Annel Maria Fernandez, MD

Gastroenterology Fellow @CUIMC | @BrighamMedRes @HarvardMed | @Columbia '16 @ColumbiaPS '22 |Community Engagement • Bronx 🇩🇴 • @FGLIMed • Dancer 🩰 #BXtoMD

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

Pipeline programs did it all for me and made my path to college and medicine possible. Check out my feature discussing EEP at @EinsteinMed https://t.co/wvADddq5aO

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

National Latino Physician Day celebration at @ColumbiaMed
and GI is in the building 🙋🏻‍♀️

[Mariam Naveed, MD @MN_GIMD]

Fellows - As you begin counseling patients about CRC screening, it’s important to explain test performance in a way that makes sense.

Patients don’t think in terms of sensitivity or specificity. They want to know how many cancers or advanced polyps might be missed, or how often they could get a false alarm.

Learning to translate the numbers into real-world impact helps build trust and guides patients toward informed choices.

@Meghs1119 gave us a great review today on Colonoscopy Quality Indicators & data re: screening testing.

📈 Sensitivity = proportion of people with disease correctly identified.

📉 Specificity = proportion of people without disease correctly identified.

Examples:

- FIT (at the manufacturer’s threshold) has ~74% sensitivity for CRC, meaning it will miss ~26% of cancers in a single screening round.

- With ~94% specificity, ~6% of people without cancer may test positive and undergo unnecessary colonoscopy.

- Sensitivity for advanced adenomas is much lower (~23–43%), so many precancerous lesions are missed in a single test, highlighting the need for repeat screening over time.

🤔 Putting It in Perspective

⭐️ Colonoscopy detects most cancers and large adenomas but can still miss up to 11% of advanced adenomas, as shown in back-to-back studies.

⭐️ FIT/stool DNA tests miss more advanced adenomas than cancer, with FIT sensitivity for advanced adenomas around 17–43%, so more are missed compared to colonoscopy and stool-DNA tests.

⭐️ Noninvasive tests (FIT, stool DNA, blood tests) make screening easier, but they must be repeated on schedule to reduce missed cancers.

⭐️ Shield blood test has lower sensitivity for advanced adenomas (13%) but is comparable to other noninvasive tests for CRC itself.

🗣️Counseling Tips

- Frame results as “missed cancers/adenomas per 100 patients” to make risk concrete.

- Patients who want to minimize missed cancers may prefer colonoscopy, understanding it’s not perfect.

-Patients who want a noninvasive test should commit to repeating it regularly.

👌Ultimately: the best test is the one the patient is willing and able to complete.

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

@Brigham_DI @BrighamMedRes @RamonR_MD @KristeneTadese @carlarod0715 @Abdi_Abdullahi_ @Dr_NJRodriguez 🙏🏻

[Brigham and Women's Medicine Residents @BrighamMedRes]

Huge congratulations to our senior residents on a fantastic fellowship #match ! We had so much fun celebrating with you yesterday.

We also wanted to congratulate all of those who accepted positions in hospital medicine and primary care - we are so proud of you!

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

Absolutely so excited to be heading back home @ColumbiaMed for #GIFellowship

And so grateful for all the mentors, peers and friends who have guided me along the way. So so grateful 🙏🏻

[ACG @AmCollegeGastro]

#HispanicHeritageMonth Spotlight: Nicolette Juliana Rodriguez, MD, MPH

Dr. Rodriguez is recognized for her research in disparities in access to cancer genetics and prevention + fostering an inclusive community for URiM fellows.

More on the ACG Blog ➡️ https://t.co/xIiW3LLHXH

[Dr. Estela Rodriguez @Latinamd]

6% is not enough! We need more Latinx physicians to serve the growing Latino population.
On October 1st, we celebrate the National Latinx Physician Day.
#nationallatinophysicianday #nationallatinaphysicianday #nationallatinxphysicianday #mentorship #latinosinmedicine #NLPD24

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

@nyugsom_iehe @Jbetancourtpr @GbengaOgedegbe @mlypson @ChykeDoubeni @pophealthNYC @NYULH_DeptofMed @nyugrossman So excited this is available for all of us to watch. Thank you for sharing!

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

@AmtrakNECAlerts @GioFedericoIII Any plan to compensate passengers or provide points? Train ride has been delayed close to 2 hours now as we get other customers onto the northeast 163 train. Missed my connecting transportation to a family event because of the delay

[Maria T. Abreu @ibddocmaria]

Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth. It’s an honor to serve as @AmerGastroAssn’s first #Latina president, and this month I intend to celebrate my fellow Hispanic GIs while also highlighting how we can improve GI care for the growing Latino community. #MariasMusings
Sound off below! 📢

[Columbia College @CC_Columbia]

Today, we pause to remember and honor the lives we lost. 🕊️

[Elliot Tapper @ebtapper]

People with cirrhosis are more likely to wind up in the emergency department and die after their ED visit than people with heart failure and lung disease

Important study in @AGA_CGH

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

Had such a great time at @DDWMeeting 🌟

Thank you to @WalterChanMD for all the mentorship,guidance and support! 🙏🏻

[Walter Chan, MD, MPH @WalterChanMD]

Another great @DDWMeeting with the amazing #BWHMotility team! Congratulations to everyone for the phenomenal job in preparing & presenting our research at #DDW2024 🙌

Grateful to have the best team and thank you all for the hard work! ❤️

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

Thank you for all the support! @AdjoaGIMD

[Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD MPH @AdjoaGIMD]

Love seeing @MassGenBrigham @MGH_GI @BrighamWomens trainees and staff presenting their work @AmerGastroAssn #DDW2024! 🌟🌟🌟

[Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD MPH @AdjoaGIMD]

Love seeing @MassGenBrigham @MGH_GI @BrighamWomens trainees and staff presenting their work @AmerGastroAssn #DDW2024! 🌟🌟🌟

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

So many pearls ⚪️ from this mornings Branding and Leadership session @MN_GIMD

Reminded that our reputation 🏆= Character + Values 🙏🏻 + Trustworthiness

✅Your brand = what do I love + what am I good at + what is needed

[Walter Chan, MD, MPH @WalterChanMD]

Check out our 25 presentations at #DDW2024 by the #BWHMotility team!

We will share our latest research on #GERD #LPR #EoE #motility #manometry #FLIP #impedance #constipation #fecalincontinence #obesity & #healthdisparity in #DGBI

Highlights👉https://t.co/QXvGz3csWR

[Annel Maria Fernandez, MD @AnnelMariaF]

Excited to attend my first #DDW2024 this year with @BrighamGI

Looking forward to all the learning 📚

[Brigham and Women's GI @BrighamGI]

Join us at the 1️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ research & clinical presentations by #BrighamGI faculty & fellows at Digestive Disease Week #DDW2024!

📊103 research abstracts including:
🗣28 podium presentations
📜75 posters

🎙18 invited clinical lectures

For the full list: https://t.co/a58W79ai9z

[National Hispanic Medical Association @NHMAmd]

@MichaelGalvezMD, NHMA member from Central CA, testified before the Senate HELP Committee on boosting Hispanic physician representation, emphasizing an increase in funding for pathway & community college transfer programs, holistic admissions, & satellite medical school programs.