Diogo T. H. de Moura1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Department, Universidade de Sao Paulo Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil; 2TGH Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. TGH Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: tgh@amegroups.com
Expert introduction
Prof. Diogo T. H. de Moura (Figure 1) is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology in the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. He is also the Chair of the Bariatric Endoscopy Division of the Sociedade Brasileira de Endoscopia Digestiva (SOBED) and director of the largest bariatric endoscopy course named Bariatric Endoscopy Live Global (BELG). Prof. Moura's research is focused on the endoscopic management of obesity and its related comorbidities, and also post-surgical complications, mainly leaks and fistulas. He has a broad background in controlled studies and metanalyses. He has more than 205 publications indexed on Medline/PubMed and more than 230 considering all peer-review articles.
Figure 1 Prof. Diogo T. H. de Moura
Interview
TGH: Could you share what initially drew you to research on the endoscopic management of obesity?
Prof. de Moura: Obesity is now a pandemic and may affect more than 50% of the population in Western countries in the following years. Since medical school, I observed how this population suffers from this condition. Thus, I always wanted to help patients suffering from this disease.
TGH: As the Chair of the Bariatric Endoscopy Division of SOBED, you are at the forefront of bariatric endoscopy. How do you see this field progressing in the next few years, and what innovations are you most excited about?
Prof. de Moura: The future of bariatric endoscopy is bright. As the incidence of obesity is increasing, more options to fight against it are needed. I am particularly excited about endoscopic surgery which may be more accessible and less invasive than traditional surgery for patients. The procedures that excite me the most are endoscopic suturing, gastroplasty, mucosal ablation, and endoscopic anastomosis using both stents and magnets.
TGH: Your extensive research on post-surgical complications such as leaks and fistulas has had a significant impact on clinical practice. Can you discuss a particular study or breakthrough in this area that you are especially proud of?
Prof. de Moura: Treating post-surgical complications and sharing my knowledge with colleagues on how to manage these challenging conditions is my passion. There are some review articles that make me proud (1-5).
TGH: The Bariatric Endoscopy Live Global (BELG) course is one of the largest in the world. What inspired you to create this course, and how has it influenced the training and development of professionals in bariatric endoscopy?
Prof. de Moura: The idea to create the course was in 2018 when I was doing my research fellowship with Prof. Christopher Thompson at Brigham and Women´s Hospital – Harvard Medical School. Chris Thompson is considered the “father of bariatric endoscopy” and is an inspiration for all bariatric endoscopists around the world. One day, we were in a meeting with Prof. Pichamol Jirapinyo (Brigham and Women´s Hospital) and Prof. Eduardo Moura (the Director of our Endoscopy Unit in Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo) and we decided to promote bariatric endoscopy globally. We are positive that we are achieving our goal. Last year we had more than 9,500 registrations and we hope to keep growing this fantastic field.
TGH: You have authored over 200 publications indexed on Medline/PubMed. How do you balance your clinical practice, teaching responsibilities, and research activities while maintaining such a prolific publication record?
Prof. de Moura: That's a good question. My wife often asks the same, as I also have two kids. I now have more than 205 publications indexed to Medline/Pubmed, I perform about 50 procedures per week (30 therapeutic/20 diagnostic), and we have 24 fellows to teach in our service. To handle multiple tasks simultaneously, I prioritize tasks based on their importance. I hired two personal secretaries and created a detailed schedule that outlines the time allocated to each project, considering the deadlines. This helps me stay organized and ensures that I allocate sufficient time to each task without compromising quality and personal life. This proactive approach allows me to manage expectations effectively and adapt quickly to any unplanned challenges.
TGH: Given your expertise in managing obesity and its related comorbidities, what do you see as the most significant challenges in treating obesity today, and how is your research addressing these challenges?
Prof. de Moura: Obesity is a very complex disease with several factors involved. But, in summary, the fundamental cause of obesity is an imbalance of calories consumed and calories expended. The most significant challenge in treating obesity today is the increasing consumption of energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar. Additionally, there has also been a decrease in physical activity due to different jobs, more access to transportation, and urbanization. As an endoscopist, my research focuses more on the minimally invasive management of this condition rather than its prevention.
TGH: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of TGH?
Prof. de Moura: It has been amazing. I love to learn from new studies and even when you are not learning, at least you are helping colleagues to improve their research. In my opinion, the most important thing as an editor is to allow authors to understand and reply to the reviewers' comments as well as to deliver a high-quality study to the journal readers.
TGH: As an Editorial Board Member, what are your expectations for TGH?
Prof. de Moura: TGH is already recognized as an important gastrointestinal journal with its metrics growing every year. My expectations are very high, and it is a great pleasure to be part of it.
Reference
de Moura DTH, Hirsch BS, Ribas PHBV, et al. Endoscopic vacuum therapy: pitfalls, tips and tricks, insights, and perspectives. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024;9:50.
- de Moura DTH., Hirsch BS, de Medeiros Neto HC, et al. Endoscopic Treatment of Non-malignant Esophageal Perforation: Time to Go Vacuum?. Curr Treat Options Gastro 2023;21(2):95–124.
- de Moura DTH, Dantas ACB, Ribeiro IB, et al. Status of bariatric endoscopy-what does the surgeon need to know? A review. World J Gastrointest Surg 2022;14(2):185-199.
- de Oliveira VL, Bestetti AM, Trasolini RP, de Moura EGH, de Moura DTH. Choosing the best endoscopic approach for post-bariatric surgical leaks and fistulas: Basic principles and recommendations. World J Gastroenterol 2023;29(7):1173-1193.
- de Moura DTH, Sachdev AH, Thompson CC. Endoscopic Full-Thickness Defects and Closure Techniques. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol 2018;16(4):386-405.