Health Disparities in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Amber Tresca, founder of aboutibd.com, joins us to share her latest podcasting project, Healthcare Disparities in IBD, exploring the reasons behind the inequities and lack of representation in IBD research and clinical trials, affecting the care received by people of color and the LGBTQ community. Hear Amber detail what she’s learned from the experiences of patients from diverse communities and the misconceptions surrounding their digestive health.
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Featured Guests in this Episode
Amber Tresca
Amber Tresca is an IBD patient (diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1989) who has been writing and editing patient-facing content for the IBD community since 2000 both for major online outlets and on her own site, AboutIBD.com. After 10 years of active disease, medical therapy failed and she underwent the 2 step j-pouch surgery (removal of the large intestine and creation of an internal pouch from the last part of the small intestine). In 2017, she began the About IBD Podcast to educate people living with IBD about their disease and to bring awareness to the patient journey. She founded the nonprofit IBDMoms with Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles to support moms who are touched by an IBD. She currently works as a speaker, facilitator, and advocate for people with IBD as well as a freelance writer and editor for medical web sites and publications.
Featured Podcast Episodes
April 12, 2024
Erica’s Story: How Camp Oasis Changed My Life with IBD
We’re thrilled to feature Erica, a young teen who bravely shares her patient journey on this episode. Erica was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when she was 7 years old, and she along with her Mom, Nicole, share some real-life insights from the family perspective when a child is living with a chronic digestive health condition. Erica also shares her personal experience at Camp Oasis, a summer sleep-away camp developed by The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation for children diagnosed with IBD. She explains how much Camp Oasis has made a positive impact on her life and why other kids with IBD should attend. To learn more about Camp Oasis, tune in to our previous episode with Becky Johnson Rescola, the Vice President of Education & Community Engagement at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, as well as Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Steven Steiner, who is the Medical Director of Camp Oasis in Michigan.
July 25, 2023
How Can I Stay True to My Culture While Following a Gut-Friendly Diet?
Avoiding certain foods that trigger GI symptoms is a common way to manage a variety of conditions like IBS, IBD, and EoE. Obese patients and those with fatty liver disease who need to follow a specific regimen like the Mediterranean Diet also need to avoid certain foods. Yes, eliminating foods is challenging for all patients. But trying to stay true to cultural or religious beliefs while following a gut-friendly diet can be even harder. We’ve invited back one of our favorite registered dietitians, Neha Shah, who understands how important food is to culture, religion and social gatherings. With first-hand experience as a vegetarian and GI nutrition expert, Neha explains the ways patients can work with their providers on adapting gut-friendly diets that are aligned with their cultural or religious beliefs. Neha’s positive and open approach aims to help patients realize that following a gut-friendly diet doesn’t mean they can’t stay true to their culture.
February 21, 2023
IBD/IBS Overlap: What Patients Need To Know
Some people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can also experience symptoms common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like gas, bloating, constipation, or abdominal pain. This episode aims to help patients understand the overlap between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and IBS from both physician and patient perspective. Dr. Katie A. Dunleavy from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, joins us to explain how and why the medical components of IBD and IBS can cross paths and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, which includes pharmacological, dietary, behavioral health and other interventions. We’ll hear first-hand from Tina Aswani Omprakash, Patient Thought Leader & Founder of Own Your Crohn's, who shares her personal health journey and offers tips for communicating with healthcare providers and living with a chronic illness. Johannah Ruddy, COO and Executive Director of The Rome Foundation, and co-founder of Tuesday Night IBS, shares her patient perspective and highlights the role of cognitive behavioral therapy.
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