The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has steadily risen over the past two decades. IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions and vary from person to person. In this episode, Dr. Neilanjan Nandi, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Penn Medicine, tells us how he advocates for patients and discusses the importance of reducing disparities, especially when it comes to IBD.

“It's all about the patient. It's not about the team; it's about the patient, and the team serves the patient. This is the standard of care. And if you don't elevate that patient’s voice, if you're not listening to that patient’s voice, then it doesn't matter if you have the greatest treatment. The treatment only matters if the patient tells you that everything that's impacting them by IBD gets better,” says Dr. Nandi.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:21: Listener comment

2:17: President Biden has declared that “the pandemic is over”

3:32: Is the pandemic really over? Recounting the different phases we experienced since the start of the outbreak 

4:24: How COVID compares to other causes of death in the U.S.

6:18: Has COVID entered its endemic phase?

7:50: “I think that the more we continue to allow policy makers, people in certain positions to understand that the pandemic… is continuing for folks who are chronically ill, the more folks that know that the better,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF

8:18: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending primary care physicians screen for anxiety in adults who do not have recognized signs or symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicide

11:11: Prevalence of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis in South Asia and in descendants of South Asian immigrants across the globe is increasing

12:22: The impact of culture on acceptance and early treatment of IBD

13:30: How Dr. Nandi helps patients advocate for themselves in their everyday lives

14:57: The overwhelming amount of IBD resources and the importance of tailoring information towards one's culture, ethnic background, and health literacy level: advice on where to look for trusted information

17:30: The importance of patient reported outcomes

19:57: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to thehealthadvocates@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has steadily risen over the past two decades. IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions and vary from person to person. In this episode, Dr. Neilanjan Nandi, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Penn Medicine, tells us how he advocates for patients and discusses the importance of reducing disparities, especially when it comes to IBD.
“It's all about the patient. It's not about the team; it's about the patient, and the team serves the patient. This is the standard of care. And if you don't elevate that patient’s voice, if you're not listening to that patient’s voice, then it doesn't matter if you have the greatest treatment. The treatment only matters if the patient tells you that everything that's impacting them by IBD gets better,” says Dr. Nandi.
Among the highlights in this episode:
1:21: Listener comment
2:17: President Biden has declared that “the pandemic is over”
3:32: Is the pandemic really over? Recounting the different phases we experienced since the start of the outbreak 
4:24: How COVID compares to other causes of death in the U.S.
6:18: Has COVID entered its endemic phase?
7:50: “I think that the more we continue to allow policy makers, people in certain positions to understand that the pandemic… is continuing for folks who are chronically ill, the more folks that know that the better,” says Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF
8:18: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending primary care physicians screen for anxiety in adults who do not have recognized signs or symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicide
11:11: Prevalence of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis in South Asia and in descendants of South Asian immigrants across the globe is increasing
12:22: The impact of culture on acceptance and early treatment of IBD
13:30: How Dr. Nandi helps patients advocate for themselves in their everyday lives
14:57: The overwhelming amount of IBD resources and the importance of tailoring information towards one's culture, ethnic background, and health literacy level: advice on where to look for trusted information
17:30: The importance of patient reported outcomes
19:57: What our hosts learned from this episode
Contact Our Hosts
Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: <a href="mailto:snewmark@ghlf.org">snewmark@ghlf.org</a>
Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: <a href="mailto:zrothblatt@ghlf.org">zrothblatt@ghlf.org</a>
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to <a href="mailto:thehealthadvocates@ghlf.org">thehealthadvocates@ghlf.org</a>
Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what&rsquo;s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life.

The Health Advocates

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what’s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF.

A podcast that breaks down major health news of the week to help you make sense of it all. Our goal is to help you understand what&rsquo;s happening in the healthcare world to help you make informed decisions to live your best life. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF.