Better Education Leads to Better Patient Care
We believe that specialized medical education should be easily accessible and affordable, within everyone’s reach. When medical professionals stay up to date on the latest research and advancements, patient outcomes tend to improve.
We’ve seen the benefits of specialized GI training firsthand, thanks to the investment from our mentors. However, we recognize that not everyone has this opportunity, and our military medical background has underscored the challenges faced by Army providers in accessing this type of training. We wanted to provide a solution to this problem rather than adding to the noise. We aim to provide every medical professional with access to professional, relevant, and innovative educational resources.
It’s why we created FOCUS GI.
The Power of Academic Research & Commercial Innovations in Practitioners’ Hands
Vision Statement
FOCUS GI envisions a future where medical professionals have consistent access to evidence-based courses at every stage of their career, focusing on cutting-edge medical innovations and knowledge, which leads to improved patient care.
Mission Statement
FOCUS GI is expanding medical professionals’ knowledge by providing access to advancements in medical procedures and interventions through educational conferences, equipping all medical professionals with the tools to better care for their patients.
Internationally Recognized Speakers & Hands-On Learning Have x10 Our Conference Growth
Meet the Brains Behind the Operation
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Anish Patel: Founder
Executive Director,
FYFC & APP GI ImmersionPresident/Co-founder,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Anish Patel, DO, LTC, FACG, is the Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center and the former Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He manages the largest and only IBD center in the military and is the only formally trained IBD specialist within the Department of Defense.
Dr. Patel has authored over 50 manuscripts and is an investigator on 5 active clinical trials for experimental IBD medications at Brooke Army Medical Center. He actively participated in 15 investigator-initiated projects. He was awarded a pilot grant through the American College of Gastroenterology for pioneering research in transitioning active-duty IBD patients from active military service into the VA system (the first active military GI physician awarded this grant). He is a reviewer for 4 major medical journals, including the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He is an active member of the REBOOT-IBD consortium and part of the steering committee.
Dr. Patel's honors include the Brooke Army Medical Center's Scholarship in Action award (2020) and the Army Medical Department's prestigious '9A' proficiency designator. He also received the 2021 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Uniting to Care & Cure Award. He is currently the San Antonio Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Chapter Mission president and an executive board member. He is a member (former co-chair) of the Government and Industry Affairs Committee for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. He is also a fellow of the ACG, AGA, and CCF.
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Richa Shukla
Executive Director,
FYFC & APP GI ImmersionSteering Committee
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Richa Shukla is Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Her clinical focus is in inflammatory bowel disease. She is also passionate about medical education and is the Associate Program Director of the GI fellowship at BCM.
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Wassem Y. Juakiem
Co-Director,
FYFCSteering Committee,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Dr. Wassem Juakiem is a board-certified advanced interventional gastroenterologist and the current Chief of Medicine at Keesler Medical Center, where he also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He completed advanced fellowship training at Stanford University, with focused expertise in complex endoscopy and third-space endoscopic procedures. Dr. Juakiem has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed publications and presented nationally on topics including advanced endoscopy and healthcare quality improvement. His distinguished military medical career includes deployment as an ICU physician during Operation Enduring Freedom and multiple leadership roles within the U.S. Air Force, where he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Recognized for his contributions to medical education and clinical excellence, he has received numerous honors, including AGA’s “Top 19 Fellows to Know,” the Col. Donal M. Null “Fellow of the Year” Award, and Keesler’s “Teacher of the Year.”
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Juan Echavarria
Co-Director,
FYFCSteering Committee,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Dr. Juan Echavarria is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at the Robert B. Green campus. He served our program for 6 years as GI Fellowship program director and has a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease and management of colon polyps. He has been recognized with multiple teaching awards and as a San Antonio Top Doctor for several years in a row.
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Christian Horn: Heptology Session Lead
Co-Director,
FYFCSteering Committee,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Christian Horn is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Dr. Horn served as Director of Hepatology at Brooke Army Medical Center for three years before transferring to Madigan Army Medical Center, where he now works as the Director of Hepatology. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Obesity Medicine. He is currently a Major in the U.S. Army with over 10 years of service.
Dr. Horn is also a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, the American Gastroenterology Association, American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is a member of the ACG Educational Affairs Committee and was a member of the 2025 ACG Meeting Planning Committee
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David Dulaney
Co-Director,
APP GI ImmersionSteering Committee,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Dr. David Dulaney, MD is a gastroenterologist in San Antonio, TX. He currently serves as the Fellowship Program Director at Brooke Army Medical Center in the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University and an Adjoint Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio. As an avid researcher, he has published multiple peer reviewed articles on inflammatory bowel disease and eosinophilic esophagitis. Furthermore, he serves on multiple committees in the American College of Gastroenterology to include the Training Committee and the Educational Affairs Committee. He serves on international committees with the World Gastroenterology Organization. He has participated in multiple training programs on education to include the WGO Train the Trainers Program in Kolkata, India as well as the Stanford Faculty Development Course and the Academic Leadership Program with USU. Dr. Dulaney lives in San Antonio with his wife and beloved beagle mix dog. Outside of medicine, Dr. Dulaney loves cooking, hiking, and motorsports.
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Christie Morrison
Co-Director,
APP GI ImmersionSteering Committee,
FOCUS GI Inc.#fhtogglels/Read Bio/Close/eb
Christie Morrison is a Board Certified Adult Advanced Practice Nurse and Lead APP at Oshi Health, a digital digestive health practice and IBD APP at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants in San Antonio, Texas. She strives to improve the lives of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions through a multidisciplinary approach. She has worked in various roles as a GI advanced practice provider, including inpatient, outpatient clinic, and telehealth since 2015.
Mrs. Morrison is currently an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology where she is serving on the Editorial Board. She is also a member of several GI societies, including TSGE, AGA, ASGE, and GHAPP. Christie was recently honored with the ACG APP Clinical Excellence Award for community practice. She collaborates with industry partners and GI colleagues to enhance education and engagement for APPs working in Gastroenterology.
She is particularly passionate about enhancing the treatment and quality of life for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Christie completed an advanced practice provider preceptorship sponsored by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and volunteers in her local chapter, organizing and participating in Patient Education Conferences.

Our Core Values: the Beating Heart of FOCUS GI
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Patients First
All our educational programs are designed with patients at the heart. The reason we exist is to provide vital knowledge to healthcare practitioners, enabling patients to experience better outcomes. We’re never self-promoting, but we are patient-promoting.
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Knowledge Fuels Innovation
The more we share knowledge, the more innovation we see, and the more patient outcomes improve. We’ve created the only forum in the country where emerging and established practitioners can connect and learn from renowned specialists.
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Invest Today, Improve Tomorrow
By focusing on emerging medical professionals today, we’re improving patient care for years to come. By providing insights from leading professionals, creating a network of medical specialists, and inviting quality organizations to sponsor our events, we’re building confidence, creating a forum for innovation, and being the spark that ignites change.
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Stronger Together
We’re not about self-promotion, ego, and competition. We believe that the best outcomes are achieved when every voice is heard. We take an evidence-based approach to health and examine a range of medical interventions, as we value learning from one another, innovating, and improving our patients’ lives.