Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program
Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — can disrupt every part of your life. At UCI Health, we help patients just like you across Orange County take back control.
As the region's only academic health system, we provide comprehensive, leading-edge care for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis and related gastrointestinal conditions. Our multidisciplinary experts combine advanced treatments, compassionate support and innovative research to help you achieve remission and live well.
Our approach to IBD
Accurate diagnosis with advanced testing
Because Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can share symptoms, it's important to have a thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis. Our IBD experts offer:
- Endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy and chromoendoscopy
- Advanced imaging, including MR enterography and CT enterography
- Laboratory testing, including therapeutic drug monitoring and inflammatory marker tracking
A full team in your corner
Our IBD specialists are leaders in care, research and education. Your care team may include:
- Gastroenterologists with advanced IBD training
- Colorectal surgeons specializing in minimally invasive and bowel-sparing techniques<
- Radiologists, pathologists and nurse navigators
- GI-specialized dietitians
- Clinical social workers and health coaches
- Specialty pharmacist to ensure safe, effective, and cost-conscious medication management.
- Integrative medicine specialists from the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Why choose UCI Health for IBD care?
We provide the most complete IBD program in Southern California — blending medical excellence, surgical expertise and support for your entire being.
We offer:
- Nationally recognized specialists in IBD treatment — you receive leading-edge care from experts in the IBD condition you have.
- The only integrated medical-surgical IBD clinics in Orange County — you can see both specialists in the same visit.
- Advanced therapies including biologics, small molecules and minimally invasive surgery to help you get to remission and back to your life.
- Ostomy care expertise and no-cost nutrition programs to help you maintain your quality of life.
- Access to integrative healthcare, specialists, counseling and classes, meaning that we care for you as a whole person to help you feel better.
Specialized programs
We offer specialized programs to take care of you during all stages of your life, including:
- Pregnancy and postpartum care with IBD
- Transition from pediatric to adult care
- Extra intestinal manifestation management
- Dermatology collaboration for complex skin conditions
- Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols
Psychosocial support
We provide support that goes beyond treatment. Few programs offer this level of whole-person care, making UCI Health a leader in IBD care.
Our ostomy and J-pouch buddy programs pair you with peers who have been through surgery, offering guidance and reassurance.
You can join the longest-running IBD support group in Orange County to connect with others who understand your journey.
Our clinical social workers are also part of the team, help you and your loved ones manage emotional, financial and daily challenges.
Research and clinical trials
As an academic health system, we offer IBD clinical trials in Orange County and participate in national research collaborations. Our work includes:
- Drug therapy and biologic trials
- Diagnostic biomarker studies
- Real-world treatment outcome research
This means that you have access to new, innovative treatments before they are widely available.
Ongoing education
UCI Health hosts the annual IBD Patient Education Conference. We also partner with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, including Take Steps OC, to provide ongoing education.
Our care changes lives
Hear from real patients who received IBD care at UCI Health:
Treatment options
We provide a full spectrum of IBD treatments, including:
- Medical therapy with biologics, immunomodulators and small molecules
- Endoscopic balloon dilation for strictures
- Coordinated inpatient care for severe cases and hospital transfers
- Minimally invasive surgery and other surgical treatments
- Nutrition therapy with GI-specialized dietitians
- Integrative GI care, including acupuncture, dietary counseling, mindfulness and stress management
Surgical expertise
- J-pouch creation and revision
- Stricturoplasty to preserve bowel length
- Ostomy formation (ileostomy/colostomy)
- Robot-assisted and laparoscopic resections
- Abscess drainage and fistula repair
