ac.id/ari.fahrial/2015/05/16/kenali-gerd-dan-hindari-pencetusnya/.

When: May 22-29, 2015
Location: Iran
Contact Information: M.M. Mir-Nasseri, MD, MPH, Executive Secretary, Iranian Association of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
No 37, 7TH Alley, Kargar-e-Shomali Ave, Tehran, Iran
Tel-Fax: 98 21 8833 50 61-3
www.iagh.org / www.iaghcongress.org

We have arranged some seminars for physicians, some programs in radio and TV and some articles in newspapers at 10 provinces of our country contain of Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, Kerman, Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Tabriz, Fars, and Isfahan.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Latvian Center of Oncological Diseases, Riga, Latvia
Contact Information: Dr. Ilona Vilkoite (ilona153@inbox.lv)

This annual event will be organized by the Riga East Clinical University Hospital in collaboration with the Digestive Disease center "GASTRO."

When: June 10, 2015
Location: Podgorica, Montenegro
Contact Information: More information is available at www.ugcg.me

The Gastroenterohepatology Association of Montenegro will organize the National Meeting about "Heartburn-impact on health-related quality of life" with the participation of gastroenterologists, internists, family doctors, and pharmacists. We want to give importance to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and review the significance of diagnosis and treatment of GERD. One of the main goals of the meeting is to increase public awareness about the importance of improving the quality of life of our patients. The material related to the guidelines in the treatment of patients with GERD and recommendations for hygienic-dietary regimen for these patients will be divided all participants.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Dow Medical College, Baba-e-Urdu Road, Karachi, Pakistan
Contact Information: Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology & GI Endoscopy (office@psg.org.pk / www.psg.org.pk)

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Chand Bibi Road, Near Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan
Contact Information: Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (resource@siut.org / www.siut.org/)
Phone: 0092-21-99215752
Fax: 00922199215469

The Department of Hepatogastroenterology is conducting a seminar named "Heartburn: A global perspective" on 29 May 2015 at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan. This one hour program aims to increase awareness among the medical practitioners and general population. It includes presentations on different aspects of heartburn like epidemiology, causes and risk factors, alarm features, complications, prevention, and management. Information leaflets regarding awareness about heartburn have been prepared to be distributed on the day of the seminar.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Mercy Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
Contact: Dr. Noor Muhammad, Vice President of the KPK Chapter of PSG

The Khyber Pukhtun Kawa Chapter of the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology & GI Endoscopy (PSG) celebrated World Digestive Health Day on 29th May at Mercy Hospital in Peshawar. The symposia was started from Tilawat Quran by Dr. Bakht Biland, Vice President of the PSG, followed by a message from the chairman by Professor Jehan Zaib, and in the end a comprehensive lecture was delivered on heartburn by Dr. Noor Muhammad. A large numbers of doctors, medical students, nurses, and the general public attended the symposium.

When: May 28-30, 2015
Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Contact Information: Prof. Dan L. Dumitrascu (ddumitrascu@umfcluj.ro) / esci2015.medical-congresses.ro

During the Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society of Clinical Investigation, organized in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the Romanian Society of Neurogastroenterology held its meeting NeurogastRO, with international participation. On 29 May, a special lecture dedicated to the therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was delivered by Prof. Carmelo Scarpignato (Italy).

When: June 11-13, 2015
Location: Iasi, Romania
Contact Information: http://medevents.ro/gastro2015/ / Prof. Dan L. Dumitrascu (ddumitrascu@umfcluj.ro)

The Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, in observation of the WDHD 2015, dedicated several lectures to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), during its annual meeting in Iasi. A special lecture on diagnostic techniques in GERD was presented by Prof. Serhat Bor (Izmir, Turkey), a member of the WDHD 2015 Steering Committee.

When: May 25, 2015
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Contact Information: Prof. Srdjan Djuranovic, MD, PhD, President of the Association of Serbian Gastroterologists (gastroendo@beotel.rs)

We are organizing a symposium with two lectures about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment. We are inviting gastroenterologists and other doctors who are interested in this topic. The main goal of the meeting is to point out the importance of recognizing and timely treating patients with GERD.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Contact Information: Prof. Dr. Osman M Mohamud Dufle, MD, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and
Ultrasound, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Benadir University, Dufle Specialist Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia 00252615515888

This annual event was organized and supported by Dufle Specialist Hospital, a referral hospital for digestive diseases to raise awareness of heartburn in Somalia, in collaboration with Benadir University Medical Student Association, Members of Somali Medical Association. The session consisted of a lecture, talks for the public on heartburn, reflux, and esophagitis. The event displayed information about Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in radio, TV and electronic media, and newspaper, Materials were given out to the public and published on websites with tips on healthy eating, symptoms and alarms, when to consult, etc.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Contact Information: Prof. Björn Lindkvist, Scientific Secretary, Swedish Society of Gastroenterology

This WDHD session will be held during the yearly meeting of the Swedish Society of Gastroenterology. More information about the yearly meeting is available at http://gastrodagarna.svenskgastroenterologi.se.

