Newswise — Sandra Kim, MD, pediatric gastroenterologist, has been named medical director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Kim, also associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, comes from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where she served as a pediatric gastroenterologist and an assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology. During her tenure, she worked extensively in resident and medical student education on a local and statewide level in addition to holding numerous leadership roles with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

Her clinical and research interests focus on pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases, including adolescent transitioning and quality improvement in pediatric IBD and translational research investigating the bacterial and genetic influences in IBD. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the CCFA.

She currently serves as Chair of Pediatric Affairs for CCFA nationally and is a member of the Executive Committee for the CCFA National Scientific Advisory Committee as well as the steering committees for the CCFA Pediatric IBD Research Network (PRO-KIIDS) and the IBD Exchange. In addition, she chairs the Clinical Practice committee and Adolescent Transitioning working group for ImproveCareNow a national, multi-institution collaborative focusing on improving outcomes in IBD patients. Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s, Dr. Kim also served as Chair of the Missions Committee and as a member of the CCFA Carolinas Chapter Board of Directors and was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House – Chapel Hill.

Dr. Kim received her medical degree from the University of Michigan and went on to complete her residency in general pediatrics and clinical fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Following her time in Texas, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in mucosal immunity and GI microbiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for GI Biology and Disease. As a reflection of her dedication to her profession, Dr. Kim was awarded the 2011 Rosenthal Award for her leadership in patient education and advocacy by the CCFA. She has also authored numerous studies on pediatric and adolescent inflammatory bowel diseases.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center (IBD Center) at Nationwide Children’s focuses on comprehensive care for children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis using a multidisciplinary approach including a team of physicians, surgeons, psychologists, researchers, dieticians, nurse practitioners, nurses and social workers. This team provides diagnostic services, clinical management, patient and family education, nutritional guidance and counseling to the families and patients who visit the IBD Center. Nationwide Children’s is one of the leaders in ImproveCareNow, a national, multi-institution collaborative focusing on improving outcomes in IBD patients.