Virgo and Satisfai Health Bring AI to Life in Gastroenterology

Virgo Surgical Video Solutions, Inc. (“Virgo”) and Satisfai Health Inc. (“Satisfai”) today announced an exclusive partnership to revolutionize gastroenterology decision support and clinical research with AI-fueled, cloud-enabled endoscopic solutions. Virgo, the industry leader in endoscopy video capture technology, and Satisfai, a vanguard in developing artificial intelligence solutions for gastroenterology, will leverage their combined strengths to realize the full potential of AI-powered precision imaging that will revolutionize GI medicine.

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Dr. Reno Panaccione

Director of IBD

Dr. Panaccione is currently a Professor of Medicine, the Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at the University of Calgary and Director of Gastroenterology Research.

Dr. Panaccione graduated from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario) with a degree in Medicine in 1993. He went on to complete his Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology training at the University of Western Ontario and is certified as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Panaccione completed advanced training in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He joined the faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary in 1999. He is an internationally recognized expert in inflammatory bowel disease. He has lectured nationally and internationally on various topics in inflammatory bowel disease and has delivered over 200 lectures in the last five years.

He is the author of many peer-reviewed articles (~250) and book chapters (25) on inflammatory bowel disease. His special interest lies in the fields of advanced therapies, biological therapy, and delivery of care through the implementation of clinical trials. He is a recognized authority on the use of biologics and has co-authored numerous guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease for the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. He actively participates in clinical trials of new therapeutic agents in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He has published in and reviews for prestigious journals including NEJM, Lancet, Gastroenterology and Gut. He sits on the editorial board of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, JCC, APT, and the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology.

He is presently the medical director for the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC) Calgary Chapter and sits on the Medical Advisory council for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. He is the national chair of the CCC scholarship program. He has been awarded the highest honour, the Finkelstein award by Crohn’s and Colitis Canada for his work in the field of IBD. He is also an elected member of the International Organization of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) reflecting his status in the area. He was awarded the CAG Visiting Professor Award in 2016 for his contribution o the field of Gastroenterology in Canada. He is ranked amongst the top ten experts in the field worldwide (www.expertscape.com). He presently holds a senior leadership position within Alberta Health Services as the Medical Lead for Systems Integration with the mandate of improving the efficiency and quality of care that is delivered to patients.

Dr. Douglas Rex

Director of Colorectal Cancer

Dr. Douglas K. Rex is Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, Chancellor’s Professor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, and Director of Endoscopy at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis. He graduated from Harvard College, Summa Cum Laude in 1976 and with highest distinction from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1980. He served as Chief Medical Resident at Indiana University Hospital and joined the faculty at Indiana University in 1985. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award in the Introduction to Medicine course five times and has been awarded the Indiana University School of Medicine Outstanding Teacher Award as well as Department of Medicine’s Excellence in Teaching Award. He is a full-time clinical gastroenterologist at Indiana University Hospital.

His major research interests have been in colorectal disease and, in particular, colorectal cancer screening and the technical performance of colonoscopy. He co-authored the colorectal cancer screening recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. He also authored the recommendations on quality in colonoscopy of the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer and the American College of Gastroenterology/American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He has authored more than 200 original research papers, 55 book chapters, 200 invited papers, 40 editorials, and 40 guideline papers. He is an Associate Editor of Journal Watch Gastroenterology and serves on the editorial boards of 11 gastroenterology journals.

He is the current chair of the U.S. Multi-Society (ACG, ASGE, AGA, ACP-ASIM) Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. He has also served in the American College of Gastroenterology as Chairman of the Board of Governors and is a Past President of the ACG. He is a member of the Governing Board of ASGE and a recipient of the Rudolph V. Schindler Award from ASGE.

Dr. Michael Byrne

CEO & Founder

Dr. Michael Byrne provides senior leadership and clinical expertise to Satisfai Health and is a clinical innovator with over 20 years experience as a practicing physician. He is the founder of both Satisfai Health and its ai4gi joint venture. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC. He is also director of the Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship at VGH, and is the former Director of Endoscopy at VGH/UBC.

He has worked in the medical device space for several years. Prior to his role with Satisfai Health and his participation in the ai4gi project, he has worked with the Biotechnology Industry in several areas including colon cancer genetic testing, and novel applications of Photodynamic therapy for Gastrointestinal disease.

He is a graduate of Cambridge and Liverpool Universities. He has a strong research background in both basic science and clinical medicine with hands-on training in molecular sciene and pharmacology. He received an MD by thesis from the University of Cambridge for his work on Helicobacter Pylori and Cyclooxygenase. He also has a long track record of clinical research. Dr. Byrne has published extensively with over 90 peer reviewed publications and over 100 abstract presentations at National and International Meetings.

After several years working in the UK and Ireland, Dr. Byrne completed an Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship as well as working as an attending physician at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. He moved to his current role in Vancouver in 2003.

His main clinical interests are in the field of ERCP, interventional endoscopy, optical biopsy, colon cancer, pancreaticobiliary disease, and IBD.