Northern Health shines at Gastroenterology Conference

Northern Health’s Department of Gastroenterology was well represented at the combined Australian Gastroenterology Week/World Congress of Gastroenterology held in Melbourne earlier this year – the largest gastroenterology conference ever hosted in Australia.

The team contributed over 26 accepted abstracts, reflecting the department’s growing influence on this prestigious national and international stage.

Among the highlights were three oral presentations, including two delivered by Liver Clinical Nurse Consultant Kristen Peake and one by Gastroenterology Registrar Dr Leya Nedumannil, who presented on Northern Health’s successful Liver at Home program.

Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Aysha Al-Ani won the People’s Choice Young Investigator Award for her outstanding presentation on mechanisms of inflammation and necroptosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Adding to the department’s presence, Dietitian Dr Hannah Silvia and Gastroenterologist Dr Oliver Cronin were invited to speak on key topics, irritable bowel syndrome and endoscopy respectively, sharing their expertise with a global audience.

Associate Professor Mayur Garg, Director of Gastroenterology, co-convened the postgraduate course attended by more than 600 delegates. A/Prof Garg further elevated Northern Health’s profile by presenting at the opening plenary IBD session of the main conference alongside international experts, focusing on acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC).

In addition to these presentations, the department showcased over 20 posters, which were viewed by more than 3,000 attendees during poster sessions. This strong representation across oral presentations, invited talks, and posters reflects the depth and breadth of research and clinical innovation within the team.

“We’re very proud to see the hard work by so many of our staff in the Department of Gastroenterology – our nurses, allied health professionals and doctors, being recognised at this major meeting,” said A/Prof Garg. “More importantly, it’s heartwarming to see Northern Health staff feeling empowered to take a lead role in shaping the future of our specialty and develop innovative solutions for our patients.”

Main picture shows Liver Clinical Nurse Consultant Kristen Peake presenting at the conference.