Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Leading Gastroenterology Through Innovation and Growth with Nirav Shah, MD
Mar 4, 2026
Nirav Shah, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist, advanced endoscopist and physician leader in clinical research and quality. He discusses physician shortages and operational pressures. He defends colonoscopy as the gold standard. He explores AI in endoscopy and clinics. He covers balancing regional autonomy with systemwide standards and growth via ASCs and ancillary services.
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Imminent Gastroenterologist Shortage
- There is a growing shortage of gastroenterologists driven by more retirements than new fellows and stagnant training slots.
- Nirav Shah notes demand rises with an aging population while fellowship numbers remain flat, creating a five- to ten-year workforce squeeze.
Recruit By Being Transparent
- Be transparent about your practice model to attract top gastroenterologists in a competitive hiring market.
- Nirav Shah says openness about workflow and expectations helped U.S. Digestive Health recruit high-quality candidates recently.
Colonoscopy Is Still The Prevention Standard
- Colonoscopy remains the only detection-and-prevention tool because it removes precancerous polyps, not just detect cancer.
- Shah emphasizes colonoscopy's role in removing large polyps and preventing deaths, despite stool and blood tests.