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 founding goal – the creation of the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Institute,” said Ms. Saltoun. “We’re extremely energized and excited by the opportunities this partnership provides to further expand our mission to transform digestive disease into digestive health.”