Balancing the Challenge of Research with the Joys of Clinical Care

Andrew Ofosu, MD, MPH, loves the variety that GI medicine offers on a day-to-day basis.

Some days are spent in the endoscopy suite, performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with cholangitis, “which is usually a high-stakes situation,” he said. Other days he might be in clinic, helping to manage a patient with chronic pancreatitis. 

“The contrast of the immediate impact of a procedure combined with the continuity of long-term relationships, is special to me,” said Dr. Ofosu, an associate professor of medicine at Cincinnati College of Medicine, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s also a member of AGA’s Future Leaders program, which provides early career GI physicians with opportunities to network and develop leadership skills. 

In an interview, he discussed his research pursuits in the areas of pancreatic cancer and artificial intelligence (AI), and his unique methods for connecting with patients. The art of listening to patient concerns is crucial, he says, especially following a difficult diagnosis.

What’s it like to be part of the AGA Future Leaders Class of 2025-2026? How has the experience enriched your career?

Dr. Ofosu: My time being part of this group has been very transformative. It’s provided mentorship from national leaders. It’s enabled me to collaborate with peers across different institutions and given me opportunities to refine my leadership skills. It’s changed my perspective and created a network that has equipped me to contribute meaningfully to the gastroenterology community and to my institution.

What is the most challenging clinical case you’ve encountered?

Dr. Ofosu: One case that stands out was a young patient with recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis. We went through all the potential differential etiologies that includes genetics, autoimmune disease and structural etiologies. It became a long, diagnostic journey. The challenge wasn’t just the medical aspect of it, but the emotional aspect of it…when you don’t have all the answers available. We were eventually able to figure out what the cause of the pancreatitis was. It was genetic, and the patient is doing great now.

One of your research interests has been developing innovative ways to use AI in endoscopic ultrasound to identify and characterize lesions. Can you discuss some of those innovations?

Dr. Ofosu: It’s definitely an area that I’m looking to explore at this time; to leverage AI to improve diagnostic capability of endoscopic ultrasound. The whole idea is to be able to use AI to analyze images in real time that can help highlight features, which can ultimately help in distinguishing both benign and malignant tumors, and allowing AI to provide real time diagnostic support, improving accuracy of diagnosis and reducing unnecessary treatment.

In 2021, you conducted a study to investigate the demographics, clinical outcomes and survival outcomes of patients diagnosed with early and late onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma. What did your study reveal and what are the next steps?

Dr. Ofosu: Our study looked at over 136,000 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and compared those diagnosed under age 40 to older patients. We found that although pancreatic cancer is rare in the young, both groups are presenting more often with advanced disease, and incidence is rising. Younger patients tend to have tumors in the head of the pancreas, while older patients more often show growth in the body and tail. Survival overall remains very poor—about 6 to 7 months—but slightly better in younger patients.

I think the next step is to better understand the biological drivers of early onset PAC to look at integrating molecular profiling to see if there are distinct genetic patterns that can guide therapy. Ultimately the goal is to improve early detection and tailor management strategy for this subset of patients. 

What is your approach to patient communication and education?

Dr. Ofosu: I aim for clarity and empathy. Some GI diagnoses can be intimidating, with all the terminologies, and so I use a lot of analogies and visuals to simplify complex conditions. I also ensure that patients understand what we are discussing because I found that what a patient hears isn’t always what they think I explained.

I believe being honest and compassionate should go hand in hand. I don’t shy away from delivering difficult news, but I always take time to pause, listen, and acknowledge emotions. I found that patients and families appreciate transparency even when the prognosis is tough, as long as they know I’m fully present with them. 

Can you share a memorable patient interaction that impacted you?

Dr. Ofosu: There was one patient with chronic pancreatitis due to alcohol who had limited economic and social support. Beyond the medical management, what made a difference was sitting and listening to the patient, helping them connect to resources and social support – a social network. I think this reinforces that medicine isn’t just about lab values. It’s all about restoring dignity and focus with the patient. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception about your specialty?

Dr. Ofosu: That gastroenterology is all about procedures, that all we do is scope. In reality, it’s a combination of technical expertise as well as the cognitive aspect of providing long-term management of complex diseases that affect patients, which takes a diverse skillset beyond endoscopy. 

Lightning Round

What’s your favorite season of the year?

Fall. I like the colors of changing leaves

What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?

Watching soccer with family and friends

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?

Nelson Mandela

What’s your go-to karaoke song?Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey 

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Travel to Europe, experience different cultures

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

When I learned how to fly a kite

If you could instantly learn any skill, what would it be?

Playing piano

Are you a planner or more spontaneous?

Planner

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

Sharing Christmas dinner with family.