C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF, former chief of gastroenterology at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, has received the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Julius Friedenwald Medal for his distinguished career in gastroenterology. He continues his role as Medical Director, Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.
Dr. Boland was honored at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) May 20-24 in San Diego, California. DDW is the world's largest and most prestigious meeting for the gastroenterology professional. The gathering typically attracts more than 14,000 physicians, researchers and academics.
This award was established in 1941 to recognize an individual who has contributed significantly to AGA and has made lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology. This is the highest honor bestowed upon an AGA member.
“Certainly, there are few in our field today who have had the breadth of impact that Rick Boland has achieved through his own original research, the legacy of the legions of trainees, his support of both young and established academicians throughout this country and abroad and, importantly, his imprint on our association," said Chung Owyang, MD, chief of gastroenterology, University of Michigan Health System.
Dr. Boland's outstanding academic career has focused on colorectal cancer research, with continuous support from National Institutes of Health funding since 1979. Dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of hereditary colorectal cancer, he has published more than 360 papers and written authoritative chapters in several textbooks for internal medicine, gastroenterology and genetics. Dr. Boland has been recognized for his numerous contributions to the understanding of familial CRC, helping to define the Lynch syndrome and identifying the unique gene mutation that allows CRC to occur in multiple family members.
Dr. Boland has been a member of the AGA since 1978 serving in many high-level capacities, such as Chair of the GI Oncology Section, Chair of the AGA Research Committee, Associate Editor of Gastroenterology, and culminating as president of the AGA from 2011 to 2012. He also received the GI Oncology Section Distinguished Mentor Award in May of 2011.
"Dr. Boland served as president of the American Gastroenterological Association with great distinction. His presidential address was remarkably personal, focusing on his family's history with hereditary colon cancer which propelled his world-class research into this problem. His contributions in this area have not only helped his family, but every family with this potentially lethal condition," said Lawrence Schiller, MD, division director of gastroenterology at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Dr. Boland became chief of gastroenterology services at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas in 2003. Baylor University Medical Center is nationally recognized for treating patients with digestive and colon/rectal issues. U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Dallas among the nation's top 50 hospitals in for gastroenterology/digestive disease in 2015, for the 19th time. In 2015, Dr. Boland received the William Beaumont Prize for excellence in research from the AGA.
Prior to coming to Dallas, Dr. Boland worked at University of California, San Francisco, the University of Michigan, and the University of California, San Diego. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from Yale Medical School.
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