1.) When: May 26, 2015
Location: Building 4, Vibhavadi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Vibhavadi Hospital, Phone: + 66 (0) 2 5611 1119 ext. 2222, 4525

One hour academic session "GERD Pathophysiology and Management: What do we know and where should we go?"
• Attendance are Health Care Professionals: physicians, pharmacists, and nurses

2.) When: May 27, 2015
Location: Buiding C, Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact: CME office, Bangkok Hospital, Phone: +66 (0) 2 3103302

One hour academic session "From Theory to Practice: Managing GERD and Reflux Disease in 2015"
• Attendance are Health Care Professionals, internists, surgeons, and specialists
• Physicians in other hospitals in the CME network can connect to the teleconference online to watch live session to gain CME credit.

When: May 11, 2015
Location: 1st Floor, 100th Year Somdech PhraSrinagarindra, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Siriraj Hospital, Phone: + 66 (0) 2 419 7281 -2 ext. 101, 102, 105

Two hours meet the expert session
• What is Heartburn?
• Treatment options

1.) When: May 29-30, 2015
Location: The 1st floor hall, Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Bangkok Hospital, Phone: 1719

The public awareness activities include:
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) seminar by doctors
• GERD questionnaires by nurses
• GERD booth exhibition
• Healthy food for GERD workshop

2.) When: May 30, 2015
Location: 1st Floor, Building 1, Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Bumrungrad Hospital, Phone: + 66 (0) 2 667-1000

Two hours meet the expert session
• What is Heartburn?
• Treatment options
• Food for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

When: June 7, 2015
Location: 1st Floor, Building 1, Phayathai 1 Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Phone: + 66 (0) 98-271-289

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Contact Information: Gastroenterological Association of Thailand (www.gastrothai.net/)

Public awareness and CME.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Contact Information: Serhat Bor, MD (serhat.bor@ege.edu.tr) +90 5323957677

The Turkish gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Guidelines have just been finalized and, in conjunction with WDHD heartburn day, it will be launched to the public and followed by professionals.

When: November 25-29, 2015
Location: Antalya, Turkey
Contact Information: http://www.ugh2015.org/

Dr. Richard Hunt, Vice Chairman of the WGO Foundation, will present a lecture on the World Digestive Health Day Initiative at the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology annual meeting.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Contact Information: Prof. Oleg Babak (babak_oleg@mail.ru)

When: May 28-30, 2015
Location: Multiple Locations Across the United Arab Emirates
Contact Information: Dr. Ali Al Fazari (a.almelaih@uaeu.ac.ae)

Public awareness campaigns will be organized with live shows, interactive sessions and distribution of educational patient materials on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A one-day accredited symposium will be organized for physicians and allied healthcare providers.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Online
Contact Information: Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (www.nature.com/nrgastro)

In honor of WDHD 2015, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology produced an infographic on heartburn. This infographic provides a snapshot of heartburn, illustrating pathophysiology, insights into associated gastrointestinal conditions, and management. This infographic is free to download and can be found by visiting www.nature.com/nrgastro/posters/heartburn/index.html.

When: May 29, 2015
Location: USA
To celebrate the occasion of World Digestive Health Day 2015, ACG created an infographic which includes a list of facts, statistics, and helpful tips on how to manage heartburn, a key symptom of GERD. View the infographic here.

When: November 27, 2015
Location: Maracaibo, Venezuela
Contact: Sociedad Venezolana de Gastroenterología; Event Coordinators: Dra. Maribel LizarzabD/ /Dra. Mildred Fuenmayor; Telephone: +58 0261 7831871; Email: gastrohum@gmail.com

» Program Details

When: May 29, 2015
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Contact: Vietnam Medical Association (VMA) and Vietnam Gastroenterology Association

• Knowledge sharing from leading gastroenterologists and VMA excutives
• Photo shooting and question and answer about disease and self management