Inside Insights:

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Hilary Jericho, a gastroenterologist and Stanford's Medical Director for Pediatric Celiac Disease. Dr. Jericho also treated me when I was first hospitalized and diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, so I was incredibly excited and grateful for the chance to talk to her.

We discussed her personal journey with Crohn’s disease, her path to becoming a medical doctor, and what she hopes for in the future for IBD and celiac treatment. Dr. Jericho explained that she herself is a Crohn’s disease patient, diagnosed at 14 years old. She emphasized that when she was initially diagnosed, the medicine was not advanced, leading to frequent flares that interrupted her daily life. In addition, she felt extremely alone and misunderstood in her journey, as she didn’t know anyone with IBD.

We transitioned to talk about her career journey, how she became a gastroenterologist, and her role as the pediatric celiac director at Stanford. She stated that she always wanted to be a doctor and initially thought she would end up working in the emergency department. However, she soon discovered the fast-paced nature was not for her. Dr. Jericho knew she wanted to help children who were once like her, so she became a pediatric gastroenterologist and eventually served as the celiac medical director at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. She explains that she uses her personal story to connect with patients and their families when they seem to be losing hope in the hospital. Dr. Jericho emphasizes that she wants her story to motivate patients and families to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that they can still follow their passions with IBD. As a patient whom Dr. Jericho once shared her story with, I can attest that her words were both inspiring and comforting for me and my family.

In the future, Dr. Jericho mentions her desire to see personalized medicine pushed forward for IBD and celiac disease patients, allowing individuals to find the right medication without trial-and-error. She acknowledges that science and research continue to advance and expresses her hopefulness and optimism for a potential cure for these conditions. When asked to give pieces of advice to recently diagnosed IBD or celiac patients, Dr. Jericho mentions to keep fighting and chasing your dreams and listening to your body. She outlines key resources, such as psychologists, dietitians, and support groups, to help you navigate your condition. Dr. Jericho uses her story as an example that chronic illness does not limit our power; instead, it motivates us even more.

I am thankful for inspiring, motivated medical professionals like Dr. Jericho, who are dedicated to finding a cure and helping patients like me navigate chronic illness one step at a time.