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Message from the Director
Inflammatory bowel disease affects an estimated 3.7 million people across the United States, with incidence rates continuing to rise. Once thought to predominantly affect specific populations, IBD is now recognized as impacting individuals across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, with increasing prevalence observed in diverse communities worldwide.
When we established the University of Miami Crohn's and Colitis Center in April 2013, our vision was to create a world-class institution dedicated to IBD care and research that would serve our diverse South Florida community. Over the past decade, we have grown into a nationally recognized program committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of IBD through innovative research and compassionate, personalized care.
Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Care
Our center provides specialized care through a dedicated multidisciplinary team with extensive IBD expertise. Gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, nurse practitioners, dietitians, psychotherapists, and a dedicated IBD pharmacist work collaboratively to address the complex medical, nutritional, and psychosocial dimensions of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. We offer on-site infusion therapy, nutritional counseling, mental health support, and medication management services. Through our active clinical trials program, patients gain access to cutting-edge therapies and innovative treatment approaches that may not yet be widely available.
Excellence and Innovation
As a designated National IBD Center of Excellence, we train the next generation of IBD specialists through our fellowship program. Our center is among a select group of institutions nationwide offering intestinal ultrasound performed by IBD-trained physicians—an advanced, noninvasive imaging technique that enables real-time assessment of intestinal inflammation at the point of care.
Research That Drives Progress
Our comprehensive NIH-funded research program investigates the environmental, dietary, and genetic determinants of IBD, with particular emphasis on understanding disease in diverse populations. Our work spans from laboratory science to clinical trials, advancing knowledge of IBD while developing more effective, personalized treatment approaches. We are particularly focused on precision nutrition strategies, including studies examining how diet can prevent disease recurrence and how genetic factors influence individual responses to dietary interventions. Through this research portfolio, our patients benefit from access to innovative disease prevention strategies, evidence-based dietary interventions, and the latest pharmaceutical clinical trials.
The University of Miami Crohn's and Colitis Center remains dedicated to delivering exceptional, culturally informed care while pushing the boundaries of IBD research and innovation.
Oriana M. Damas, M.D.
Interim Director, Crohn's and Colitis Center
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine