A few weeks ago on Diwali Day, I won the Healio Disruptive Innovator Award for the Patient Voice category at the American College of Gastroenterology’s conference in San Antonio, Texas! This award is presented to the patient advocate who helps move the needle on GI care most in a particular year and whose voice resonates most with the 200 world-renowned doctors part of Healio Gastroenterology.
Even though I wasn’t able to travel to Texas for the award ceremony, I’m deeply honored and humbled to be recognized with such a prestigious award. It has been a very long and arduous journey and being able to advocate and help destigmatize inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis) is something I dreamed about for years and finally made it happen over the last couple years.
All I know is I couldn’t have done it without the support of my caregivers, my mother and my husband, and all my online followers. I couldn’t have done this without the support of so many gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons around the world in addition to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and of course, Healio Gastroenterology and the American College of Gastroenterology. Thank you for supporting me and amplifying my voice!
Below are a few words that some of the top gastroenterologists had to say about my win:
To all my fellow patient advocates, we are all winners! I’m excited to be working with you all and can’t wait to create more magic in the years to come!
And Daddy, wherever you may be in heaven, I hope that your little girl has made you proud!
