iPouch Consortium — International Pouch Surgery Quality Initiative
A grassroots initiative to improve patient outcomes
in ileal pouch surgery by sharing evidence-based best practices.
Promoting an innovative approach to pouch surgery & caring for pouch patients.
Curated Pouch Research
One-year stoma-free survival of ileoanal pouches for UC in European centers: The MIRACLE project
European multicenter study (NL, Belgium, Italy, UK) of 411 patients with 92.2% stoma-free survival at 1 year. High-volume centres showed OR 3.7 for better outcomes.
Chance of pouch surgery after colectomy for UC based on pelvic pouch volumes at the colectomy hospital
Swedish national cohort showing patients at low-volume hospitals were half as likely to receive pouch reconstruction after colectomy for UC.
Influence of hospital-level and surgeon factors on outcomes after ileo-anal pouch surgery for IBD: systematic review
Systematic review of 29 studies (41,344 patients) demonstrating higher pouch failure in lower-volume centres and higher reconstruction rates in higher-volume centres.
Distribution of elective ileal pouch-anal anastomosis cases for ulcerative colitis
Nearly half of all IPAA cases in the U.S. were performed at just 10 of 131 hospitals. Most academic centers performed fewer than 5 cases per year.
Review of current practice and outcomes following ileoanal pouch surgery: lessons learned from the Ileoanal Pouch Registry and the 2017 Pouch Report
Analysis of 5,352 pouches across 76 UK centres and 154 surgeons from the ACPGBI Ileoanal Pouch Registry, establishing national benchmarks for pouch surgery outcomes.
Unexpected variation in outcomes following total (procto)colectomies for UC in New South Wales, Australia
Population-based 19-year study revealing significant variation in mortality by hospital volume, insurance status, and geography across New South Wales.
High but decreasing rates of reconstruction after total proctocolectomy for UC, and evidence of a direct volume outcome relationship
New South Wales analysis of 1,047 patients showing low-volume centres had adjusted hazard ratio of 0.60 for reconstruction. Rates declining from 2001–2019.
Restorative surgery after colectomy for ulcerative colitis in England and Sweden
Population-based comparison of 98,691 patients showing 5-year reconstruction rates of 33% in England vs 46% in Sweden, highlighting international disparities.
Increased experience and surgical technique lead to improved outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a population-based study
Ontario study of 1,285 IPAAs across 58 hospitals demonstrating 4–5× higher reoperation and pouch excision rates at low-volume centres. A landmark early volume-outcome study.
Ileoanal pouch surgery in 2026
Contemporary perspective on the state of pouch surgery, addressing institutional variation, standards of care, and the future direction of IPAA practice.
Trends and distribution of ileal pouch-anal anastomoses in the United States: becoming harder to find in colon and rectal surgery residency training?
Analysis showing a mean of fewer than 6 IPAA cases per surgical resident, with a shift toward urban-teaching hospitals and growing training concerns.
Ethnic variation trends in the use of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis
National Inpatient Sample study revealing that Black patients were significantly less likely to undergo IPAA compared to other ethnic groups, highlighting disparities in surgical access.
Editorial: Regionalisation of ileoanal pouch surgery
Editorial discussing the rationale and implications of centralizing pouch surgery to high-volume centres to improve patient outcomes.
The use of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis from 2009 to 2018
National Inpatient Sample analysis documenting temporal trends in IPAA utilization over a decade, providing context for declining pouch procedure rates nationally.
Quality Improvement
Textbook Outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a nationwide multicenter study
Japanese multicenter study (Keio University) of 1,109 patients introducing the "Textbook Outcome" composite measure, achieved in 57% of IPAA cases.
Establishing Key Performance Indicators and Their Importance for the Surgical Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Pan-European Delphi consensus of 21 experts defining procedure-specific KPIs for IBD surgery including IPAA, covering morbidity, mortality, and service provision standards.
