Gastroenterology

Putting you back in control of your life

If you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, you're far from alone. Conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are becoming more and more common.

Inflammatory bowel disease usually emerges when people are in their late teens to early 20s. It can be painful and debilitating, and interfere with your personal relationships, schooling and career.

At the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, we want to put you back in control of your life. We're known nationally and internationally for excellence in treating ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory conditions of the intestines. Our doctors are active in research and can offer you access to the latest and most promising therapies.

Meet Dr. Joel Weinstock, our Program Director

Joel Weinstock, MD, who leads our program, is Chief of the Tufts MC Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology and a world-renowned authority on inflammatory bowel disease.

Over the past three decades, Dr. Weinstock has conducted National Institutes of Health-funded research studies on inflammatory bowel disease and on the regulation of immune response. He has pioneered several "bench-to-bedside" discoveries that are under review by U.S. and European regulatory agencies. In addition, his "hygiene hypothesis" is changing the way scientists look at immune-mediated diseases and may lead to new treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Weinstock and our other gastroenterologists are highly experienced in diagnosing and managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Current therapies for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are limited, but our doctors excel in finding the most effective and desirable treatment for patients.

What sets our program apart, though, is that we back our clinical expertise with a strong sense of compassion for and dedication to every patient. We care about you and do all we can to help you overcome your health challenges.

A team of Tufts MC specialists working with you

We understand you have a lot going on your life. So we try to set up appointments promptly and to minimize disruptions to your family, school or work schedules.

At your first visit, we aim to diagnose your problem or, if applicable, confirm a previous diagnosis you've received. Conventional treatments for inflammatory bowel disease include anti-inflammatory, immune suppressive and immune modulatory drugs and, at times, antibiotics. If you may benefit from alternative therapies, we can walk you through your options. We may also discuss clinical trials at Tufts MC that provide access to promising new medications.

In caring for patients, we often collaborate with other experts throughout Tufts MC. Radiologists and gastrointestinal pathologists may assist with diagnosis, while nutrition specialists may lend their insight on issues such as dietary changes.

For some patients, surgery is the best option for treating inflammatory bowel disease or repairing damage that has already occurred. In these cases, we work with Tufts MC colorectal surgeons, other surgical specialists and endoscopists to determine the right surgical approach for you.

We realize that dealing with inflammatory bowel disease can be very challenging. But at Tufts MC, we have the knowledge and experience to help you lead a normal life.

A number of clinical research projects are taking place in the Tufts MC Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. Search for open clinical trials at Tufts MC.

We're dedicated to creating and maintaining strong relationships with referring physicians. Once your patient is in our care, we work hard to make sure he or she is comfortable and has the best experience possible. When it’s time for the patient to return to your care, we make the transition smooth and seamless.