IBD Success Stories Virtual Events
May 19, 2021 speakers
Sydney Morgan
Social Media Influencer
Hi, I'm Sydney Morgan. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in August of 2018 when I was 16 years old. Throughout the next year I was trying every oral and infusion medication possible to get into remission, but ultimately ended up getting a total colectomy in October of 2019 which resulted in an ostomy bag. I had 2 more surgeries to form a j-pouch and got my ostomy reversed in September of 2020. I am now a social media Influencer and I hope to use my platform to raise awareness and educate people on IBD.
Ryan Van Voorhis
Former Licensed Clinical Social Worker/ Private Chef
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in high school, and after years of failed treatment, in order to regain some quality of life, I had my colon permanently removed. Although not an easy decision, I’ve now lived with my Crohn’s Disease and ostomy for over 20 years and I’ve never let it stop me once. Due to my extensive battle with Crohn’s Disease and immeasurable help I had by health professionals throughout my treatment, I decided to pursue a career in social work and therapy to give back to others.
Flash forward 13 years later, I was burned out physically and mentally from social work, to the point that I made a total career change. Enter the culinary world! I learned to cook the basics at an early age from my parents, and once I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, health and wellness became much more important to me. Cooking healthy yet flavorful meals was something I became very passionate about in my adult life. Not only did cooking healthy meals improve my Crohn’s, it also improved my mental health by serving as a creative outlet during my career as a social worker. Currently, I am the co-founder and chef of Nude Dude Food, a private chef business which cooks fresh, seasonal, locally sourced food for various types of events and celebratory occasions in Chicago and around the country.
Nicole Glenn, MD
Pediatrician
Hello! My name is Dr. Nicole Glenn and I grew up in the Bay Area. I am the mother of two amazing kids, a 4-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son. When I was 11 years old I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. My experience growing up with IBD played a huge role in my decision to become a pediatrician and care for children today! I received my bachelor’s degree in integrative physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and attended medical school at Rush University. I completed my pediatric residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. Today I practice general pediatrics with Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Dublin and I have an interest in caring for disabled and special needs children.
