IBDesis

IBDesis (pronounced IBD Deh-sees) is a platform dedicated to uniting & empowering South Asians living with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s & ulcerative colitis) around the globe.

IBDesis’ mission is to minimize the cultural stigma and normalize IBD diagnosis, treatment and/or surgery. Despite the growing incidence of IBD in the South Asian community, we remain mired in stigma and cultural taboos best encapsulated in the Log Kya Kahenge (What Are People Going to Say?) rhetoric. This leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment as well as mental health challenges around coping with this largely invisible illness. Team IBDesis aims to shatter this stigma and provide the support necessary for patients and caregivers to live fuller lives in spite of the debilitating intersections of culture and disease.

In pursuing these goals, IBDesis has joined hands with gastroenterologists, IBD nurses, GI dieticians, GI pharmacists and GI psychologists of South Asian origin to form the South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA). IBDesis is now an integral part of the Patient Outreach and Advocacy Committee of SAIA and is the patient advocacy arm of SAIA.