This year more than 13,000 professionals with a common interest in the filed of gastroenterology gathered at Chicago during the 2011 Digestive Disease Week. One of the hallmarks of this grand meeting for me is to be able to reconnect with a number of important people in my life that unfortunately I won’t see on a regular basis. This year I was able to see some of my old mentors and friends from medical school and residency. I was also given the opportunity to present some of my research projects. I am very grateful from the colleagues that come for my presentations and I would like to express my gratitude for their comments and encouragements.

One of the new adventures of this years DDW for me was to participate in the Gutrunners 5K race. This was my first long distance run and I am sure that I will never forget that beautiful day. More than nearly two hundred individuals with the same goal of improving digestive health in the community participated in this challenge. Proceeds from this event have been donated for the colorectal cancer screening of indigent populations and education on colon cancer, obesity and other digestive disorders.