Virtual Event: Insights & Information to Inspire Your Gluten-Free Life
So many aspects of life are affected and need to be considered as you’re aiming to optimize health and happiness when living gluten-free. One good way to view these considerations is to think of fitting them into three main categories: 1) Diet and Nutrition; 2) Health and Medical; 3) Lifestyle/Social. Of course there is overlap but categorizing things can help clarify what areas you may want to give more attention to at any given time, and can make it easier to integrate new information too.
To address questions in all three areas, we hosted GIG’s 2023 first quarter Virtual Education Event on February 28th, 2023 at 5 pm PST/8 pm EST. We hope you were able to join us for Insights & Information to Inspire Your Gluten-Free Life, but if you missed it, we’ve posted a recording here. You’ll have the opportunity to hear questions submitted by other people living gluten-free, as well as the experts’ answers, addressing traveling, getting all the nutrients you need while enjoying your gluten-free diet, avoiding cross-contact, social support, adapting to changed relationships, eating out, and getting appropriate medical follow-up.
Each of our three panelists provided extensive expertise in their respective area:
- Ritu Verma, MD ChB, Medical Director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
- Erica Dermer, gluten-free lifestyle expert and advocate at Celiac and the Beast, and GIG Cares Community Relations Manager
- Jessica Lebovits, Registered Dietitian, expert in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders
Ritu Verma, MD ChB
Dr. Ritu Verma completed medical school at the University of Zambia and then residency and Chief Resident at NYU Bellevue hospital. She then completed her GI fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she joined as faculty and later served as the Section Chief of Gastroenterology for 16 years. She was also the founder and director of the Celiac Center at CHOP.
Dr. Verma recently moved to the University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital, where she serves as the Section Chief of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and The Medical Director of its Celiac Center.
Her passion has always been to work closely with her patients and their families to manage their GI conditions. She is committed to ensuring that her patients have a seamless continuum of care throughout their journey, which includes a coordinated transition from pediatric to adult gastroenterology programs. She is committed to taking care of the family as a whole and working with the family to cope with their GI conditions. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Verma is also passionate about creating a holistic approach to research that merges adult and pediatric concerns and to develop a robust basic science research in celiac disease and other GI conditions.
Erica Dermer
Erica is a well-known digestive health expert, content creator and advocate at Celiac and the Beast. She’s known for her work covering the trade show floor searching for the best gluten-free products and celiac disease research at national trade shows like Natural Products Expo and Gluten-Free Expos across the country, and in her role as a patient advocate for digestive health conferences like Digestive Disease Week and more.
Jessica Lebovits, RD
Jessica is a Registered Dietitian living in New York City who is passionate about helping those with gastrointestinal conditions. Jessica is an expert in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. Jessica has celiac disease herself and is otherwise known as the @gfree_rd. She graduated from Cornell University and is trained by Monash University in the low FODMAP diet. Jessica is well trained in guiding those with IBS, SIBO, GERD, gastroparesis, lactose/fructose intolerance, IBD, EoE, osteopenia/osteoporosis, diabetes, anemia, and cardiovascular disease. Her research involves dating and relationships among those with dietary restrictions. She loves helping others meet their goals, live a healthy lifestyle, and enjoy food to the fullest!