Children's Hospital Colorado
A child is examined at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

Having a lifelong condition like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be challenging, especially for kids. At Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, we aim to provide compassionate, patient-centered service from the initial diagnosis to the time a child is ready to transition to adult medical care.

About the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

In addition to our pediatric IBD specialists, Children’s Colorado is the only hospital in the Rocky Mountain region to offer an entire team of professionals dedicated to IBD care for kids and teens. From surgeons to social workers to nutritionists and more, a team of this size means we’re able to focus on how IBD impacts the entire family and provide an individualized, age-appropriate treatment plan. Our Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center specializes in diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease in children, teens and young adults. This includes Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and IBD unclassified. For some of our youngest patients, we also care for very early onset IBD (VEOIBD), which can be caused by immune system issues that result in inflammation.

We're also the only program in the region participating in ImproveCareNow, a community working to improve the well-being of kids with IBD.

Services offered at our IBD center

An initial visit may include:

  • Review of medical records
  • Physical exam
  • Physician evaluation and plan for IBD diagnosis or treatment
  • Personalized education about IBD
  • Dietitian evaluation and diet planning
  • Social work support for school and mental health needs
  • Pediatric psychologist support for coping skills and anxiety, and a depression screening

Follow-up visits include:

  • Physician evaluation and plan for treatment
  • Nurse evaluation for needs and coordination of care
  • Dietary and social work follow up, as needed
  • Psychologist follow up, as needed

Additionally, our IBD treatment program also provides the following services and procedures:

  • Advanced imaging, including magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and small bowel ultrasound to avoid radiation
  • Video capsule endoscopy
  • Advanced endoscopy, including upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, therapeutic endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy
  • Primary nutritional therapy for Crohn’s disease
  • Dietitian experts in the Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory diets
  • An introduction and resources from the local chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
  • Medical coverage of Roundup River Ranch, a camp for children with IBD

When you come to our center, families receive all the educational materials they need, from general information on IBD to how to use injectable medications. Our team members are researching the causes of IBD and developing new treatments, so families also have the opportunity to learn about clinical trials for new medications and whether their child could participate.

Learn more about Crohn's disease treatment and ulcerative colitis treatment for kids.

Why choose us for inflammatory bowel disease care?

Our Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the Digestive Health Institute provides comprehensive, pediatric-specific multidisciplinary care. We have a well-rounded team of specialists who provide seamless care for children with IBD, no matter the type or severity.

Our team includes:

  • Board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists who work alongside pediatric radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, endocrinologists, immunologists and rheumatologists
  • Pediatric psychologists
  • Advanced practice pediatric nurses
  • Nurse coordinators
  • Social workers
  • Registered dietitians
  • Child life specialists

Learn why multidisciplinary care matters.

In addition to our unique, multidisciplinary approach to care, our focus on nutrition as an essential part of care in kids stands out as an example for other caregivers and providers. We’re the only IBD program in Colorado that provides nutritional IBD therapy as an option for inducing remission for Crohn's disease.

After nutrition as therapy, our specialists help patients and their families learn to maintain good nutrition and a healthy diet, adjusting fiber, lactose and foods high in fat to improve symptoms. We also participate in research and clinical trials, which helps us identify new and innovative treatment methods.

Learn about our gastroenterology and GI surgery research

Contact the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

For appointments at Anschutz Medical Campus or South Campus, call 720-777-4600 or email IBD@childrenscolorado.org.

Compassionate care, wherever you are

We’re here when you need us. Telehealth appointments are available across every specialty, so you can get the high-quality care we’ve always offered from the comfort, privacy and convenience of home.

See if telehealth is right for you

 

Get to know our pediatric experts.

Sara Fidanza, CPNP-PC

Sara Fidanza, CPNP-PC

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Deborah Neigut, MD

Deborah Neigut, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric

Edwin De Zoeten, MD

Edwin De Zoeten, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric

Ed Hoffenberg, MD

Ed Hoffenberg, MD

Gastroenterology - Pediatric