Bethesda, MD (May 20, 2026) — Byron L. Cryer, MD, AGAF, today begins his term as the 121st president of the AGA Institute. Dr. Cryer serves as chair of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center and professor of medicine at Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine.
An internationally recognized clinician and researcher, Dr. Cryer is known for his work on the gastrointestinal effects of medications, particularly aspirin and other NSAIDs. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications spanning translational research, biomarker studies, epidemiologic analyses, clinical trials, and international multicenter studies. He also served on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Gastrointestinal Advisory Committee and continues to consult with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Cryer has held numerous academic leadership roles, including associate dean positions focused on faculty development and diversity at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Since joining Baylor University Medical Center in 2022, he has led internal medicine within a model integrating academic medicine and large-scale clinical practice.
“I have worked with Byron on many AGA educational projects for over 15 years,” said Jesús Rivera-Nieves, MD, AGAF, an adjunct professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego. “If you ask me for a one-word descriptor of what I admire most, it would be ‘inspirational.’ He inspires young GIs — and all of us collaborators — to excel and be the best we can be.”
As president, Dr. Cryer brings decades of leadership, mentorship, and service to the gastroenterology community.
“Byron is a born leader, teacher, and mentor," said Juanita L. Merchant, MD, PhD, chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and regents professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. "He has unselfishly devoted a significant amount of his time to exposing a broad spectrum of students, residents, and fellows to the exciting field of gastroenterology. I have had the distinct pleasure and honor to work with Byron on the AGA-FORWARD Program, which he led through a successful competitive renewal awarded by NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).”
Growing up in Miami profoundly shaped Dr. Cryer’s worldview. Immersed in a culturally diverse environment, he began speaking Spanish at age 6. His parents, Linkston Cryer and Delores Malveaux, both grew up in Louisiana farming families, as did Dr. Cryer’s grandfathers. Dr. Cryer earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his fellowship at UT Southwestern, where he began his long-standing academic focus on gastroprotection and medication safety.
Learn more about Dr. Cryer’s path to AGA presidency in Gastroenterology .
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Media contact: Annie Mehl, AGA communications and media relations manager, media@gastro.org , 301-327-0013
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org
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