Dr. Michelle A. Anderson, MD, MSc, FASGE attended Wayne State University School of Medicine (1989-1993) and completed a residency in Internal Medicine (1993-1996) and fellowship in Gastroenterology (1996-1999) at the University of Michigan. In 2005, she was awarded a Masters Degree in Clinical Research and Statistics from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Dr. Anderson joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1999 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013. Her research and clinical career is focused on gastrointestional disease with a specific concentration on pancreatic diseases including chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Using advanced endoscopy techniques including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography she cares for the full spectrum of benign and malignant pancreatic disorders. Dr. Anderson successfully completed an NIH-sponsored study centered on the discovery and validation of minimally invasive clinical biomarkers for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Currently, she serves as the Physician Lead for the Interventional Endoscopy team at UM and the co-Director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Multidiscipline Pancreatic Tumor Board.
On a national level, Dr. Anderson has served on the Standards of Practice Committee for the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) for five years and in 2016 completed a three year term as the Chair of the ASGE Institute for Training Technology Committee. Currently, Dr. Anderson is appointed as Counselor on the ASGE Governing Board. She speaks regularly on topics of pancreatic diseases and teaches advanced endoscopic techniques nationally and internationally. In the arena of chronic pancreatitis, Dr. Anderson led the development of National Guidelines in the care of patients with painful chronic pancreatitis. Additional work in this field include the publication of three peer-reviewed papers focused on pain, chronic pancreatitis and EUS including 2 of which involved a multi-center prospective cohort study of patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Dr. Maura Bagos, DO, PC is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist who proudly serves as a solo practitioner in Troy, Michigan. She loves her profession and attests to having the “Best patients in town, hand picked by our Lord!” and does not “feel” that she works while seeing the patients or teaching residents and nurses but only when filling out insurance forms! She is a 1992 graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a graduate of William Beaumont Hospital Internal Medicine Residency in 1996. Her undergraduate Alma Mater is Beloit College, a private Liberal Arts School, located in southern Wisconsin. There she received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in
Mathematics. This served her well upon graduation she worked for three years as a Reliability Quality Engineer and formally furthered her education in statistical design while employed. Her dream was always to be a physician, and so she followed her heart. She lives in her hometown of Sterling Heights, Michigan where she was raised and is happily married and blessed to have three wonderful sons who are hard-working young men. Her husband is the developer and owner of a quality software product, Quality Mapping Solutions which is used by many reputable large hospital system laboratories. Togetherthey continue to share their gifts and talents to deliver high quality care in the medical profession.
Dr. Clifford S. Cho, FACS is the C. Gardner Child Professor of Surgery and Division Chief of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Cho is an Honors graduate of Brown University and AOA graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency and transplantation immunology postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, where he served as Chief Administrative Resident. He completed his surgical oncology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he served as Chief Administrative Fellow. He joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 2006, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure and named the Ronald and Patricia Kissinger Professor of Surgical Oncology. He served as Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, Associate Residency Program Director, and co-Director of the Gastrointestinal Disease Oriented Team in the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center before moving to the University of Michigan in 2016.
Dr. Cho’s academic focus is on hepatopancreatobiliary and gastrointestinal malignancies, cancer immunology, and the mentorship of clinical and research trainees. He has lectured on these academic interests in over 15 national and international visiting professorships, and was named the James IV Traveler in 2014. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and currently serves on the editorial boards of Surgery and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. Dr. Cho is the Principal Investigator of a VA Merit Review-funded laboratory and is a member of the VA Oncology Merit Review study section. Dr. Cho is also the Principal Investigator of a cancer immunology laboratory that is working to understand cancer-induced T cell suppression, and to identify novel T cell-based strategies for cancer immunotherapy.
Mary Jane D. Espere, BSN, RN has been a nurse for 26 year. She is a graduate of Manila Central University. Her specialty is in the Home Care, ICU, Sub-Acute, Medical/Surgical Units, and Nursing Homes settings. She currently serves as the director of nursing at Eastwest Health Services.
