In their conversation, Dr. Amar Naik shared his commitment to advancing IBD care in a private practice setting, noting the need for a potential future board certification specifically for IBD. Despite transitioning from academia to private practice, he emphasized his ongoing dedication to research and data-driven insights. Dr. Naik highlighted the role of private practices in conducting impactful, community-based clinical trials, making advanced therapies accessible to more diverse patient populations. He sees these trials as beneficial for collecting real-world data on broader IBD demographics, including different racial and ethnic groups.

Dr. Naik also expressed appreciation for the support networks and resources offered by professional societies like the AGA, especially as a way to connect younger practitioners with mentors in both academic and community-based settings. Speaking on his practice’s recent partnership with SonarMD, he underscored its role in enhancing patient monitoring between visits and improving care continuity. SonarMD’s model, he explained, allows his team to bridge the gap between knowing patients need follow-up and actually delivering it, ensuring that patients feel well-supported in their care journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Expanding Access to Community-Based Trials: Dr. Naik emphasized the importance of community-based clinical trials for IBD, which allow more diverse and representative patient groups to access cutting-edge therapies, as well as provide critical data on broader demographics and real-world outcomes.
• Support from Professional Societies: Dr. Naik praised organizations like the AGA for providing valuable resources and networking opportunities, especially to connect younger practitioners with experienced mentors across both academic and community settings.
• Enhanced Patient Monitoring with SonarMD: Dr. Naik sees SonarMD as a vital tool for bridging care gaps between visits for patients with chronic GI conditions, like IBD, helping to ensure consistent patient monitoring and demonstrating to patients the practice’s dedication to proactive care.

Quote:

“SonarMD shrinks that knowing-doing gap—like, hey, I know I need to monitor these patients, I know I need to keep an eye on them, but how do I do that? You do that with SonarMD and with a team. I was in academics for 10 years, and you realize in medicine that you can always use help, a hand to do things better. Patients can see that dedication, that extra commitment from your practice, and understand that there’s no catch. It’s just about being able to take better care of them, even in between their visits.”