Training Standards
Establish standards for training in interventional endoscopy in collaboration with interventional endoscopy program directors and practitioners.
About FITE
A foundation for the field of interventional & therapeutic endoscopy
FITE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advanced endoscopists — a cooperative, mission-led venture working to standardize training, credentialing, research, and access to minimally invasive endoscopic care.
FITE’s Mission
To advance healthcare outcomes by enhancing the field of interventional and therapeutic endoscopy to provide cost effective, safe and minimally invasive procedures.
Our Vision
The foundation will enhance & promote the expansion of the field of advanced therapeutic endoscopy thereby increasing access to specialized endoscopic procedures while reducing cost and morbidity for patients in a manner that promotes uniform quality, training and credentialing in order to optimize healthcare value and outcomes for patients.
We recognize that therapeutic endoscopy will play a greater role in the care of digestive diseases, cancers, and obesity in the future. The foundation will function to develop awareness, research, and pathways for complex procedures — including standardization of training, criteria for uniform credentialing and privileging, advocating for reimbursement codes for niche interventions, research collaborations, and accelerating the development of devices and procedures. The foundation strives to improve or eliminate obstacles and barriers in order to provide better care for all patients.
Objectives
FITE’s goals
Eight objectives guide the Foundation’s work across training, accreditation, advocacy, and research.
Accreditation
Establish standards for accreditation & work on creating an officially accredited specialty of interventional GI endoscopy.
Guidelines
Establish standards for hospital privileging and “accreditation” through credentialing guidelines and certification process.
Communication
Create a platform for communication of matters important in the field of interventional endoscopy among GI practitioners and societies.
Collaboration
Foster collaboration with existing GI, surgical, & oncology societies to further common goals. This would include ACG, AGA, ASGE, AASLD, ABOM, etc.
Advocacy
Work with advanced endoscopists, patients, and payers to help determine optimal reimbursement for complex and novel endoscopic procedures.
Research
Establish interventional endoscopy research standard operating manuals and create multi-site collaborations for large sample sized trials.
Industry Relations
Promote mutually beneficial partnerships with endoscopy companies to advance the field and improve clinical outcomes for patients.
Strategic plan
FITE’s 5-year vision
A phased roadmap across six domains — from certification and guidelines to membership, research, and industry relations.
Certification
- Establish a 5-year roadmap leading to board certification, with criteria for individuals, AEF programs, endoscopy units, and procedures.
- Pursue the roadmap for interventional endoscopy (IE) to become an officially accredited specialty, with legal consultation and engagement of similar subspecialty groups.
- Create universal guidelines for hospital privileging and “accreditation,” and establish FITE Center of Excellence designation criteria.
- Establish IE training as an officially accredited ACGME education track and a board certification process for IE.
- Determine levels of certification and provide certificate templates for qualifying 4th-year training programs.
Administrative
- Create a platform of communication via FITE; reassess and expand roles; finalize appropriate reimbursement for complex and novel work.
- Initiate marketing plans — website, brochures, social media.
- Establish a calendar of meetings with councilors and committees, define executive responsibilities, and build a document repository for committee work.
Clinical Care / Guidelines
- Identify areas in need of clinical guidelines; quantify and define metrics for practice and delivery of IE on a consensus basis.
- Establish a platform of collaboration to enhance the presence of IE in oncology and other key specialties.
- Provide pathways for improvement where quality metrics are beneath benchmarks; establish value-based care models with third-party payers.
Membership
- Engage advanced IE program directors and interventionalists in establishing expectations; actively recruit interventionally trained endoscopists.
- Engage other countries to broaden the mission and vision of FITE.
- Define criteria for levels of membership including grandfathering, affiliate levels, and full membership; define leadership roles for allied health care providers.
Research
- Establish a FITE research account for industry-sponsored studies and research PIs for registry trials and multi-site collaborations.
- Initiate a study with FITE members; create a roadmap and data-collection tools for a collaborative research group.
- Create a national registries platform for programs and society members; establish endoscopy research ethics guidelines / SOPs.
Industry Relations
- Establish and cultivate collaborative industry relationships and connections with payers for reimbursement platforms.
- Define the financial structure to accept industry support and engage other countries to broaden the mission.
- Define an “industry liaison” relationship manager and a roadmap for bringing new technologies to market using the power of FITE.
Organization
How FITE is organized
Board of Directors & Founders
- Michel KahalehCEO & Co-Founder
- Neil SharmaCOO & Co-Founder
- Shyam ThakkarCIO & Co-Founder
- Christopher ThompsonCo-Founder
- Monica GaidhaneCFO & Co-Founder
Governing Board
- David LorenPresident
- David DiehlVice President
- Mohit GirotraSecretary
- Antonio Mendoza LaddTreasurer
- Councillors
Committees
01EUS
02Endohepatology
03ERCP
04Mucosal Resection
05Endoscopic Surgery & Third Space Endoscopy
06Endobariatrics
07Barrett's Esophagus
08Endoscopic Oncology
09Small Bowel
Training & CertificationStandards, credentialing & privileging
ResearchMulti-center studies & registries
Directors & Co-Founders
The founders and trustees who established and lead the Foundation.
Founders & TrusteesCommittees
Disease- and technique-focused committees spanning EUS, ERCP, third-space endoscopy, and more.
Committees & councilsMembership
Registration is free. Join the field’s dedicated foundation.
Any professional with clinical expertise and/or research or clinical interest in therapeutic endoscopy can join FITE.