Dr. Richard Kwon, MD is a pancreatologist and interventional endoscopist with clinical expertise in pancreatic cystic neoplasms, pancreatic cancer, as well as, acute and chronic pancreatitis. He is currently a clinical associate professor at University of Michigan, where he has been on the faculty since 2005. He is a graduate of UCLA School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA). He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and an advanced endoscopy fellowship at BWH and Massachusetts General Hospital.
He has authored/coauthored over 20 papers on the role of endoscopy and technology in the management of cystic neoplasms, pancreatic cancer, as well as, complications of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. He has received grant funding for studies related to pancreatic cystic neoplasms. He is an active member of the National Pancreas Foundation, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Pancreatic Association, American Gastroenterological Society, and American College of Gastroenterology.
Lance Judd is a 22 year survivor of Pancreatic Cancer and recently received a second Whipple procedure after 20 years from the successful first one. Lance has successfully fought the fight with the many complications that accompany pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis and over the years has participated in cancer studies, served as a mentor, and provided support to others who suffer from pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. He also has a 40 year background in personal financial services, first as a stock broker and adding life insurance leading to financial planning services to individuals and families.
Lance is married with a son and two grand children and looks forward to helping the Michigan Chapter of the National Pancreatitis Foundation in order to give back to the community to help those who battle the day to day challenges of pancreatitis.
Vicky L. Vincent, CAP is the Chapter Secretary and is an administrative professional who supports nine faculty and one administrator. She also coordinates all faculty recruitment visits and assists with new faculty onboarding. She has been with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology since October, 2014. She worked for Michigan Medicine for 12 years (1997 – 2010) in Internal Medicine, Faculty Affairs, but then relocated to Kansas City, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant supporting a neurosurgeon at Kansas University Medical Center. Upon returning to Michigan in 2012, Vicky worked as a Medical Transcriptionist in the Pathology Department at St. John Providence Medical Center, and now has returned to Michigan Medicine. She attended Davenport University, graduating in 1999 with a BBA in Health Administration with a major of Medical Word Processing Transcription. In 2016, Vicky obtained certification with the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) with the designation of certified administrative professional (CAP).
Dr. Erik-Jan Wamsteker, MD attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School (Rutgers University Medical School) from 1992-1996, the University of Michigan Internal Medicine Residency Training Program from 1996-1999 followed by the University of Michigan Gastroenterology Training Program from 1999-2002. In 2002, he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan GI division and has advanced to the rank of Associate Professor. His clinical focus has been in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with benign and malignant pancreatic diseases and performs therapeutic endoscopic procedures on patients with pancreatic disorders and their complications. He serves on national committees where he specifically focuses on the dissemination of new knowledge and education through the creation and updating of guidelines in pancreatic diseases through the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and as a counselor for the pancreatic disorders section of the AGA for Digestive Disease Week.
Derrick Winke is a two year survivor of necrotizing pancreatitis who continues to deal with and adopt to life-long effects of pancreatitis and subsequent issues such diabetes, weight loss and the impaired ability to digest food.
Derrick has a 35 year background in accounting, financial services and income taxes. He was first licensed as a securities broker at age 19 and continued his education obtaining a bachelor degree, masters degree, and continued studies towards a doctorate degree in business administration. Derrick is also a licensed enrolled agent allowing him to practice before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Treasury and to represent tax payers before all levels of the IRS. He is also a licensed insurance agent, general securities principal, investment advisor representative and holds many certifications. Derrick is also a 15 year crisis counselor with Common Ground, a crisis and resource center, in Oakland County – the largest in the U.S. based on call volume. Derrick is married to Robin, with 4 children and two grandchildren.
Georgiann Ziegler attended Henry Ford Community College and received an Associates Degree in Business Administration. She worked for the Int’l Union, UAW for 13 years before disability retiring as she was diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Pancreatitis in 2004 and continues to struggle with the disease. Georgiann has found her voice as a patient advisor at Michigan Medicine. She has been involved with Patient & Family Centered Care on their executive committee, as well as, a patient advisor for Unit 6B of the hospital. Georgiann has offered her insight on many committees, given speeches and participated in webinars to emphasize the importance of patient engagement.