Comprehensive IBD Care for Kids & Teens
At Lurie Children's, our Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program—one of the largest pediatric IBD centers in the U.S.—provides specialized, compassionate care for children and teens with chronic digestive conditions. We combine advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment, and ongoing family support to help children feel better, grow, and live full, active lives.
IBD Program at Lurie Children's
Who We Help
Our program supports children, teens, and families at every stage of the IBD journey, including:
- Children and teens newly diagnosed with IBD
- Patients with ongoing symptoms, flares or complex disease
- Families seeking a second opinion or advanced pediatric expertise
- Patients who need coordinated care across multiple specialties
Types of IBD We Diagnose & Manage
We care for the full spectrum of pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases, including:
- Crohn’s disease: Chronic inflammation that can affect any part of the digestive tract
- Ulcerative colitis: Inflammation limited to the colon and rectum
- Inflammatory bowel disease – unclassified (Indeterminate colitis): Features of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Very early onset IBD (VEO-IBD): IBD diagnosed in young children, often requiring specialized evaluation
- Monogenic IBD: Intestinal inflammation driven by a single genetic abnormality often associated with immunodeficiency
Our Approach to Care
Our team provides multidisciplinary, personalized care designed specifically for children and teens. Families benefit from:
- Team-based care led by pediatric gastroenterologists, and supported by advanced practice providers, nutrition specialists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other experts focused on the whole child
- Advanced diagnostic and monitoring capabilities, including:
- Diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy
- State-of-the-art imaging such as intestinal ultrasound, MRI/MRE, MRCP, CT scans, and fluoroscopy
- Capsule endoscopy (PillCam) to non-invasively evaluate the small intestine
- Deep small bowel enteroscopy for hard-to-reach areas of the digestive tract
- Access to interventional radiology and surgical exam under anesthesia for complex cases
- IBD Nutritional Therapy Program to support growth, manage symptoms, and—in some cases—help treat inflammation through dietary therapy
- Research-informed care, including participation in ImproveCareNow, a national collaborative focused on improving pediatric IBD outcomes
- Extensive experience with complex and very early onset IBD, including patients who require advanced therapies
- Annual Spring into Remission, a symposium for patients and families being cared for through Lurie Children’s IBD Program
Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children's is ranked 16th in the nation for pediatric gastroenterology and GI surgery by U.S.News & World Report.
Why Choose Lurie Children's for IBD Care?
At Lurie Children's IBD Center, our goal is not only to treat the patient’s illness but to treat the whole family. IBD is a chronic, complex illness that affects children and their families, their day-to-day functioning, physical health, mental/psychological well-being and social interactions.
In addition to providing the most advanced medical therapies to our patients, we provide comprehensive care through our specialized team, which includes:
- IBD-nurse specialists: Address a wide range of issues—from straight-forward to complex—in a timely manner to get families quick answers.
- IBD-specialized nurse practitioners (APN) and physician assistants (PA): Provide primary medical care as well as comprehensive education early after diagnosis; Offer a pre-college/high school graduation visit the spring/summer after finishing high school to better prepare patients for college or their post-high school plans.
- IBD psychologist: Assess and treat psychosocial concerns, including psychotherapy, biofeedback, and referral to psychiatry, if indicated.
- IBD dietician: Meet with newly diagnosed patients, patients identified with nutritional concerns or questions, or patients whose diet is considered as a primary or ancillary therapy.
- IBD social worker: Assists with information about school resources, insurance concerns/financial counseling and other barriers to care.
In addition to the most current, tailored medical therapies, we have a dedicated team of surgeons who utilize the latest techniques, including minimally invasive surgeries and robot-assisted surgery, and are leaders in enhanced post-operative recovery.
Finally, we collaborate closely with our adult colleagues at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, as well as other academic and private adult GI providers to help with transition to an adult provider when ready.
Our primary center is located at the main hospital in downtown Chicago, but we also provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment at out Outpatient Centers in Northbrook, Schaumburg, and Skokie.
Meet Our Team of IBD Specialists
Physicians
Jeffrey B. Brown, MD
Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Associate Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Brown has over 20 years of experience caring for children with complicated IBD. He has had both NIH and Crohns and Colitis Foundation (CCF) funding for his research efforts and has served on the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) training and IBD committees.
Jennifer A. Strople, MD
Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Associate Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Strople has 20 years of experience caring for children with complicated IBD. In addition to her role in the IBD Center, she serves as Director of GI Fellowship Training and oversees all specialty training at Lurie Children’s. She has been a leader and advocate for patient education in both the CCF and NASPGHAN (member and chair of the professional education committee). She is the site lead physician for ImproveCareNow
Joseph M. Runde, DO
Medical Director, IBD Program
Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Runde joined the IBD Center in 2020. In addition to his clinical expertise, he is the leader of numerous research projects investigating new drug therapies, advanced imaging techniques utilizing non-invasive ultrasound, and state-of the art molecular tissue analysis to tailor therapies in the future.
Jonathan S. Cordova, DO
Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Clinical Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Cordova joined our IBD center last year and has over 10+ years of experience caring for young children and adolescents with IBD. He has special interests in non-invasive disease management strategies as well as assuring proper transition of care to adult providers. He is on the board of directors at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Illinois chapter and actively chairs committees involved in putting on educational conferences aimed at advancing knowledge for patients and caregivers.
Amanda Gomez, MD, MPH
Attending Physician, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Advanced Practice Providers
Beata Borawski, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Beata is a nurse practitioner IBD specialist who joined the program in 2014. She provides primary clinical care, manages IBD patients admitted to the hospital and co-directs treatment of patients within our infusion center.
Caroline Lois, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Caroline is a Physician Assistant IBD specialist who joined the program in 2017. She provides primary clinical care, manages IBD patients admitted to the hospital and co-directs treatment of patients within our infusion center.
Psychologist
Lauren Potthoff, PhD
Pediatric psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Assistant Professor, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Potthoff joined the program in 2018. She is a member of both NASPGHAN and ICN.
Nursing Team
Emma Dyer, RN
Registered Nurse
Kelsey Levine, RN
Registered Nurse
Danielle Burkman, RN
Registered Nurse
Hannah Peterson, RN
Registered Nurse
Vannasay Thirakourne, RN
Registered Nurse
Clinical Dieticians
Angela Dennison, RD
Clinical Pediatric Dietitian
Caroline Salozzo, MBA, RD, CNSC, LDN
Clinical Pediatric Dietitian
Social Worker
Research Coordinator
Medical Assistants
Office Team
Elpidia Castillo
Program Coordinator, Sr. Administrative Assistant
Patrice Palmer
Administrative Assistant
Make an Appointment
We offer easy online scheduling for your child's GI needs.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Northbrook
1131 Techny RoadNorthbrook, Illinois 60062
312.227.7600
Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie
3722 W. Touhy AvenueSkokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600
Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Schaumburg
1895 Arbor Glen BoulevardSchaumburg, Illinois 60195
312.227.5800
Additional Resources
For more information, please visit the following websites:
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Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.