THE PURPOSE OF AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE, INC. IS TO ADVANCE AND FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND CLOSELY RELATED FIELDS OF STUDY, MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND AID IN ALL ASPECTS OF THIS FIELD, INCLUDING PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH, TEACHING, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION, AND MATTERS OF NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY PERTAINING TO GASTROENTEROLOGY.