A special announcement from Dr. Drossman

I would like to take this opportunity to inform my patients, friends and colleagues of a major transition in my activities.  Having established my career in academic medicine, I now have a unique opportunity to expand my interests into the private sector to help improve health care.   As of December 31, I will be leaving full time employment at UNC and the UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility disorders to establish a program in patient-centered care, health services consultation and the education of health care professionals that is directed toward optimizing the patient-provider relationship.  This transition of moving from a university to a broader national and global environment is, I believe, the best way to reach a larger audience with the values I have practiced and taught for my entire career.  The programs and activities are still in development; however I would like to share with you some of the initiatives.  I plan to:

• Continue as adjunct Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at UNC and will be advising and teaching at the UNC Center of Functional GI and Motility Disorders where as you know I am currently co-director.
• Enhance my international activities as President of the Rome Foundation where I will further develop the Foundation and the Rome IV initiative.
• Continue to consult in the health care field both nationally and internationally.  This will include:

-          academic programs in medicine, psychiatry and digestive diseases

-          Federal (NIH) or pharmaceutical grants as a mentor or consultant

-          gastrointestinal medical practices

-          pharmaceutical advisory boards

-          health care foundations

-          medico legal groups

-          non-profit health care and educational and media companies

• Develop a unique private consultation practice for one day a week or more where I would continue to receive referrals nationally for patients who have complex and difficult to manage functional GI and motility disorders.
• Conduct lectures and workshops in the areas of my expertise, and consult with clinicians about their patients.  This would include a patient consultation visit with the clinician present.  I would discuss my observations and provide recommendations and remain available by phone to help physicians in the patient’s ongoing care.   My expertise for these lectures and workshops relate to:

-          the diagnosis and treatment of patients having complex and co-morbid IBS and functional GI disorders

-          clinical trial development

-          epidemiological and outcome studies

-          teaching of communication skills for accurate diagnosis and to enhance the doctor-patient relationship

-          research and clinical mentoring of young investigators

Finally, I am seeking advice and assistance in developing a non-profit organization that would focus on the education of clinicians and patients in biopsychosocial research, education and patient-centered care.  I am also looking to discuss this further with experts in business development as well as individuals and organizations that might seek to support such an endeavor.

My 35 years at UNC have been enjoyable and productive; now I look forward to the future with anticipation and enthusiasm.  I want to thank you for our association over all these years and am hopeful this will continue in the future.

Douglas A. Drossman, MD
Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry
Co-Director, UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill