Twenty-five years revisited.

In May 1998, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates (SGNA). It was in 1974 that a group of dedicated people met in San Francisco under the leadership of Marna Harmon Schirmer to found an organization dedicated to the professional needs of health care providers working in the gastroenterology diagnostic and treatment setting. Through the efforts of these dedicated people and those who followed them, this organization has grown into the recognized specialty SGNA is today. SGNA has its roots in the historical development of clinical gastroenterology practice and the diagnostic tools made possible through advances in technology. Throughout the years, these changes continue to affect not only the delivery of patient care but also the specialty of gastroenterology nursing. This article explores the history of GI nurses--how we began, where we are now, and what we can expect in the future.