Individualized Learning in Robotic Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis: Challenging the Standard Learning Curve Model
Multi-site analysis of 123 robotic IPAAs by 11 surgeons using risk-adjusted CUSUM, demonstrating highly individualized learning trajectories that challenge the concept of a uniform learning curve.
Optimal Pouch Training: Investigating Operative and Nonoperative Needs Study (OPTIONN)
Modified Delphi consensus of 85 colorectal surgeons defining a supplemental curriculum for IPAA surgical training, addressing the growing experience gap.
Ileoanal Pouch Construction for IBD
Illustrated technical guide to ileoanal pouch construction for inflammatory bowel disease, covering surgical approach, pouch configuration, and key operative steps.
Ten steps for ileoanal pouch anastomosis
Modular 10-step standardised framework for laparoscopic IPAA, designed to facilitate introduction of the technique during the learning curve. 38 consecutive patients, 34% complication rate.
Training for Minimally Invasive Surgery for IBD: A Current Need
Review outlining the importance of specialised surgical training in MIS for IBD, discussing multiport laparoscopy, single-port, robotics, and transanal platforms. Emphasises the lack of IBD-specific training protocols and the need for better training within multidisciplinary IBD centres.
Characteristics of learning curve in minimally invasive ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in a single institution
Cleveland Clinic series of 372 laparoscopic IPAAs by 20 surgeons. Institutional pelvic sepsis decreased from 18.2% to 7.0% (CUSUM peak at 143 cases). Learning curves identified in high-volume but not low-volume surgeons.
Evaluation of the learning curve in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis surgery
Landmark study of 1,965 IPAAs by 12 surgeons at Cleveland Clinic using risk-adjusted CUSUM. Training period of 23 cases for stapled IPAA (trainees) vs 40 cases (senior staff). 5-year pouch survival 95.6%.
Curated Provider Resources
Pouch Guidelines
ECCO topical review on pouch disorders
Comprehensive ECCO review covering pouchitis epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, acute and chronic management, Crohn’s-like disease of the pouch, cuffitis, and pouch failure.
AGA clinical practice guideline on the management of pouchitis and inflammatory pouch disorders
AGA guideline on pouchitis classification, endoscopic and histologic diagnosis, antibiotic and biologic therapy, and indications for pouch excision.
ASCRS — American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of ulcerative colitis
Comprehensive surgical guidelines covering indications for colectomy, timing of surgery, IPAA technique, and management of complications. Updated 2021.
ACG — American College of Gastroenterology
ACG clinical guideline: ulcerative colitis in adults
Comprehensive medical management guideline covering diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, therapeutic approach including biologics and small molecules, and surgical indications.
AGA — American Gastroenterological Association
AGA living guideline for pharmacological management of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis
AGA living guideline incorporating the latest evidence on biologics, small molecules, treat-to-target strategies, and positioning of advanced therapies for moderate-to-severe UC management.
AGA clinical practice guidelines on the management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
Guideline addressing biologic and small molecule therapy selection, positioning, and combination strategies for moderate-to-severe UC.
AGA clinical practice guidelines on the management of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis
Evidence-based recommendations for outpatient management of mild-to-moderate UC including 5-ASA optimization, immunomodulators, and step-up therapy.
ECCO — European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation
ECCO guidelines on therapeutics in ulcerative colitis: medical treatment
European evidence-based consensus on UC medical management including conventional therapy, biologics, JAK inhibitors, and treatment algorithms.
ECCO guidelines on therapeutics in ulcerative colitis: surgical treatment
European consensus on surgical indications, timing of colectomy, IPAA technique, pouch configuration, and management of surgical complications in UC.
iPouch.org Calculators
PSC-Dysplasia Risk Calculator
Estimates cumulative risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia in IBD patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), incorporating PSC status, disease duration, and surveillance history.
