Dr. Jamie Barkin Receives Career Clinical Achievement Award from American College of Gastroenterology

Jamie Barkin, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and an internationally recognized gastroenterologist, is the 2019 Berk/Fise Career Clinical Achievement Awardee for his significant and distinguished contributions to clinical gastroenterology, particularly teaching and military medicine. This special award presented by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) recognizes not only clinical excellence, but also contributions in patient care, clinical science, clinical education, technological innovation, and public and community service.

Dr. Barkin, a past president of the ACG, joined the organization in 1978 and has been deeply involved ever since. He became a trustee of the college in 1980, and served as president from 1989 to 1990. He is known widely for his deep love, service, and dedication to the college, his professional society “home.” He has been active in numerous ACG committees, including establishing the first women’s committee in gastroenterology.

He has also held leadership roles in several other professional organizations, including a tenure as president of the Florida Gastroenterologic Society and past president of the Bockus International Society of Gastroenterology. In 1995, Dr. Barkin became a Master of the ACG, and in 2014 received the college’s Samuel S. Weiss Award. His recent recognition makes him one of only five physicians to be recognized by the ACG with three major awards.

“I am extremely honored to be recognized by the ACG for my contributions to the field of gastroenterology,” said Dr. Barkin, a gastroenterologist in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Miami Health System.  “The field of gastroenterology has developed and now we are focused on the gene and the microbiome. This will help our patients through the cycle of diagnosis, treatment, and management.”

Dr. Barkin is an innovator of endoscopic instrumentation and diagnostic techniques and was a pioneer in the development of small bowel enteroscopy and video-capsule endoscopy. In the pancreas, he was a pioneer of diagnostic aspiration of pancreatic lesions. He has authored more than 400 articles and edited five books.

His knowledge, enthusiasm, teaching style and motivational skills helped foster the development of GI fellows over the past three decades.

“Dr. Barkin is an internationally renowned gastroenterologist, consummate clinician, and educator,” said Paul Martin, M.D., FACG, Mandel Chair in Gastroenterology and chief of the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases at the University of Miami Health System. “He has been mentor to multiple trainees in whom he has instilled his love of learning and respect for each patient. He has had multiple contributions to the medical literature and continues to define the management of gastrointestinal diseases, most notably pancreatitis. He leads by example with his attention to each patient and trainee.”

During his career, Dr. Barkin has trained about 200 gastroenterology fellows, as well as countless internal medicine residents, and medical students. While many have stayed to practice in the South Florida area, many others hold academic positions throughout the country. His network of prior trainees spans the globe, and regularly keep in contact with him, seek his counsel in challenging situations, and appreciate his consultation, mentoring, and friendship.

“He truly loves his patients and is inspired and invigorated by the clinical challenges they present. He is not only a superb clinician, but also a detective, problem solver, counselor, and friend,” wrote one of Dr. Barkin’s nominators.  Another noted that he is widely viewed as a “voice of reason in difficult times.”

Dr. Barkin also has a distinguished career of service to both the GI profession and the nation. Dr. Barkin is a Major General (Ret.) in the United States Army Reserve. During his military service, he received multiple awards, most notably the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Barkin’s last assignment was Commanding General of the Third Medical Command, Atlanta, where his responsibilities included coordinating the Army’s medical assets in southwest Asia. His MEDCOM team was responsible for medical treatment of all American military personnel in Kuwait and Iraq, as well as care of coalition soldiers.

As an inspiring clinician, teacher, innovator and colleague, and for his service to the college and to the nation, Dr. Barkin embodies the attributes described in the Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award.

Dr. Barkin is one of several members of his family who have devoted their careers to medicine. He is married to Dr. Faith Block Barkin, a nuclear cardiologist. Their son, Dr. Jodie Barkin, is also a gastroenterologist at the University of Miami, and Jodie’s wife, Dr. Heather Barkin, is a practicing anesthesiologist in Miami. They are the proud parents of Jacob; it is too early to say whether Dr. Jamie Barkin’s first grandson will follow in the family footsteps!

Tags: American College of Gastroenterology, Berk/Fise Career Clinical Achievement Award, Dr. Jamie Barkin