Ulcerative Colitis Advancements You Need to Know

Monday, May 11, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM ET

Co-Moderator(s)

Thomas Curran, MD MPH FACS FASCRS (he/him/his)

Associate Professor
Medical University of South Carolina Department of Surgery
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no relevant relationships with ineligible companies.
Samuel Eisenstein, MD

Professor
UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health
La Jolla, CA, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

CME: .75 hours
Self-

Assessment: 75 hours

This symposium, "Ulcerative Colitis Advancements You Need to Know," will provide a comprehensive update on the evolving landscape of ulcerative colitis management, equipping clinicians with the knowledge to optimize patient care. The session will cover cutting-edge developments in medical therapy for UC and pouchitis, including novel drug mechanisms and emerging treatment pathways. Expert speakers will delve into the complexities of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in obese patients, offering best practices for patient optimization and refined intraoperative techniques to mitigate surgical challenges and improve outcomes. Furthermore, the symposium will explore surgical alternatives to IPAA, such as continent ileostomy, ileorectal anastomosis, and even the controversial role of segmental colectomy, fostering a broader understanding of surgical options for challenging cases. Finally, we will critically evaluate the burgeoning evidence for appendectomy in ulcerative colitis, assessing its readiness for prime-time clinical application. Participants can expect a significant increase in competence regarding current and future UC treatments, leading to improved performance in clinical decision-making, reduced complication rates in surgical cases, and ultimately, enhanced patient outcomes including disease remission, quality of life, and reduced need for re-intervention.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Describe the latest advancements in medical management strategies for ulcerative colitis and pouchitis.
Identify best practices for optimizing and performing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in obese patients.
Compare and contrast surgical alternatives to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, including continent ileostomy and ileorectal anastomosis.
Evaluate the current evidence for appendectomy as a therapeutic option in selected patients with ulcerative colitis.

Presentations:

10:15 AM - 10:17 AM ET

Introduction
10:18 AM - 10:25 AM ET

What's New in Medical Management of UC and Pouchitis
Faculty: Erin Forster
10:26 AM - 10:33 AM ET

The Challenges of IPAA in the Obese: Best Practices for Optimization and Intraoperative Technique
Faculty: Aaron J. Dawes, MD, PhD (he/him/his) – Stanford University School of Medicine
10:34 AM - 10:41 AM ET

Surgical Options OTHER than IPAA: Continent Ileostomy, Ileorectal Anastomosis and...(gasp) Segmental Colectomy?
Faculty: Sherief Shawki, MD, FACS, FASCRS – Mayo Clinic Rochester
10:42 AM - 10:49 AM ET

Appendectomy for UC: Is this Ready for Prime Time?
Faculty: Carla F. Justiniano, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of Cincinnati
10:50 AM - 11:05 AM ET

Question and Answer with Panel Discussion