IBD-PSC IRA Rectal Cancer Risk Calculator
Cox-Weibull model estimating mortality-adjusted rectal carcinoma risk after ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in UC patients, with PSC as a key predictor. Four-predictor model with competing-risk adjustment.
Curated External Calculators
IBD Advanced Colorectal Neoplasia Risk Tool
Estimates 5-year risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia (HGD + CRC) in IBD patients. Developed from 6 international cohorts (3,731 patients, 26,336 patient-years). Complements 2025 BSG guidelines on colorectal surveillance in IBD.
CCF Risk Calculators — including IBD Pouch Retention
Comprehensive library of clinical risk calculators developed by Cleveland Clinic physicians, including a tool predicting 7-year pouch retention probability after IPAA.
UC Colectomy Risk Prediction Tool
Web-based tool predicting total proctocolectomy risk in UC using albumin, Mayo score, endoscopic subscore, and corticosteroid use. AUC 0.94 (validation 0.92).
UC Relapse Risk Calculator
Online calculator predicting 1-year relapse probability in UC patients currently in remission. Bilingual (English/Persian) tool from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
Mayo Score / Disease Activity Index (DAI) for UC
Standard disease activity calculator assessing UC severity (0–12 scale) using stool frequency, rectal bleeding, mucosal appearance, and physician global assessment.
ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator
General surgical risk prediction tool from the American College of Surgeons. Note: validation studies suggest it may underestimate postoperative risks in IBD patients specifically.
IGIBD Calculators in Gastroenterology
Collection of clinical and endoscopic scoring tools for IBD, including Rutgeerts score for post-surgical Crohn’s recurrence, Harvey-Bradshaw Index, and more.
IBD Training & Milestones
IBD Milestones Curriculum
Digestive Disease Interventions CME curriculum on IBD training milestones—structured educational content for fellows and trainees covering core competencies in IBD care.
The IBD Project Educational Resources
Educational platform offering curated IBD learning content for clinicians and trainees—modules, case discussions, and resources advancing IBD-specific competencies.
Advanced IBD Fellowship Support Program
CCF program supporting advanced IBD fellowship training across the U.S.—sponsoring fellows pursuing dedicated IBD expertise, with curriculum guidance, mentorship, and program directory.
Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute advanced fellowship for gastroenterologists pursuing subspecialty training in IBD—clinical, endoscopic, and research preparation for academic IBD careers.
Advanced Practice Provider Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute fellowship for nurse practitioners and physician assistants pursuing specialized training in IBD care—structured curriculum, mentorship, and hands-on clinical experience.
IBDIQ — HCP IBD Education Resource
Industry-supported (Takeda) educational platform for healthcare professionals managing IBD—clinical resources, treatment updates, and disease-state information for gastroenterologists and IBD care teams.
IBD-EII — Inflammatory Bowel Disease Educational Platform
European/Spanish-language educational resource for clinicians caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal)—clinical content, treatment updates, and disease-state education.
Coming Soon
Carepaths
Standardized care pathways for pouch surgery patients, from preoperative optimization through long-term follow-up.
ChatIBD
ChatIBD is an AI-powered clinical companion designed by IBD clinicians. It provides quick, guideline-based answers to practical questions in IBD care—helping clinicians cut through lengthy documents and access key recommendations in seconds.
Designed for gastroenterologists, IBD specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, and trainees building familiarity with complex guidelines.
Pouch-surgery and IBD resources in the Holubar Lab ecosystem.
IBDology
ibdology.org
Pouch Trilogy hub—the unified entry point to the Holubar Lab’s IBD surgical research, patient education, and outcomes sites.
Pouchology
pouchology.org
AI-powered literature interface covering every published pouch paper—15,000+ articles indexed and retrievable.
Pouchy.org
pouchy.org
Patient education with AI avatar Pouchy—explaining IPAA and IBD surgery for patients and families.
