Meet Dr. Deepak Gopal

Quality measures help translate evidence-based guidelines into better patient care. As chair-elect of the AGA Quality Committee and co-chair of the CMS-Battelle Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Clinician Workgroup, Deepak Gopal, MD, FRCP(C), AGAF, is helping shape how these standards are developed and applied nationwide. In this member spotlight, he shares how this work supports clinicians and improves care for patients with digestive diseases.

Q: How do quality measures influence the care patients receive?
A: Quality measures and indicators play a central role in shaping how care is delivered. They are typically derived from evidence-based clinical guidelines, and AGA has long been a leader in developing and promoting these standards. When thoughtfully designed, quality measures should be attainable, measurable, relevant, and realistic across all practice settings, regardless of where they are treated.

Q: How do you bring the clinician and patient perspective into national policy discussions?
A: My national roles allow me to bring real-world clinical experience directly into the policy arena. I serve as a member of the Physician Quality Measurement (PQM) program and was honored to be selected as co-chair and physician lead of the CMS-Battelle Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) Clinician Workgroup for the 2025-2026 cycle. In these roles, I help ensure that the clinician and patient voice is represented throughout the measure review process, including reviewing measures under consideration, participating in listening sessions, and guiding consensus discussions that shape CMS quality programs.

Q: How does your work with the AGA Quality Committee align with this national role?
A: As chair-elect and future chair, I help lead the development, evaluation, and dissemination of AGA-derived quality measures and improvement tools. This alignment strengthens the evidence base and implementation strategies that support national quality programs and ensures that AGA remains a trusted, authoritative voice in quality measurement and improvement.

Q: What do you wish members knew about the Quality Committee?
A: The breadth, diversity, and expertise represented on the AGA Quality Committee. Our group includes clinicians from across the country - spanning academic centers, private practice, community hospitals, and a wide range of subspecialty areas. This diversity ensures that AGA's quality measures and indicators are practical, relevant, and applicable across different practice environments.

Q: What impact do you hope this work will have on patients in the coming years?
A: I hope that our work will continue to strengthen the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care for all patients with digestive diseases. By developing meaningful and pragmatic quality measures - and by supporting clinicians through education, implementation tools, and collaborative partnerships - we can help ensure that patients receive the best possible care grounded in current, up-to-date guidelines and best practices.

Dr. Gopal also expressed gratitude for AGA leadership, including Dr. Lawrence Kim, Dr. Byron Cryer, Dr. Jennifer Maratt, and David Godzina, whose partnership and vision continue to advance AGA's national quality agenda.