A Ghanaian physician, Dr. Albert Ekow Orhin, has earned international acclaim after unveiling a pioneering study on the health risks of electronic cigarettes at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona — one of the most prestigious global events in digestive health research.
Dr. Orhin’s work revealed a significant link between e-cigarette use and peptic ulcer disease (PUD), suggesting that vaping may pose similar gastrointestinal dangers as traditional cigarette smoking. The findings, based on data from the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, attracted widespread attention among global health experts and were later featured by leading medical news platforms, Medscape and Healio.
According to Medscape Medical News, current users of e-cigarettes were found to have a 27% higher risk of developing peptic ulcers, while former users also faced an elevated likelihood. Even after adjusting for variables such as smoking and alcohol use, vaping remained independently associated with the disease — making this the first large-scale study to establish such a link.
“This study opens a door to start looking at the gastrointestinal system and highlights the need for clinicians to take accurate inhalant histories from patients,” said Dr. Laura Crotty Alexander, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, describing the research as “novel and impactful.”
The study was a collaborative effort involving several Ghanaian-trained doctors — Dr. Natalie Akoto, Dr. Simon Egyin, Dr. Teddy Ossei, Dr. Albert Acquah, and Dr. Dorinda Nelson-Cofie — reflecting the growing influence of Ghanaian professionals in global medical research and academia.
Currently serving as a Resident Physician at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Orhin’s career reflects a blend of scientific excellence and social commitment. A graduate of the University of Ghana Medical School, he honed his clinical skills at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital before earning a Master’s in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated with honours and received multiple leadership and academic awards.
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Orhin is deeply engaged in public health advocacy, participating in community screening programmes and promoting health equity initiatives in Ghana. His long-term goal, he says, is to translate international research insights into improved preventive healthcare and policy back home.
His recognition at ACG 2025 not only elevates Ghana’s profile in global medicine but also underscores Africa’s growing contribution to cutting-edge medical science.
Dr. Orhin’s work, experts say, could shape future research into the lesser-known health effects of vaping, prompting a reevaluation of e-cigarettes’ safety profile and influencing public health policies worldwide.