News
Daily North Shore: Celebrating the Power of Family at the Digestive Health Foundation Gala
The Digestive Health Foundation hosted its gala, Celebrating the Power of Family, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. The event was wildly successful, raising more than $2.47 million for medical research at the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center to improve the quality of life for digestive disease patients and their families. More than 600 supporters attended the June 8 event emceed by actress Bonnie Hunt. Guests enjoyed an evening full of cocktails, dinner, dancing, a live auction, and special entertainment. Since its inception in 2015, DHF has raised $11 million.
U.S. News: Best Over-the Counter Products for Digestive Problems featuring DHC physician Dr. John E. Pandolfino
Constipation is common and can be caused by a lack of liquid in the GI tract or a diet insufficient in fiber, says Dr. John Pandolfino, chief of gastroenterology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. “For constipation, MiraLAX is our first-line treatment,” he says. “It’s very effective, it’s safe and just a very gentle kind of laxative.” Pandolfino cautions that if you’re also experiencing bloody stools, rectal bleeding or unexplained dramatic changes in bowel habits, you should contact your health care provider. Often, though, bouts of constipation can be managed with OTC products, he says.
WTTW: Chicago Tonight – Marijuana is a Psychoactive Drug. But is it Really a Medicine featuring DHC physician Dr. Stephen B. Hanauer
Marijuana laws are changing rapidly, but as of now, adults can use it recreationally in just 10 states. That number more than triples when it comes to medical marijuana, which is legal in 33 states. So which is it: A pleasure drug or a pharmaceutical one? And what difference does that make when it comes to regulating cannabis? Dr. Stephen Hanauer, the medical director of Northwestern Medicine’s digestive health center is about a year into a study, funded by the Digestive Health Foundation, that’s comparing Crohn’s disease patients’ personal evaluations of how they’re feeling with blood and stool samples that can detect intestinal inflammation. The study won’t be compete for another six months, but Hanauer has a hypothesis.“My suspicion, is that it makes the patient feel better, but it doesn’t really change the disease activity,” Hanauer said.
Chicago Sun Times: Fatty liver disease hitting Latino children like a ‘silent tsunami’ featuring DHC physician Dr. Lisa Vanwagner
Recent research shows about 1 in 4 people in the U.S. have fatty liver disease. But among Latinos, especially of Mexican and Central American descent, the rate is significantly higher. Dr. Lisa VanWagner, a hepatologist in Northwestern Medicine’s Digestive Health Center and co-director of the Northwestern Fatty Liver program, said the hospital has seen children who require liver transplants as a result of the disease. And though a promising drug to treat fatty liver disease could be available to adults in the next year, no such research is being done for children, VanWagner said. Instead, the children’s plight should be treated as a public health crisis, she said.
Becker’s GI & Endoscopy: 11 GI leaders to know in March featuring DHC physician Dr. Raj Keswani
Rajesh N. Keswani, MD, is Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center’s medical director of quality. Dr. Keswani serves on American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Gastroenterological Association and National Comprehensive Cancer Network committees.
NBC News with Harmon Shay featuring DHC physican Dr. Rajesh Keswani
Rajesh Keswani, MD, medical director of quality and gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, interviews on NBC News Radio sharing his insights on colon cancer risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
Digestive Health Center Press Conference – Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Chicago Blackhawks announcer and former player, Eddie Olczyk, on his experience overcoming colorectal cancer and why it’s so important to get screened. Digestive Heath Foundation participants included: Sharon Oberlander, DHF Board Member and Secretary, Dr. Stephen Hanauer and Dr. Scott Strong, Science Advisory Council, DHF, Dr. Rajesh Keswani, DHF Grant Recipient, and Dr. Michael Ruchim, DHF Board Member.
WGN Radio 720 AM: What are the possible signs of colon cancer featuring Dr. Scott Strong
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month! Bill and Wendy welcome Scott A. Strong, MC, Chief of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center to the show. They talk about preventative measures people should take to lower their risk of colon cancer. He explains the signs and symptoms to look out for.
Just Three Bites: Mary’s Treatment for Stomach Disorder featuring DHC physicians Dr. Peter J. Kahrilas and Dr. A. Aziz Aadam
Imagine being unable to eat more than three bites of food before becoming extremely ill and purging your food. Until Mary Milligan was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach is not able to properly empty, Mary’s life was dictated by the condition. Then, she found a procedure that would allow her to “choose life.”
