FOR RELEASE: Oct. 6, 2005
GALVESTON, Texas ? Marc Shabot, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, has been recognized for his significant contributions to the field of gastroenterology by the Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. Shabot was presented with the Marcel Patterson-Robert Nelson Award recently at the society’s annual meeting in San Antonio. As the Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy’s highest award, it honors gastroenterologists who make exceptional contributions to the field of GI. Nelson was the society's first president, serving from 1976 to1978; Patterson, former director of the UTMB Division of Gastroenterology and founder of the UTMB Department of Family Medicine, was president from 1982 to 1983.
"Marc Shabot exemplifies what the Department of Medicine at UTMB stands for," said Dr. Jay Pasricha, director of the UTMB Division of Gastroenterology, “He is a very loyal, long-standing member of the faculty at UTMB and has contributed to many of its missions including excellence in clinical care and education. This award appears to be particularly appropriate as Dr. Patterson was a very well known and distinguished chief of gastroenterology at UTMB.”
Shabot joined the faculty at UTMB after completing his graduate medical education at the institution in 1978. Since then his role has been divided between teaching, patient care and administration of departmental and academic activities. Described by his colleagues as passionate for the practice of medicine as a clinician and teacher, Shabot has served on more than 40 institutional committees involving patient care or medical education. He served as director of clinical gastroenterology from 1997 to 2001 and was responsible for organizing the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society in 1991. He organized the UTMB Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention Program in 1997, an effort he continues to spearhead. He is currently vice chair of alumni affairs and development for the Department of Internal Medicine. In 2004, he was named the Raymond L. Gregory Professor of Medicine. Gregory was a longtime faculty member at UTMB and was chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine from 1961 to 1967.
Shabot is also active in professional organizations including the TSGE and the American College of Physicians. He was the first Galveston physician to be elected governor of the ACP, a position in which he served from 1999 to 2003. He also served as a counselor for the TSGE Governing Board of Counselors from 1989 to 1996 and a member of the TSGE program committee from 1989 to 1997.
In a letter to Shabot, Dr. William Kern Deschner, chair of the TSGE awards committee, described him as someone who has made significant contributions to the field of gastroenterology.
“Because of your service to your state and national GI and internal medicine societies, your years of training GI fellows and service to UTMB in many capacities, we couldn’t think of a better recipient of this award and extend our heartfelt congratulations,” Deschner wrote.
Shabot said he was flattered to receive the award and expressed his pride for being a part of the UTMB Division of Gastroenterology.
“I have no doubt that we’re the best GI division in the state and one of the best in the nation,” he said. “The quality of everything in GI has continued to rise because we have tremendous talent.”
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
www.utmb.edu