NSQIP-IBD Collaborative
nsqipibd.org
Multicenter registry tracking IBD surgical outcomes across 30 sites and 14,823 cases nationwide.
ACS NSQIP IBD Collaborative
The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program IBD Collaborative is a multi-center registry that adds disease-specific variables to NSQIP, enabling high-quality, large-volume research specific to the IBD surgical population. Currently enrolling across 17+ high-volume centers.
Led by Samuel Eisenstein, MD (UC San Diego Health)
IBD SIRQC — Surgical Innovation, Research & Quality Collaborative
IBD SIRQC is the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s first-ever surgical research initiative. This cohort study enrolls adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis preparing for GI surgery and follows them through surgery and beyond, tracking long-term outcomes including complications and disease recurrence.
Co-led by Stefan D. Holubar, MD, MS (Cleveland Clinic) and Samuel Eisenstein, MD (UC San Diego Health)
TopCLASS — Consortium for Perianal Crohn’s Disease
TopCLASS is an international consortium focused on advancing the care of perianal Crohn’s disease. Active since 2022, fostering global collaboration to optimize medical and surgical treatment.
IOIBD — International Organization for the Study of IBD
IOIBD is a global society of clinician-scientists dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease through international consensus, research collaboration, and education.
For Patients
Life With a Pouch AI-Powered
The ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA or “J-pouch”) is a common reconstructive option after proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. The following general overview was generated by Pouchology.org Artificial Intelligence from published literature. Individual experiences vary—discuss your specific situation with your care team.
AI-Written · Not Clinician-Verified
Bowel Function — Bowel habits vary, but many patients report multiple soft or liquid bowel movements per day, including at night. Patterns often improve over the first year.
Continence — Most patients report good daytime continence. Some may experience minor nighttime seepage, particularly in the early postoperative period.
Diet — Many patients are able to eat a varied diet. Your doctor may recommend periodic nutritional monitoring based on your individual needs.
Activity — Many patients return to full activity, including work and exercise, after recovery. The timeline varies by individual.
Sexual Function & Fertility — Pelvic surgery may affect sexual function and fertility in some patients. If this is a concern, early discussion with your surgical and medical team is encouraged.
Pouchitis — Inflammation of the pouch (pouchitis) is a recognized complication that can occur at any time. It is generally treatable. Discuss symptoms with your GI doctor.
Pouch Survival — Published long-term data suggest that most pouches function well over many years. Revisional surgery may be an option in some cases.
Quality of Life — Studies generally report that most pouch patients rate their quality of life as good to excellent and would make the same surgical choice again.
Before Pouch Surgery — Talk-Through Checklist
Pouch surgery is a big decision. Talk through the topics below with your care team. Plan to have at least two visits before you decide. Print this page or bring it to your visits. Check off each item once you have talked it through.
Why a pouch is being suggested — Your diagnosis (such as ulcerative colitis or FAP). What other treatments could work. Why your team thinks a pouch is the best next step.
Number of surgeries — Whether you will need 1, 2, or 3 surgeries. Why your team chose that plan. How long between each one.
How the surgery is done — Will the team use small cuts (keyhole or robot) or one larger cut? Why your team picked that way.
Pouch shape — The shape of the pouch (most often a J-pouch). How the pouch will be joined to your bottom.
Short-term ostomy — Whether you will need an ostomy bag for a few months. How long it stays. What daily life with a bag is like.
Your care team — Who is on your team besides your surgeon. The team may include a GI doctor, a nurse, an ostomy nurse, a dietitian, and a psychologist. How to reach each of them.
How often you go — How many times a day and night you may go to the bathroom with a pouch. How this may change in the first year.
Bowel control — What bowel control will be like during the day and at night. What to do if there are accidents.
Pouchitis — Pouchitis means the pouch gets sore and inflamed. It is common. How to spot it. How it is treated.
If the pouch does not work — Sometimes a pouch does not work in the long run. What other choices you would have. What life with a permanent ostomy is like.
