Support Groups for BIPOC Patients with Chronic Gi Conditions

Overview

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is offering a new series of virtual support groups this summer for patients who have chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and identify as black, indigenous or persons of color.

(L) Caroline Wilkes, PsyD, MA and (R) Muzna Gulamali, MSW Each group session will be hosted by Caroline Wilkes, PsyD, MA, a pediatric psychologist with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Muzna Gulamali, MSW, a social worker with the Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), both at CHOP.

Wilkes and Gulamali will lead discussions with patients, parents and guardians about the unique challenges facing children of color who have severe or chronic GI conditions including IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagus (EoE) or liver disorders. Each event will cater to different age groups of patients yet serve all GI- and hepatology-related programs at CHOP.

Please review the sessions below and RSVP to any session you feel is appropriate for your family. All sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings between 5 and 6 p.m.

Upcoming support groups include

• November 11, 2021, from 5-6 p.m. (ET): For parents of children and teens
• December 2, 2021, from 5-6 p.m. (ET):  For patients of all ages

RSVP by emailing chopibdgroup@chop.edu and indicate each session you and/or your child plan to attend. We’ll send you instructions to join the online group.

*Additional reference material or resources may be sent to participants after these events.