Crohn’s & Colitis Congress 2026 Recap!

Girls With Guts attended the ninth Crohn’s & Colitis Congress – our very first – and it’s safe to say the experience left a meaningful impression. Hosted by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association, the Congress brought together clinicians, researchers, advocates, and patient leaders from around the world to share knowledge, learn from one another, and explore the evolving landscape of IBD care with a strong emphasis on collaboration, equity, and lived experience.

This year, President Alicia and Director of Development Manda joined sessions centered on women and marginalized genders in IBD, leadership and DEI, therapeutic decision-making, mental health, and the realities of living with complex disease presentations such as perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease. Across these conversations, a shared understanding emerged: truly effective IBD care must go beyond symptoms alone and take into account quality of life, personal capacity, boundaries, and the long-term physical and emotional impact of chronic illness.

Some of the most meaningful moments weren’t confined to the session rooms, but happened in between – in the exhibit hall, over shared meals, and during informal conversations where clinical expertise and lived experience met on equal grounds. These exchanges touched on work, intimacy, food, energy, mental health, and the countless invisible calculations people with IBD make every day just to get through. In those spaces, connection deepened and understanding naturally unfolded.

One especially meaningful moment was the Women in IBD & DEI reception, where the room was filled with patients, physicians, advocates, and industry partners – all gathered with a shared commitment to improving IBD care in marginalized spaces. The reception reflected the heart of the Girls With Guts mission: building community so women+ with IBD and ostomies feel seen, supported, and surrounded by belonging rather than isolation.

Inside the sessions, speakers emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary, trauma-informed care, particularly for complex conditions like perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease. Presentations reinforced that the best outcomes come from coordinated teams – gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, mental health providers, and primary care professionals working together with patients at the center of decision-making. Mental health was consistently recognized as a core part of care, not an afterthought.

The Congress also offered a hopeful look toward the future. From emerging therapeutic strategies and combined medical-surgical approaches to improved classification systems and long-term monitoring, the focus remained on translating research into more thoughtful, patient-centered care. Researchers highlighted the importance of inclusive studies, shared outcome measures, and continued attention to areas that have historically received less focus.

Beyond the exhibit hall, the Girls With Guts team attended collaborative events aimed at improving communication and addressing gaps in IBD care. Panels that included both medical providers and patients reinforced a simple but powerful truth: patient voices matter, now more than ever. especially as healthcare continues to evolve.

The GWG team left Crohn’s & Colitis Congress feeling tired, grounded, and deeply inspired. Despite some travel delays (thank you, Storm Fern!), the experience reaffirmed that real progress happens when science, advocacy, and lived experience are valued together. We’re grateful to carry these insights forward as we continue advocating for more inclusive, compassionate, and human-centered IBD care!

• About The Author

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Alicia puts a little bit of “brotherly love” into everything she does. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University where she studied Television, Radio, & Film. She now works as a freelance editor, producer, videographer, and photographer. Alicia was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 14 and when she was re-diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 22, Girls With Guts was just starting out. Her passion for GWG was instantaneous as she had not had that kind of support before. She has been on the board of Girls With Guts since 2013 starting out as Director of Multimedia and has now served as President since 2017. She’s always had a knack for bringing ideas to life and that is where her passion and Girls With Guts merged. If she’s not helping to further the overall vision of Girls With Guts, you can catch her raising awareness about her personal IBD journey whenever she can.