Consistent with our mission, we are asking Congress, the Administration, and state legislatures to support medical research to find cures for IBD, and to improve patient access to care. Below are our legislative priorities. Where appropriate, we indicate federal bills and provide links where you can learn more about state-based legislation. Speak out to help improve research funding and patient care nationwide. Together, we can make a difference.
Access to Care
Medical Research
Minorities are underrepresented in most clinical trials - this creates a line of disconnect and skewed information regarding ethnic/racial responses to medication and treatments.
Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will use the medical products. This is often not the case--racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in clinical research. This is a concern because people of different ages, races, and ethnicities, may react differently to medical products. We are committed to working with companies to change this.
Speakers
REGISTRATION OPEN!
Dr. Florence Odufalu
Gastroenterologist
Florence-Damilola “Damie” Odufalu, MD received her M.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She completed her Internship and Internal Medicine residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Odufalu completed GI & Hepatology Fellowship training at Saint Louis University Hospital, and then an Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) fellowship at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Odufalu is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases at Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of the University of Southern California (USC). Her primary clinical and research focus is on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases as it relates to IBD disparities, outcomes and therapeutics in immigrants and ethnic minorities with IBD.
Anthony Giovonni
Patient/Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist
Anthony Giovonni is a Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist who helps busy professionals transform their life through effective fitness and nutrition. After being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, helping people through mental transformation, fitness, and nutrition has been his passion. Anthony Giovonni is the CEO of The G Way Fitness. He has been feature in Mens Health Magazine and has been a guest speaker on multiple podcasts such as Crohn's Veteran.
Dr. Celicia Williams
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Celicia Little received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Florida State University, her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of Central Florida and her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Johns Hopkins University. She has been a Nurse Practitioner for 9 years and has over 7 years of pediatric gastroenterology experience. Dr. Little is currently employed by Children's National Hospital, where she works as a Nurse Practitioner and serves as the Advanced Practice diversity, equity and inclusion representative. Her passion for teaching is not only expressed through her education and patient advocacy but is also expressed through her role as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with Bowie State University.
Sneha Dave
Patient/Executive Director - Health Advocacy Summit
Sneha graduated from Indiana University in May 2020 where she majored in chronic illness advocacy as well as journalism. She created the Health Advocacy Summit and its program of Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network with major funding from Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Lumina Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and more to create support systems for adolescents and young adults with chronic and rare conditions across the U.S. and internationally.
Dr. Darrell M. Gray, II
Gastroenterologist
Dr. Gray is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and graduate of Morehouse College and Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center, Gastroenterology fellowship at Washington University, and public health training at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as a Commonwealth Fund Fellow. He is a nationally respected leader in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. Dr. Gray has received numerous honors including the 2020 Healio Disruptive Innovator Health Equity Award, 2019 State of Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Health Equity Award, and induction into the 2017 class of National Minority Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health. However, Dr. Gray’s greatest achievements are being a husband and father.
Dr. Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa
Gastroenterologist
Dr. Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa is currently an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Anyane-Yeboa treats patients with general gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory bowel disease. Her research work is currently focused on the development of technologies to increases uptake of colorectal cancer screening in vulnerable communities. Her ultimate goal is to advance care, improve access, and eliminate disparities for vulnerable patient populations through health services research, community advocacy, diversity retention and recruitment efforts and policy. Dr. Anyane-Yeboa is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, completed her gastroenterology training at the University of Chicago Medicine, and received her Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
Cedric Pulliam, Ph.D.
Patient Advocate/Psychologist
Cedric Pulliam, Ph.D. currently serves as a senior public health expert in the US federal government with over 11 years of experience as well as a board certified clinical health psychologist. In 2019, he completed his postdoctoral fellowship as a Senior Health Equity Fellow at the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, CA as a member of the Youth Health Equity Model of Practice Health Equity Fellowship program by the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Sophie Balzora, MD, FACG
Gastroenterologist
Sophie M. Balzora MD, FACG, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her interests include inflammatory bowel diseases and enhancing physician engagement and the patient experience through objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs). Dr. Balzora is Vice-Chair of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and co-founder of ACG's #DiversityinGI Social Media Campaign.
Brooke Abbott
Patient Advocate/Leader/Founder
Brooke is one half of IBDMoms and one whole of Crazy Creole Mommy Life. She is a single mother, patient, advocate, activist, non-profit director, business owner, student and a coffee aficionado. Brooke's life with IBD led her to a life of service as she advocates for patients and patients rights to healthcare on Capitol Hill. Her story has been featured in Women's Health Magazine, Prevention Magazine, L.A. Parent Magazine and USA Today. Brooke currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her child, Jax and two puppies, Betty and Winston.
Matthew McCurdy
Director of Programs of Health DesignED
Matthew McCurdy (he/him) is the Director of Programs of Health DesignED: The Acute Care Design + Innovation Center in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University and is the President and Co-founder at BLKHLTH Inc, a non-profit that engages the public and health professionals on the impact of racism on the health of all Black people—then equips them to do something about it.
Tomiyo Williams.
Care Partner/Advocate
Tomiyo Williams is a health advocate and care partner for her daughter, Skye Williams. Skye was diagnosed 6 years ago (2015) initially with Ulcerative Colitis and then later diagnosed with Crohn's disease. As a care partner, Tomiyo has spread messages of hope and support to families about how to support a child and teenager who is battling the challenges of IBD. She has been featured on material with Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, WebMD and more. She prides herself on being able to offer support to parents as they navigate the ins and outs of digestive diseases.
Joshua Denton
Patient
I am a 15 year Ulcerative Colitis patient that was officially diagnosed 3-4 years after initial symptoms. My symptoms also progressed from mild to moderate case during last colonoscopy back in 2014 and includes me experiencing 320+ days straight of internal bleeding (bowel movements) with approx. 15-23 bathroom trips daily at the peak of flare up.
Shawn Bethea
Patient Leader/Health Advocate
Blogger, Health Advocate and Digital Storyteller, Shawn Bethea was originally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 17 years old. Now, over 12 years later, Shawn lives with Crohn's Disease and uses her story to empower patients to take charge and become partners in their own healthcare. She is the founder of Two Fourth, a platform dedicated to social change and inclusion and the Communications Associate for Savvy Cooperative.
Dr. Aline Charabaty
Director of IBD Center/Gastroenterologist
Dr. Aline Charabaty is the Assistant Clinical Director of the Gastroenterology Division at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Clinical Director and the Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) Center at John Hopkins-Sibley Memorial Hospital. She is actively involved in educational and advocacy initiatives and Committees with the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Julia Liu
Chief, Division of Gastroenterologist Morehouse School of Medicine
Dr. Liu completed her internal medicine training at Mayo Clinic Rochester and gastroenterology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After her fellowship, she completed a research fellowship at the Harvard Center of Minimally Invasive and stayed on faculty for four years to investigate the mechanism of endoscopic anti-reflux procedures.
