Advancing IBD Care Through Expert Exchange
Join Canadian community and academic gastroenterologists for an interactive, case-based forum exploring emerging evidence, real-world challenges, and practical approaches to inflammatory bowel disease management across Canada.
New for 2026
Join us Friday evening for Mic'd Up: Niagara Parkway Perspectives. This unique, informal learning experience combines a short walk along the scenic Niagara Parkway while listening through wireless headsets to a live, expert-led discussion.
Reserve your spot today so you don't miss this opportunity!
Great Lakes IBD Forum 2026 Overview
Now entering its eighth year, the Great Lakes IBD Forum 2026 is a national, in-person educational meeting focused on the evolving management of inflammatory bowel disease in real-world clinical practice.
Designed for clinicians who diagnose, treat, and manage patients with IBD, the Forum will review the latest science, emerging evidence, and current trends in care, with a focus on how evolving data can be applied to day-to-day clinical decision-making.
New for 2026 - Mic'd Up: Niagara Parkway Perspectives
Great Lakes 2026 will kick off Friday evening with a unique, informal learning experience. Join colleagues for a guided 30 minute walk allong the Niagara Parkway while listening through wireless headsets to a live, expert-led discussion. It’s an easy, engaging way to connect, exchange ideas, and reflect on clinical practice in a relaxed setting.
What to Expect
Participants can expect an engaging and discussion-driven program featuring case-based presentations, expert panels, live polling, and facilitated dialogue. Sessions are designed to surface real-world clinical challenges, explore current practice gaps, and encourage meaningful exchange between faculty and attendees.
The Forum’s interactive format supports practical learning and open debate, allowing participants to consider how emerging evidence, treatment strategies, and evolving care models may inform IBD management in clinical practice.
Led by nationally and internationally recognized IBD experts, the program offers a balanced and credible educational environment
grounded in scientific exchange and clinical relevance.
Program Objectives
By the end of the program, participants will be better able to:
- Advance evidence-based IBD management in real-world practice
- Address current clinical challenges and practice gaps in IBD care
- Engage in meaningful peer-to-peer discussion and knowledge exchange
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for community and academic gastroenterologists with an interest in inflammatory bowel disease and its management in clinical practice.
The Great Lakes IBD Forum is proudly administered by SCOPE Canada, a not-for-profit organization founded and governed by Canadian physicians.
SCOPE Canada is dedicated to advancing clinical excellence through the development of high-impact educational and advisory initiatives for gastroenterologists, family physicians, and allied health professionals. Through strong physician leadership and a collaborative approach, SCOPE Canada supports educational programs that prioritize scientific integrity, meaningful engagement, and actionable insights for real-world clinical practice.
For more information about SCOPE Canada, visit: SCOPECanada.org
Steering Committee
Dr. Mark Silverberg
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Silverberg is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a leading researcher in IBD genetics and classification, including the Montreal Classification. He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and his PhD at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. With over 200 publications, he is the past Director of the Advanced IBD Fellowship at Mount Sinai and co-directs national IBD training programs. He is a member of IOIBD, a past chair at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada and the AGA, and founder of the Toronto Immune and Digestive Health Institute.
Dr. John Marshall
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Marshall is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Gastroenterology at McMaster University, as well as a consultant gastroenterologist at Hamilton Health Sciences. He completed his MD at Queen’s University and his MSc in Clinical Epidemiology at McMaster. A Full Member of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, he has published over 350 academic papers. He was the founding Editor-in-Chief of JCAG and is a Fellow of both the AGA and CAG.
Dr. Vipul Jairath
MBChB, DPhil, MRCP, FRCPC
Dr. Vipul Jairath is a gastroenterologist and Professor of Medicine at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, where he holds the John W.D. and Susan McDonald Endowed Chair in IBD Clinical Research. He leads the IBD Centre at London Health Sciences Centre and directs the IBD Fellowship Program. A member of the International Organization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Dr. Jairath focuses on clinical trial design, outcome measure development, and patient-reported outcomes. He has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and led numerous IBD trials worldwide
AGENDA
Friday, September 18, 2026
Welcome Reception
Speakers: Dr. Mark Silverberg, Dr. John Marshall, Dr. Vipul Jairath
Mic’d Up: Niagara Parkway Perspectives
Speakers: Dr. John Marshall & Dr. Parambir Dulai
Welcome Dinner & IBD Discussion
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Breakfast, Exhibit Viewing and Networking Opportunities
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speakers: Dr. Mark Silverberg, Dr. Vipul Jairath
Case-Based Discussions #1
Moderator: Dr. Vipul Jairath; Panel: Dr. Neeraj Narula, Dr. Sapna Makhija, Dr. Gursimran Kochhar, Dr. Astrid Williams
How and when to use IL-23 inhibitors in 2026
Speaker: Dr. Neeraj Narula
How do I use GLP1s in my patients with IBD
Speaker: Dr. Sapna Makhija
Therapeutic Endoscopy in IBD
Speaker: Dr. Gursimran Kochhar
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Vipul Jairath; Panel: Dr. Neeraj Narula, Dr. Sapna Makhija, Dr. Gursimran Kochhar, Dr. Astrid Williams
Break
Managing Common Skin Manifestations in IBD
Speaker: Dr. Isabel Bustamante
Treating Rheumatological EIMs in IBD
Speaker: Dr. Janet Pope
How I Use Small Molecules in 2026
Speaker: Dr. Astrid Williams
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Mark Silverberg; Panel: Dr. Isabel Bustamante, Dr. Janet Pope, Dr. Astrid Williams
Lunch
Case-Based Discussion #2
Moderator: Dr. Mark Silverberg; Panel: Dr. Astrid Williams, Dr. Simon Travis, Dr. Hillary Steinhart
Medical Management of Perianal Crohn’s Disease
Speaker: Dr. Hillary Steinhart
Putting It All Together: How I Select Advanced Therapies in 2026
Speaker: Dr. Parambir Dulai
Brian Feagan Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Dr. Simon Travis
Panel Discussion #3
Moderator: Dr. Mark Silverberg; Panel: Dr. Vipul Jairath, Dr. Astrid Williams, Dr. Simon Travis, Dr. Hillary Steinhart
Closing Remarks
Speakers: Dr. Vipul Jairath, Dr. Mark Silverberg
Great Lakes IBD Forum 2026
Thank You To Our Sponsors
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Great Lakes IBD Forum 2026 is managed in partnership with Agilis Health.
This website is intended for Canadian healthcare professionals only.
