Former Faculty Member and GI Fellow Begins Tenure as AGA Institute President

Byron Cryer, M.D., Chair of Internal Medicine at Baylor University Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Texas A&M University School of Medicine, has begun his term as the 121st President of the American Gastroenterology Association Institute, the research, education and practice arm of the organization that leads its efforts to advance digestive health through clinical guidance, scientific discovery, and professional development.

Originally from Miami, Dr. Cryer received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University and completed his medical degree and internal medicine residency training at the Baylor College of Medicine. He then obtained advanced training through the gastroenterology fellowship program at UT Southwestern, where he served on the faculty from 1992 until 2022.

An internationally recognized clinician and researcher, Dr. Cryer is known for his work on the gastrointestinal effects of medications, particularly aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and has served on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Gastrointestinal Advisory Committee. He continues to consult with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

His involvement with the AGA spans more than three decades, beginning in 1989 as a first-year gastroenterology fellow. Over the years, he has held multiple leadership roles, including AGA Institute Governing Board At-Large Councilor, Chair of the Underrepresented Minority Committee, Co-Chair of the AGA Equity Project, and Co-Founder of the AGA Future Leaders Program. ■