History of the Society
The Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) was founded by the sole initiative of Edwin Cohn, MD. Dr. Cohn was a highly respected clinician and teacher at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia, where he served as the Director of Gastroenterology for many years. He met with several gastroenterologists in 1980 from various geographic areas of Pennsylvania to discuss the feasibility of developing a state society.
The proposed aims of the PSG were to serve the educational needs of state gastroenterologists, improve the level of care for gastrointestinal disorders throughout the state, and to act as an advocate for gastroenterologists and patients on socioeconomic issues.
The first meeting of the PSG was held in the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequent yearly meetings were rotated and held in venues such as Pittsburgh, Hershey, Philadelphia, the Pocono mountains, Lancaster, Absecon, New Jersey, and the Baltimore Inner Harbor.
The educational and social aspects of these meetings brought together gastroenterologists from diverse localities and offered outstanding presentations on timely topics.
The presidents served two terms with Dr. Cohn serving as the first President from 1981 to 1983. Subsequent presidents were Drs. Richard Wechsler, William Mahood, Philip Bralow, Morton Goldstein, Michael Geduldig, Harris Clearfield, Robert Kania, Frank Jackson, Julian Katz, Darrell Reed, Norman Cohen, Harvey B. Lefton, F. Wilson Jackson, Anne Saris, Louis La Luna, David A. Sass, and Ralph D. McKibbin.
The proposed aims of the PSG were to serve the educational needs of state gastroenterologists, improve the level of care for gastrointestinal disorders throughout the state, and to act as an advocate for gastroenterologists and patients on socioeconomic issues.
The first meeting of the PSG was held in the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequent yearly meetings were rotated and held in venues such as Pittsburgh, Hershey, Philadelphia, the Pocono mountains, Lancaster, Absecon, New Jersey, and the Baltimore Inner Harbor.
The educational and social aspects of these meetings brought together gastroenterologists from diverse localities and offered outstanding presentations on timely topics.
The presidents served two terms with Dr. Cohn serving as the first President from 1981 to 1983. Subsequent presidents were Drs. Richard Wechsler, William Mahood, Philip Bralow, Morton Goldstein, Michael Geduldig, Harris Clearfield, Robert Kania, Frank Jackson, Julian Katz, Darrell Reed, Norman Cohen, Harvey B. Lefton, F. Wilson Jackson, Anne Saris, Louis La Luna, David A. Sass, and Ralph D. McKibbin.
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Edwin M. Cohen, MD * | 1982-1983 |
| Richard L. Wechsler, MD | 1984-1985 |
| William H. Mahood, MD * | 1986-1987 |
| Philip Bralow, MD | 1988-1989 |
| Morton L. Goldstein, MD | 1990-1991 |
| Michael M. Geduldig, MD | 1992-1993 |
| Harris R. Clearfield, MD | 1994-1995 |
| Robert J. Kania, MD | 1996-1997 |
| Frank W. Jackson, MD | 1998-1999 |
| Julian Katz, MD * | 2000-2001 |
| Darrell K. Reed, MD | 2002-2003 |
| Norman N. Cohen, MD * | 2004-2005 |
| Harvey B. Lefton, MD | 2006-2007 |
| F. Wilson Jackson, III, MD | 2007-2009 |
| Anne L. Saris, MD | 2009-2011 |
| Louis La Luna, MD | 2011-2013 |
| David A. Sass, MD | 2013-2015 |
| Ralph D. McKibbin, MD | 2015-2017 |
| Richard E. Moses, DO, JD | 2017-2019 |
| Ravi K. Ghanta, MD | 2019-Current | *deceased |
