Advanced Practice Provider IBD Preceptorship

Read the article by Maureen Kelly, DNP, RN, CPNPThis highly competitive APP IBD Preceptorship Program accepts NPs, CNSs, and PAs who have not had extensive training or are new to the field of IBD, and are thus seeking to gain more IBD knowledge and experience to improve their GI/IBD adult or pediatric practice. This (most) expenses-paid observation is five consecutive days: three days at the assigned IBD Center, and two days dedicated to travel to/from the assigned IBD Center.

The 2026 program is supported by educational grants from Abbvie, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sanofi, and Takeda. 

 

Program Timeline

2026 Timeline:

  • Monday, December 15, 2025: 2026 application launches 
  • Friday, February 27, 2026: 2026 application closes
  • Thursday, April 9, 2026: Notifications to 2026 applicants 
  • August 2026 through October 2026: Rotations (3 consecutive days, in-person)
  • Saturday, November 7, 2026: Virtual APP Education Conference; register here! 

Anticipated 2027 Timeline:

  • December 2026: 2027 application launches 
  • February 2027: 2027 application closes
  • May 2027: Notifications to 2027 applicants 
  • September 2027 through November 2027: Rotations (3 consecutive days, in-person)

 

Participating IBD Centers
Center NameFaculty DirectorAdult/Pediatric
Cedars Sinai Medical CenterSusie Lee, RN, DNP, FNP-CAdult
Massachusetts General Hospital Mary Kate Preite, APRN, NPAdult
Mayo Clinic Arizona Braiden Fairbanks, PAAdult
Nationwide Children's Hospital Amy Donegan, MS, CPNP-PCPediatric
Rainbow Babies & Children's HospitalSharon Perry, MSN, APRN-CNPPediatric
University of Chicago MedicineMarita Kametas, MSNAdult
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rebecca D. Lutheran, DNP, CRNPAdult 
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Whitney Gray, CRNPPediatric

 

You can learn more about our Faculty Directors here. 

Program Overview

The APP IBD Preceptorship Program is a comprehensive educational experience for several days at an IBD Center, during which time the preceptee will gain knowledge and confidence from an experienced Faculty Director and a multidisciplinary team in order to provide quality IBD patient care based on current practice guidelines and research.

The program is targeted towards NPs, CNSs, and PAs who have not had extensive training or are new to the field of IBD, and are thus seeking to gain more IBD knowledge and experience to improve their adult GI/IBD practice or pediatric GI/IBD practice. Applicants need to be practicing clinically and be involved in professional societies and/or activities, as well as express an interest in advancing their knowledge of IBD and patient care management.

Program Components 

  • Agenda covering adult/pediatric core curriculum topics through clinical observership, multidisciplinary presentations, and group discussions. 
  • Personalized mentorship before, during, and after the program. 
  • Educational resources including peer-reviewed readings, online modules, and recordings.
  • Complementary registration to the Foundation's Crohn's & Colitis Congress. 
  • Complementary Professional Membership.

Learning Objectives 

  • Gain exposure to clinical practices employed at IBD Centers. 
  • Increase knowledge of evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of IBD.
  • Increase confidence in the ability to utilize evidence-based approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of IBD.
  • Apply evidence-based approaches of diagnosing, treating, and managing IBD patients into clinical practice.
Virtual APP Education Conferences

The 2026 Virtual APP Education Conference will occur on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Register here!

 

Recordings from the 2024 & 2025 Virtual APP Education Conferences can be viewed here:

Testimonials
“It's rare to get an opportunity to learn at a tertiary care, IBD center, and teaching institution. Once in a lifetime opportunity!”
“Great overview on IBD, opportunities to ask management questions to experts and build a network of IBD providers for support in the future.”
“The opportunity is such a great way to learn about IBD on a deeper level and also hear ways other facilities implement healthcare for IBD patients.”
“I would recommend this program to colleagues to gain exposure to a well-run IBD center and learn from world-renowned experts in the field.”
“Incredible opportunity to gain resources and mentors. I will encourage anyone that manages IBD to consider applying for this program.”
“I recommend this program to any APPs who are regularly caring for IBD patients. The content was well-curated for APPs at any level, and even an experienced IBD provider can improve their care with the knowledge gained in this program. It offered excellent mentoring and networking. I am confident that my co-preceptees and I will stay in touch for years to come!”
“Great opportunity for new providers in the IBD space to learn everything that is needed to manage an IBD clinic.”
"I cannot express my fullest appreciation for the experience the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation afforded me through the Advance Practice Provider Preceptorship. It was an incredible learning experience for me and greatly enhanced my knowledge, understanding, and capabilities in caring for and managing patients with inflammatory bowel diseases! I will forever be grateful for having this opportunity."
“This experience has been so valuable as a new practitioner and there are many ways I plan to take information I've learned and apply it to my practice. I gained confidence in my approach to the diagnosis of IBD and utilizing diagnostic testing initially as well as for disease assessment when managing a patient."
“This is an excellent program to learn about evidenced based care that is in use in clinical practice. From the inexperienced to the experienced provider, there is always something to learn that will take your knowledge and practice to the next level.”
“This was a once-in-a lifetime learning opportunity that best benefits my patients.”
“Anyone could benefit from the learning that was provided.”

 

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Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: APP IBD Preceptorship Faculty Directors Testimonials Faculty Directors describe the APP IBD Preceptorship program structure and benefits for participating preceptees

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Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: Advanced Practice Provider Preceptorship Program

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Participate in our Advanced Practice Provider Preceptorship Program!

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APP Preceptorship - Train with IBD Experts

 

2026 Preceptees

 

PrecepteeHometownIBD Center Placement
Ashley Spellman, PA Culver City, CACedars Sinai Medical Center
Bo Sul, NPWhittier, CACedars Sinai Medical Center 
Katie Mares, PAMorgan Hill, CACedars Sinai Medical Center 
Hailey Flynn, PASeattle, WACedars Sinai Medical Center 
Danielle Nabers, PANewport News, VAMassachusetts General Hospital
Audrey Field, NPDayton, KYMassachusetts General Hospital 
Jaclyn Turet, NPAlexandria, VAMassachusetts General Hospital 
Victoria Archibald, PAForth Worth, TXMayo Clinic Arizona
Deborah Artus, PAPhoenix, AZMayo Clinic Arizona
Chloe Schott, NPSalt Lake City, UTMayo Clinic Arizona
Rachael McCrady, PASpokane, WAMayo Clinic Arizona
Elizabeth Hodges, NPBoston, MANationwide Children's Hospital
Summer Richardson, NPDobson, NCNationwide Children's Hospital 
Megan Sheehan, NPAttleboro, MARainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
Carol Bivins, NPColumbia, ILUniversity of Chicago Medicine
Isabel Hamro, NPNaples, FLUniversity of Chicago Medicine
Robyn Barlow, NPColumbia, MOUniversity of Chicago Medicine
Donald Willows, PASt. George, UTUniversity of Chicago Medicine
Allison Kollross, PA Scott Depot, WVUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Ashley McKillop, NPWestminster, COUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Marim Williams, NPPunta Gorda, FLUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Amanda Smith, NPTampa, FLUPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh 

 

Contact Us

For inquiries, please contact Kate Carmody, MPH - Senior Manager, Professional Education