It is an honor and a privilege to introduce Dr Hashem El-Serag, who will become the 114th president of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute in May 2019. This biography covers Hashem’s journey that started from an oppressed town in Libya to reach the highest echelon of an organization that is shaping the future of science, patient care, and health policy in gastroenterology. My hope is that, by tracing this journey, the biography will provide the readers with an insight into a remarkable man, who epitomizes excellence in clinical care, education, and research, and whose energy and vision will solidify the AGA’s standing as the leader and innovator in the field of gastroenterology.