Internal Medicine Resident Achieves National Recognition at Digestive Disease Week 2026

By Deepak Agrawal, professor and chair, Internal Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, and chair, Internal Medicine Subspecialties Institute, Premier Health

Premier Health recognizes Balkrishna Sapariya, MBBS, a PGY-2 internal medicine resident with Wright State University and Premier Health, for presenting research at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 in Chicago, one of the nation's largest conferences focused on gastroenterology and digestive diseases.

Sapariya was selected to deliver an oral presentation, an honor awarded to a limited number of researchers whose work is identified for its scientific merit and relevance to the field. His presentation, "Real-World Safety Comparison of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide: A Pharmacovigilance Study," was featured during the session, "Obesity Management: Are They Really Safe?" on May 3 at McCormick Place.

The research was conducted under the mentorship of Sangeeta Agrawal, MD, program director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship. The project examined the safety profiles of two widely used medications for obesity and diabetes management and contributed to ongoing discussions regarding their real-world use.

In addition to the oral presentation, Sapariya presented a poster titled, "When Weight Loss Has a Hidden Cost: A First Rare Case of Cecal Volvulus Associated with Semaglutide," during the Case Reports III session on May 4. The case report highlights a rare but significant clinical finding and contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding emerging weight-loss therapies and potential adverse events.

Participation at DDW provides physicians and trainees an opportunity to share research findings, collaborate with peers, and contribute to advancements in patient care. Sapariya's presentations reflect the scholarly activity taking place across Premier Health's graduate medical education programs and the organization's commitment to research, education, and clinical excellence.

Please join us in congratulating Sapariya on this achievement.

Back to the July 2026 Premier Pulse