Providence Swedish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Conference 2023

The Swedish IBD Update 2023 (Annual Inflammatory Bowel Disease Conference) was a premier hybrid event hosted by the Swedish Digestive Health Institute. Held in Seattle, the conference serves as the Pacific Northwest’s definitive update on the medical and surgical management of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
The 2023 edition was particularly notable for its focus on the “New Era” of small molecule therapies and the integration of Intestinal Ultrasound (IUS) into the U.S. clinical workflow, moving point-of-care monitoring from a European novelty to an American standard.
+ What You Will Learn
The curriculum focused on positioning the rapidly expanding therapeutic arsenal. Key learning outcomes included:

The “JAKpot” & Small Molecules: How to position JAK Inhibitors (upadacitinib) and S1P receptor modulators (ozanimod) in the treatment algorithm—specifically when to use them before or after biologics.

Intestinal Ultrasound (IUS): A practical introduction to “50 Shades of Grey”—using point-of-care ultrasound to assess bowel wall thickness and treatment response in real-time, reducing the need for expensive MRIs.

Post-Operative Prevention: Evidence-based strategies for preventing Crohn’s recurrence after ileocolic resection (the “Rutgeerts score” management pathway).

Perianal Disease: Multidisciplinary management of complex fistulas, combining surgical setons with high-trough biologic levels.

+ Event Details

Event: Swedish IBD Update 2023

Date: June 2, 2023 (Friday)

Location: Swedish Cherry Hill Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, USA

Format: Hybrid (Virtual)

Co-Directors: Michael Chiorean, MD & Karlee Ausk, MD

Keynote Speaker: Miguel Regueiro, MD (Cleveland Clinic)

+ Who Should Attend

Gastroenterologists: Who need to keep up with the “explosion” of new drug mechanisms (IL-23 vs. JAK vs. Anti-Integrin).

Colorectal Surgeons: Who work in tandem with medical GIs to time surgeries during “windows of opportunity.”

Advanced Practice Providers (NPs/PAs): Who often manage the day-to-day symptom burden and drug approvals for IBD patients.

Dietitians: Managing specific diets (CDED, LOFFLEX) for symptom control.

+ Why Attend

The Keynote: The 2023 keynote was delivered by Dr. Miguel Regueiro (Cleveland Clinic), a global authority on postoperative Crohn’s disease, who presented on “Are We Making Progress in Post-Operative Prophylaxis?”

Practical “Clinician’s Corner”: Unlike massive academic meetings, this course features a “Common Scenarios” track that addresses daily headaches, such as managing IBD during pregnancy and what to do when a patient has a “loss of response” to their third biologic.

Seattle Innovation: The Swedish IBD Center is a major hub for clinical trials in the Pacific Northwest, giving attendees early insight into Phase II/III drugs before they hit the general market.

+ Topics

01 Are We Making Progress in Post-Operative Prophylaxis for Crohn’s Disease
02 IL-23 Inhibitors – The New First Line Therapy for IBD
03 IBD JAKpot – JAK Inhibition is the Winning Ticket
04 S1P-Receptor Modulators – Not Just a Fancy New MOA
05 Anti-TNF Agents – Do They Still Have a Role in IBD
06 Extraintestinal Manifestations in IBD – When to Call the Rheumatologist
07 IBD Updates from DDW 2023
08 Surgical Treatment for Peri-Anal Crohn’s Disease
09 50 Shades of Grey – Intestinal Ultrasound, an Old Technology Getting Hot
10 Ten Things Patients and Providers Should Know About Pregnancy in IBD