Digestive Health Foundation has now become part of Northwestern Memorial Foundation to enhance fundraising efforts for gastroenterology, gastroenterological surgery and hepatology at Northwestern Medicine. The two organizations share a passion for bringing the latest medical research and discoveries to patients with digestive diseases, and their combined expertise will help take patient care to the next level. “The Digestive Health Foundation has helped change the landscape of our field by funding research that’s led by our physicians and scientists,” said John E. Pandolfino, MD, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern Medicine. “We’re delighted their philanthropic efforts will help expand more research that will benefit the quality of our patients’ lives.” Digestive Health Foundation was founded in 2015 by grateful patients of Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, medical director of the Digestive Health Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Since then, the organization has raised more than $23 million and has funded 89 research studies that are changing the future of digestive health. Digestive Health Foundation joined Northwestern Memorial Foundation effective Nov. 1, 2024. “As we welcome Digestive Health Foundation to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, we honor its philanthropic legacy and the close collaboration its members had with our physicians and medical researchers,” said gastroenterologist Michael A. Ruchim, MD, senior vice president with Northwestern Memorial Foundation. “We will continue its commitment to advanced digestive health care as we seek new technologies and treatments for digestive health diseases.” A new Digestive Health Institute Advisory Council at Northwestern Memorial Foundation will be led by Diane Saltoun, who served as president of Digestive Health Foundation. “Joining Northwestern Memorial Foundation enables Digestive Health Foundation to achieve its...
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared May 2024 National Digestive Disease Awareness Month in Illinois and recognized DHF for its efforts to positively change the landscape of digestive health. View the proclamation...
CHICAGO (May 22, 2024) – The 2024 Digestive Health Foundation Gala raised over $4 million to support the establishment of the Northwestern Medicine Hanauer Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, a major new initiative that was announced at the May 11 event at the Four Seasons Chicago. DHF has now raised more than $23 million since its inception in 2015 to advance research and programs aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for individuals with digestive disease and their families. Dr. Hanauer, the new center’s namesake, is an award-winning gastroenterologist and Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center. The Hanauer IBD Center recognizes his contributions to Northwestern Medicine as well as his achievements as an internationally recognized expert on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, former chair of the FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee, and advisor on the development of multiple leading IBD drugs. The center will benefit patients suffering from digestive disease by offering innovative diagnostics, treatments and techniques including artificial intelligence; multidisciplinary care including nutrition therapy, behavioral health support and connections to other medical specialties; and access to early-phase clinical trials regardless of the patient’s location or ability to pay. The gala was keynoted by Dr. Maria T. Abreu, a world-renowned IBD expert and gastroenterologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who provided insights into Dr. Hanauer’s impact on the field. Other speakers included Dr. John E. Pandolfino, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Medicine, who discussed Dr. Hanauer’s impact on the division; and Dr. Michael Ruchim, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Northwestern Memorial...
Northwestern Medicine has recently created the Michael A. Ruchim, MD, Fellowship Director in Digestive Health position in honor of Dr. Ruchim and his years of dedication to the health and care of his patients and their families. The directorship was awarded with an endowment of $5.25 million to support the ongoing costs of training and educating future digestive health clinicians as well as the salary of the medical director overseeing the Northwestern Medicine Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program. The Northwestern Medicine Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship is a rigorous, three-year educational training program for physicians who wish to become specialists in the field of digestive health. The application process is extremely competitive and typically only four fellows are accepted each year. Participants work closely with experienced doctors and scientists at the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center and are exposed to highly innovative clinical studies and research. In the past five years, 75% of fellows have successfully pursued academic careers. Leila Kia, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern Medicine, will serve as the Michael A. Ruchim, MD, Fellowship Director in Digestive Health and will guide the fellows throughout their training to ensure that they are ready to treat a variety of acute digestive issues with leading-edge care. Dr. Ruchim and John Pandolfino, MD, the chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine, will continue to provide integral leadership and will collaborate with the fellows and fellowship directors to determine what subspecialties and additional research will be supported through the endowment. During his career at Northwestern Medicine, Dr. Ruchim has participated in the training of over 75 gastroenterology fellows and over...