Life-long check-ups — You will need a small camera test of the pouch each year or two. This keeps the pouch healthy.
Fertility and sex life — This surgery may make it harder to get pregnant, more so for women. Sex life may also change. Talk about family planning early.
Eating and food — How to eat well before surgery. What eating is like after each surgery. When to ask a dietitian for help.
Mental health — This is a big life change. Mental support is part of good care. How to find a counselor or psychologist on your team.
Two or more visits — Do not decide in one visit. Take your time. Write down questions. Come back to talk again.
Source: Holubar et al., 2026 — KPIPS International Consensus on Key Performance Indicators in Pouch Surgery. The full checklist will be added here when the KPIPS paper is published. This page is for information only. It does not replace talking with your care team.
Patient Voices
Stories and reflections from people living with a J-pouch. Hearing from patients who have been through pouch surgery can help set expectations and offer perspective on what daily life can look like.
Pravin Ruparelia — The World’s First Pouch Patient (1976) — The very first IPAA, told through his son. Sir Alan Parks’ original operation.
“My J-Pouch Changed My Life” — Five patients and a surgeon share their stories—the good, the hard, and the real.
“Yes I Have a J-Pouch, Yes I Still Have IBD” — A pouch is a treatment, not a cure. Setting honest expectations.
Shannon Kederis — “J-Pouch Surgery Gave Me My Life Back” — A two-month hospitalization, a revision at Cleveland Clinic, and a pouch that finally works.
Red Lion Group — Patient Stories Archive — Decades of UK pouch narratives: marathon finishers, 42-year pouches, and professionals who thought they’d never work again.
Alwine Jarvis — “My J-Pouch Surgery Story” — Thirty years of UC, then a laparoscopic two-stage IPAA.
“Complications With My J-Pouch” — An honest account of a pouch that didn’t work out, and the decision to move to a permanent ileostomy.
Health Maintenance for Pouch Patients AI-Powered
Living well after IPAA means staying engaged with your healthcare team. Talk to your doctors about a personalized plan that addresses the areas below.
AI-Written · Not Clinician-Verified
Your Care Team — Pouch patients benefit from coordinated care between a colorectal surgeon, gastroenterologist, and primary care provider. Regular follow-up with each ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Pouch Surveillance — Periodic endoscopic evaluation of the pouch and rectal cuff may be part of long-term care. Your GI doctor can recommend a schedule based on your individual risk factors.
Nutritional Health — Pouch patients may be at risk for certain nutritional deficiencies. Periodic blood work can help identify and address these. Ask your doctor what monitoring makes sense for you.
Bone Health — Factors such as prior steroid use and chronic inflammation may affect bone density over time. Bone density testing, calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise are topics to discuss with your care team.
Kidney Health — Changes in fluid absorption after pouch surgery may affect kidney health. Adequate hydration and periodic monitoring are topics to discuss with your doctor.
Fertility & Pregnancy — Pelvic surgery may affect fertility in some patients. If family planning is a consideration, early conversation with your doctors can be helpful.
Vaccinations — Patients on certain medications may need to discuss their immunization plan with their care team, as some vaccines may need to be adjusted.
Cancer Screening — In addition to standard age-appropriate cancer screenings, your doctor may recommend additional surveillance based on your individual risk profile.
Mental Well-Being — Living with a chronic condition can take an emotional toll. Peer support groups, counseling, and open conversations with your care team are all options worth exploring.
Bottom Line — Health maintenance after IPAA is a partnership between you and your care team. Discuss which of these areas apply to your individual situation.
Support & Community
J-Pouch
Monthly virtual peer-support group for J-pouch patients, hosted by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Meets the 1st Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. ET. Email [email protected] to join.
Patient-run community with forums for general discussion, pouchitis, diet, and peer support from fellow pouch patients.
Active Facebook community where pouch patients share experiences, ask questions, and offer peer support.
