Hoag’s Dr. Christy Dunst Named President of the American Foregut Society

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2026) — Hoag announced today that its chief of foregut surgery, Dr. Christy Dunst, has been named president of the American Foregut Society (AFS) during its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. this past week.  This appointment reflects Dr. Dunst’s longstanding leadership and contributions to the field of foregut, which includes conditions affecting the esophagus and stomach such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), swallowing disorders, Barrett’s esophagus and cancer, among others. As president, she will lead the only professional society dedicated to bringing foregut surgeons and gastroenterologists together to advance the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of foregut disease. 

“I’m honored to serve as president of the American Foregut Society to help shape the future of the field of foregut disease alongside the world’s leading experts,” said Dr. Dunst. “As the field continues to evolve, we have an opportunity to rethink how we train physicians, embrace new technologies, and ensure that patients have access to the most advanced care. The AFS is an incredibly enriching organization to be a part of and, as president, I look forward to developing new initiatives and partnerships, continuing our strong emphasis on high-quality education and training, and generally addressing various challenges in the foregut space.” 

Dr. Dunst’s approach to patient care brings foregut surgeons, neurogastroenterologists, advanced endoscopists, and nutrition specialists together to review complex cases and consider the full spectrum of treatment options to provide the best, most comprehensive care. This approach aligns directly with the American Foregut Society’s philosophy of “better together” by bringing gastroenterologists and surgeons together to collaborate on personalized treatment plans and improve patient outcomes. 

Dr. Dunst’s leadership in the field of digestive health allows her to bring extensive expertise to the American Foregut Society, whose mission is to guide the diagnosis and management of foregut disease by bringing world-renowned experts together.  

Dr. Dunst stays at the forefront of advancing medicine through her active involvement in several professional organizations. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and textbook chapters, as well as regularly lecturing both nationally and internationally, supporting her passion for foregut education and training.  

At Hoag, Dr. Dunst specializes in treating the esophagus and upper digestive tract. Since joining Hoag in 2025, she has launched the Foregut Surgery Fellowship, Hoag’s first standalone nationally accredited surgery fellowship, and is working to establish a complementary Foregut GI Fellowship. Once launched, Hoag will be the first in the country to offer complementary foregut training programs in both the surgical and medical fields. This year, Dr. Dunst also started the BEAT (Barrett’s Esophagus Awareness and Treatment) Initiative through her role as medical director of the Hoag Digestive Health Institute Heartburn and Foregut Center of Excellence.   This program incorporates a community wide collaboration to eliminate advanced esophageal cancer in Orange County through greater awareness, early detection and advanced technology.  

Learn more about Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute.