| | | ARE YOU READY TO TAKE STEPS?
As the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's largest and most impactful fundraising event, Take Steps
is a walk experience that brings communities together — letting IBD patients and their families
know that they're not alone. We can't wait to welcome you to our fun, family-friendly, and
supportive atmosphere! Every teammate and every dollar raised helps us increase our collective
impact on ground-breaking research, better treatments, and one day finding IBD cures.
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Research Shows Positive Impact of Camp Oasis
It may be winter, but families are already exploring summer camp options for their kids. I’m excited to share that enrollment for Camp Oasis, our sleepaway camp for kids with IBD, is now open at 11 locations across the country. Camp Oasis includes a virtual CampOasis@home program as well. Excitingly, our new eight-year study reveals the positive impact that Camp Oasis has on campers’
well-being and feelings of self-worth, including:
Gaining confidence and independence: The study shows Camp Oasis helps kids manage their IBD and become more self-reliant.
Making lifelong friends: 98% of campers feel part of a community with others who understand them.
Feeling supported: Camp Oasis provides a safe space to talk openly about IBD and build self-acceptance.
Looking forward to the future: Campers leave feeling empowered and optimistic about living with IBD.
Read ourlatest blog article to find out what Dr. Steven Steiner (Indiana), pediatric gastroenterologist and medical director at Camp Oasis of Michigan, has to say about the life-changing impact of Camp Oasis on kids with IBD.
Your commitment to our mission enables us to create essential programs and resources that guide and support IBD patients and their families every step of the way on their disease journey.
Camp Oasis of MichiganSession Dates: Sunday, July 28 - Friday, August 2, 2024
Host Site: YMCA Camp Copneconic in Fenton, MI
Campers: entering grades 2-11 in fall of 2024 - Apply Now!
LITs: entering grade 12 in fall 2024 - Apply Now!
Volunteers: minimum age of 19 years old - Apply Now!
Application Deadline: Monday, June 24, 2024 |
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|  MyIBD Learning Webinar: Surgery in IBD April 16, 8 p.m. ET
Patients with IBD may choose or need surgery during their journey with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Register now for our MyIBD Learning webinar: Exploring IBD Surgery Options, and gain insights into this treatment avenue. Equip yourself to engage in informed discussions with your healthcare team and loved ones.
IBD Insider: Patient and Caregiver Program
IBD Insider provides a great opportunity for you to stay updated with the latest from the Crohn's & Colitis Congress.® This program, featuring patient moderators and IBD clinicians, offers insights into current research and hot topics in IBD. Watch the program recording here.
Interactive Comics and Games for Kids with IBD
Introducing the IBD & Me Activity Center – a delightful way for your child to explore Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in an engaging and non-intimidating manner! Packed with entertaining matching games, sorting games, and more, all centered around IBD themes. Share this interactive and enjoyable tool with your child today!
MyIBD Learning Highlighted Patient and Caregiver Education Programs
Saturday, April 13: Detroit
10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET | The MINT at Michigan First Conference Center, Lathrup Village, MI
Highlight Session: Morning of Culture: Education and Networking for Black/African American IBD Patients and Caregivers.
Register here.
Empowering Pediatric Patients: Introducing IBD Kidz Virtual Community Support
In recent years, pediatric cases of IBD have surged by 133%, impacting children's education, social lives, and physical health. To address these challenges, IBD Kidz offers a virtual support community facilitated by empathetic volunteers with personal IBD experiences. Through IBD Kidz, children gain valuable support, education, and coping skills, enhancing their overall well-being. Find an IBD Kidz group for your young patient here. |
Visit the MyIBD Learning page to search for upcoming community conferences, virtual education programs, and additional resources for IBD patients and caregivers.
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Highlighted Professional Education Events and Resources
2023 IBD PRO Webinars Now Available On Demand
The IBD PRO Webinar Series 2023 provided essential training for healthcare professionals in the evolving landscape of IBD treatments. If you missed or would like to revisit any of the webinars, each webinar is accredited for 1.0 AMA, ANCC, ACPE credits and can be found on the IBD Clinical Hub.
IBD Pharmacist Virtual Symposium: June 1 - 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET
New and experienced IBD pharmacists will present their innovative ideas, projects, and processes that have significantly contributed to IBD. Register here.
We would like your input for a short survey regarding this past year’s Crohn’s & Colitis Congress in Las Vegas.
REACH-IBD: Rising Educators Academics and Clinicians Helping IBD
View the REACH-IBD Quarterly Newsletter here. You won’t want to miss the new IBD Careers section.
Please visit the IBD Clinical Hub for more educational resources, including CME modules, webinars, professional education events, and career opportunities.
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Advocacy Updates
Advocacy is a critical part of our mission to improve the quality of life for patients and their families, and to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Our advocates are patients, caregivers, supporters, researchers, and healthcare providers. By sharing their stories, they ensure that the voices of those affected by IBD are heard. We need your voice. Start making a difference today so that we can continue to improve the quality of life for IBD patients and improve access to care and research funding.
Read About Our 2024 Advocacy Priorities Here.
Indiana Action:
Biomarkers
- Precision medicine uses biomarker testing to gather information about a person’s own body to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease.
- The results of biomarker testing can help determine the medication(s) or treatment(s) that will work best for a specific patient.
- There are two commonly used biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that allow physicians to, non-invasively, monitor the status of a patient’s disease. These include:
- C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein found in your blood that is used as a marker of inflammation
- Fecal calprotectin (FCP), a protein measured using a stool test that can indicate if there’s inflammation in the body
State Level efforts -
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- Recent Updates, March - April 2024:
- We continue to monitor 12 state legislatures for Biomarker testing coverage legislation that was introduced for the 2024 session. States are CO, FL, HI, IA, IN, MA, ME, OH, PA, VT, WA and WV.
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| | | OUR MISSION To cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. |
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