UK-based charity run by volunteers with guidance from St. Mark’s Hospital. Support and information for people with internal ileo-anal pouches and those considering pouch surgery.
UK and Ireland charity supporting people with ileostomies and internal pouches for 60+ years. Local volunteer groups, one-to-one peer support matching, online forums (IA Together), and dedicated pouch education.
United Ostomy Associations of America page on J-pouch surgery, with links to support groups, emotional support, diet, and travel tips.
Ileostomy
Search for local ostomy and J-pouch support groups across the United States.
Practical guidance on daily life with an ostomy, including skin care, diet, sexuality, travel, and product information.
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society directory. Find a specialized nurse for ostomy and pouch care.
Listing of external resources does not imply endorsement by the iPouch Consortium. These organizations are independent and not affiliated with iPouch.org. Always verify information with your own healthcare team.
Medical Society Links
Comprehensive patient guide to UC: symptoms, diagnosis, medications, surgery options, and living with the disease.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons patient education page on UC, including surgical options and what to expect. Available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
ASCRS patient guide to ostomies: types, care, daily living, and what to expect after surgery.
American Gastroenterological Association patient page on UC with treatment information and links to the IBD Drug Guide.
American College of Gastroenterology patient overview of UC, including a downloadable guidebook and educational video.
Interactive AGA resource for patients living with IBD: tracking tools, support resources, and treatment information.
Patient-friendly guide to IBD medications: how they work, side effects, and what to discuss with your doctor.
European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation interactive guide to IBD clinical guidelines and patient information.
Links to medical society resources are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement is implied or intended. These organizations are independent and not affiliated with iPouch.org.
Sponsors
Coming Soon
Sponsors & Partners
Information about consortium sponsors and partnership opportunities will be available here. iPouch.org welcomes industry partners who share our commitment to improving pouch surgery outcomes worldwide.
For sponsorship inquiries, please email [email protected].
Contact
Contact iPouch.org
Interested in collaborating, learning more about the consortium, or have a question? We'd love to hear from you.
We typically respond within a few business days.
About
Mission Statement
iPouch.org is an international quality improvement initiative bringing together leading IBD surgeons and IBD gastroenterologists from across the globe to advance the care of patients undergoing ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA).
Founded on global data showing an inverse relationship between institutional pouch volumes and adverse post-operative outcomes, iPouch.org provides a framework for collaborative benchmarking, dissemination of data-driven best practices, and continuous quality improvement.
Our mission is to ensure that every patient who needs a pouch receives the highest standard of surgical care, regardless of where they are treated.
Threats to Pouch Surgery Quality
Pouch surgery faces an unprecedented convergence of threats to quality. Declining IPAA rates—driven by the improved efficacy of new advanced medical therapies and patients choosing not to pouch—are reducing the number of procedures performed. This leads to declining surgeon, trainee, multidisciplinary team, and center experience with the operation and caring for pouch patients, especially when complications arise.
As experience erodes, complications rise, rescue operations fail, and pouch outcomes suffer, which in turn fuel negative patient experiences and IPAA stigmatization on social media, further discouraging patients from choosing pouch surgery. These four forces feed into each other in a positive feedback loop, creating a widening gap between high-volume pouch centers and low-volume centers.
iPouch.org was created to break this cycle—through collaborative benchmarking, evidence-based quality improvement, and ensuring that expertise in pouch surgery is preserved and shared globally.
Pouch surgery faces an unprecedented convergence of threats to quality. These six interconnected forces—from declining procedure rates and eroding surgical expertise to growing patient stigma—feed into each other in a positive feedback loop, threatening the future of reconstructive surgery for ulcerative colitis.