U.S. News: Complex vs. Simple vs. Refined Carbohydrates: What’s the Difference featuring DHC Dietitian Holly Herrington
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, manage your blood sugar levels or reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, you’ve probably heard the adage that focusing on whole or complex carbs and cutting down on refined ones can help you achieve your goals. “Carbohydrates often get a bad rap, but each type affects the body differently and many types and sources are beneficial to health,” explains Holly Herrington, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Knowing the differences between each type of carbohydrate is vital to making smarter, healthier decisions with your nutrition.
Chicago Magazine lists Northwestern Medicine physicians and surgeons in their 2018 Top Docs list
Gastroenterology
Stephen Hanauer, MD – Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn’s disease; ulcerative colitis.
Peter Kahrilas, MD – Esophageal and swallowing disorders; GERD.
Surgery
Scott A. Strong, MD – Colon and rectal cancer; Crohn’s disease; minimally invasive surgery; ulcerative colitis.
Steven J. Stryker, MD – Colon and rectal cancer; inflammatory bowel disease; laparoscopic surgery.
Crain’s Chicago Business: 2019 Big Dates features June 8th Digestive Health Foundation Gala: Celebrating the Power of Family
Saturday, June 8, 2019 – The Digestive Health Foundation Gala, “Celebrating the Power of Family.” Supporting patients and families at Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center. DigestiveHealthFoundation.org/Gala
Join Athletes vs. Crohn’s & Colitis in Chicago on January 27 for a great afternoon of fun, hoops, and fundraising!
We hope you will join us as we support Athletes vs. Crohn’s & Colitis (AVC) in Chicago for a great afternoon of fun, hoops, and fundraising on Sunday, January 27, 2019 as AVC co-founder Larry Nance Jr. and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. AVC is excited for the opportunity to give back to the IBD community in Chicago, as proceeds from the event will be donated to IBD research at Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center.
Chicago Tribune: Caramels, bath bombs, oils: CBD products are filling store shelves featuring Dr. Stephen Hanauer
But user beware: Cannabinoid receptors are so widely distributed throughout the body that activating one for a certain purpose, say to treat arthritis pain, may activate others and cause unwanted effects. That has caused challenges for pharmaceutical development, according to the research. More valid scientific experiments must be conducted to determine whether and how CBD — and marijuana, for that matter — is effective, said Dr. Stephen Hanauer, medical director of the Digestive Health Center at Northwestern Medicine.
Do You Have Food Poisoning or the Stomach Flu? Here’s How to Tell Featuring Stephen Hanauer, MD
It’s no secret that winter brings on a slew of sicknesses, from the common cold to bouts of the flu to stomach bugs. But alongside the rise in germy surfaces, another common culprit can wreak havoc on your body: your indulgent holiday spread. If you find yourself throwing up or running to the bathroom this winter, you may wonder what caused it: Was it just something you ate—or are you actually sick?
MD Magazine: ACG Guidelines for NSAID Prescription & Setting Diagnosis featuring Dr. Stephen B. Hanauer
Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, discusses the rationale for identifying low-risk progression in patients and whether tests should be administered for fecal calprotectin to differentiate the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, according to the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines.
NBC Nightly News: “New program tries to combat America’s opioid addiction crisis by taking back unused pills” featuring DHF Grant Recipient Dr. Jonah Stulberg
Surgeons write 28 million opioid prescriptions each year, but 75 percent of the pills go unused and many end up contributing to opioid addiction. This is a crisis that one hospital hopes to end with a new kind of drug take-back program. Dr. Stulberg is a 2017 Digestive Health Foundation Grant recipient for his project “Developing ways to reduce inappropriate use of (leftover) narcotics prescribed for patients undergoing bowel surgery.”
Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG Presented with Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, FACG, Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Clifford J. Barborka Professor – Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has been awarded the Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Dr. Hanauer received this prestigious award at the ACG Leadership Dinner in Philadelphia earlier this month.
ACG Blog-Distinguished Career: Dr. Stephen B. Hanauer, 2018 Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Awardee
ACG Past President Dr. Stephen B. Hanauer is this year’s Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Awardee for his significant and distinguished contributions to clinical gastroenterology. This annual award recognizes not only clinical excellence, but also contributions in patient care, clinical science, clinical education, technological innovation, and public and community service.
Weight Loss Surgery Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
A patient shares her weight loss journey with Northwestern Medicine. Also, Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center gastrointestinal surgeons Dr. Alex Nagle, Dr. Eric Hungness and Dr. Ezra Teitelbaum talk about treatment options, preparation and what types of patients would benefit from learning more.
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