Martin L. Freeman MD, MACG, MASGE

Dr.  Martin Freeman is Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  He served as chief of the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition from 2009-2022, as program director for the advanced endoscopy fellowship,  and as medical director of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis.  He has trained multiple therapeutic endoscopists, many of whom are now leaders in the field.  His efforts in endoscopic techniques, education and mentoring have been recognized by various national and international organizations.   He was the lead author on three educational DVDs for the ASGE including techniques for biliary access during ERCP, endoscopic therapy of pancreatic disease, and on interventions for necrotizing pancreatitis. He received the Master of Endoscopy Award by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in 2012, served as President of the American Pancreatic Association in 2013, received their lifetime achievement award in 2018, was honored as a Master of the American College of Gastroenterology in 2019, and as Master of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in 2020. Dr Freeman's main clinical and research interests involve pancreatic and biliary disorders, with a focus on interventional endoscopy. Dr. Freeman has published over 30 textbook chapters, and 250 peer reviewed articles, including several index papers for which he was the principal author: a multicenter study on ERCP complications in the New England Journal of Medicine, a multivariable model for prediction of post ERCP pancreatitis in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, and the first consensus paper and systematic review on interventions for necrotizing pancreatitis in Pancreas. His papers have received the highest number of citations of any author on the topic of ERCP.  Other research and clinical foci include drainage of malignant hilar obstruction, treatment of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, for which he was a contributor to a multicenter NIH funded randomized trial, management of severe acute pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis, cholangiocarcinoma, and especially diagnosis and management of chronic pancreatitis.

In 2024 Dr Freeman will be receiving the Rudolf Schindler award, the highest honor bestowed by the  ASGE. The importance of this award cannot be overstated, as it reflects a lifetime of dedication to the art and science of healing through endoscopy. It is with great humility and gratitude that he will accept this award.