Web of Threats to Pouch Surgery Quality
Converging Forces
Interconnected threats
Converging on crisis
Pouch Quality
Crisis
Crisis
Declining
Volumes
Efficacy of advanced medical therapy
Surgeon-Level
Variation
Individual experience impacts outcomes
Training Gap
Insufficient case volume during fellowship
Center-Level
Variation
Lower volumes raise complication rates
Access
Disparities
Geographic & insurance barriers
Pouch
Perceptions
Stigmatization on social media
© iPouch.org
Steering Committee
The iPouch Consortium steering committee brings together leading pouch specialists — surgeons and gastroenterologists — who have dedicated their professional careers to the care of pouch patients and IPAA research.
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Cleveland Clinic / CWRU, Cleveland
Cleveland Clinic / CWRU, Cleveland
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Gastroenterology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem
International Liaisons Committee
International liaisons extending the iPouch Consortium’s collaborative network across continents.
Colorectal Surgery
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Humanitas University, Milan
Humanitas University, Milan
Colorectal Surgery
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
Colorectal Surgery
St Mark’s Hospital, London
St Mark’s Hospital, London
Colorectal Surgery
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
Specialty Liaisons
Bridging surgical, gastroenterological, and educational expertise across the iPouch network.
Pouch Educational Liaison
Colon & Rectal Surgery
University Hospitals / Case Western Reserve, Cleveland
Colon & Rectal Surgery
University Hospitals / Case Western Reserve, Cleveland
Advanced Interventional GI Liaison
ERCP, EBD, and Insulated Needle Knife (iKN) therapy
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
ERCP, EBD, and Insulated Needle Knife (iKN) therapy
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
GI Pathology Liaison
Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary Pathology
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary Pathology
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
GI Radiology Liaison
Abdominal & Body Imaging
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Abdominal & Body Imaging
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
GI Radiology Liaison
Abdominal Imaging, MR Enterography
Mallinckrodt Institute / Washington University, St. Louis
Abdominal Imaging, MR Enterography
Mallinckrodt Institute / Washington University, St. Louis
David Gardinier, RDIBD Nutritional Liaison
Registered Dietitian, DDSI Nutrition
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Registered Dietitian, DDSI Nutrition
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
IBD Nutritional Liaison
Clinical Nutrition, IBD & Prehabilitation
UCSF, San Francisco
Clinical Nutrition, IBD & Prehabilitation
UCSF, San Francisco
Jessica Woodford, PhDIBD Psychology Liaison
Health Psychology, IBD
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Health Psychology, IBD
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Jacqueline McHugh, RN, WOC-RNOstomy Liaison
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Jessica Sankovic, PA-CAPP Liaison
Colon & Rectal Surgery, Physician Assistant
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Colon & Rectal Surgery, Physician Assistant
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Olivia Collins, MPAS, PA-CAPP Liaison
Colon & Rectal Surgery, Physician Assistant
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Colon & Rectal Surgery, Physician Assistant
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
NSQIP Liaison
Colon & Rectal Surgery, NSQIP IBD Collaborative
UC San Diego Health, La Jolla
Colon & Rectal Surgery, NSQIP IBD Collaborative
UC San Diego Health, La Jolla
Global Liaisons
Country-level representatives extending the iPouch Consortium’s reach to local IBD surgical communities.
Felipe Bellomo Roth, MDChile Liaison
Santiago
Santiago
Nicolás Allende, MDLATAM Regional Liaison
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Netherlands Liaison
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam
Canada Regional Liaison
McGill University, Montréal
McGill University, Montréal
Italian Liaison
University of Naples Federico II, Naples
University of Naples Federico II, Naples
Administration
Operational coordination for the iPouch Consortium.
Rita Brienza, RNProgram Manager (Interim)
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Stefan D. Holubar
MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS • Professor of Surgery • Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of MedicineStefan Holubar brings a unique perspective to pouch surgery: he is both a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon specializing in ileal pouch procedures and himself a pouch patient. This dual lived experience—from both sides of the operating table—drives his commitment to ensuring that every patient who needs a pouch receives the highest quality of care.