2013 Recipient

Minority Digestive Health Care AwardThis ACG achievement award recognizes an ACG Member or Fellow whose work in theareas of clinical investigation or clinical practice has improved the digestive health ofminorities or other underserved populations of the United States. These efforts can beshown by community outreach activities through clinical or educational programs, orresearch in an area of digestive disease that negatively impacts minority populations suchas colorectal cancer, hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis and other GI cancers.2013 RecipientFrank A. Hamilton, MD, MPH, MACGA graduate of the Howard University College of Medicine with aMasters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Schoolof Public Health, Dr. Hamilton joined the NIDDK’s Division ofDigestive Diseases and Nutrition in 1987. Dr. Hamilton completedhis GI Fellowship training at the University of Maryland Hospital.Board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, andPreventive Medicine and Public Health, he served as a Consultantin Clinical Gastroenterology at the Bethesda Naval Hospital from1982-2010. Currently, Dr. Hamilton is the Chief, Digestive Diseasesprogram within the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutritionat the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and KidneyDiseases, NIH. In addition, he is the project scientist for threeclinical consortia: Gastroparesis, Functional Dyspepsia, and Irritable Bowel SyndromeOutcomes study.An advocate for more clinical research in gastroenterology, Dr. Hamilton has beenchairperson of several NIH Consensus Development Conferences on Helicobacter,Therapeutic Endoscopy, and Celiac Disease. In addition, he chaired the planning committeefor State of the Science conference on ERCP as well as the 2007 Conference on Fecal andUrinary Incontinence. From these conferences several initiatives have been generated andincreased funding has occurred in these areas.His interests in health disparities and in increasing professional diversity in medicine andbiomedical research was sparked when he was detailed from the USPHS Surgeon General’sOffice for a year to serve as staff member on HHS Secretary Heckler’s Task Force on Blackand Minority Health. This Task Force was instrumental in creating national and localawareness and sensitivity to issues surrounding health care access of minority populationsin the U.S.A. and the need to increase the number of minority health care providers. Afterthis detail, Dr. Hamilton joined the staff of the NIH and became an active member of theNIH committee for the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research. In addition,Dr. Hamilton has continued his role in promoting diversity in gastroenterology by serving34