Beyond Biology: Environmental and Lifestyle Influences in IBD

Faculty: Sharon Dudley-Brown, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP


Faculty: Florence Odufalu, MD

This program provides community gastroenterologists with a foundational overview of IBD, emphasizing how disease biology informs diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment selection. Faculty will cover the multifactorial drivers of disease, including genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, the gut microbiome, and immune dysregulation. A 3D animation illustrates the pathophysiology of IBD and the immune mechanisms that contribute to chronic intestinal inflammation. Experts also discuss how various therapies interact with these pathways. The program concludes with practical insights on applying a mechanistic understanding of IBD to treatment strategy, disease monitoring, and management decisions in community gastroenterology practice.