What We Treat:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition that causes inflammation (i.e. pain, swelling) of the
gastrointestinal tract, comes in two main forms: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It affects millions
of people in the United States of all ages, although it most commonly develops in teenagers and young
adults. IBD can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, weight loss, vomiting, and fatigue. While
it is a life-long condition, there are more treatment options available now than ever before in order to
get patients into remission and give them the quality of life that they deserve.
Who We Are:
The Crohn’s and Colitis Center at EPGI offers world-class IBD care to the residents of the Lehigh Valley
and the Poconos. Our board-certified gastroenterologists have special expertise in the management of
IBD and employ modern and evidenced-based techniques while maintaining a personalized and
compassionate approach to care. We prescribe all approved therapies for IBD and use the most
advanced and cutting-edge techniques to monitor our patients, including video capsule endoscopy,
chromoendoscopy, double balloon enteroscopy, endoscopic stricture dilation, and therapeutic drug
monitoring. Our on-site infusion suite located in Allentown provides patients with a comfortable
atmosphere and is managed by highly trained and personable staff.
Collaboration
The Crohn’s and Colitis Center at EPGI believes strongly in collaboration and teamwork. This is why we
participate in regular videoconferences with IBD specialists located all across the United States to
discuss our most challenging cases. Multidisciplinary meetings are also held locally with Lehigh Valley-
based colorectal surgeons to help coordinate patient care. We also have dedicated personnel, Jen
Scarpa and Nicole Held, who help navigate the logistics of IBD care and ensure patients are getting the
care that they deserve.
COVID-19 and IBD
The COVD-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to patients with IBD. The Crohn’s and Colitis Center
at EPGI have established robust protocols in alignment with national and international
recommendations to ensure our patients are getting the best possible care during these trying times.
To learn more about IBD and COVID-19, please visit:
https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/coronavirus/adults.
Whether you were recently diagnosed with IBD or are in need of a second opinion, we look forward to
partnering with you. Please contact us at 610-821-2828 to schedule an appointment.
Patient Education
To learn more about IBD, please visit https://online.crohnscolitisfoundation.org.