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Beyond Celiac and Health Equity

Beyond Celiac believes in a world where we all can live healthy lives free from bias and barriers. Across our work, we must engage diverse perspectives and promote equity in our community to realize our vision of a world beyond celiac.

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission

Beyond Celiac fosters a sense of belonging by elevating underrepresented voices as we work together for a cure. We seek to be a community that welcomes diverse perspectives and provides meaningful opportunities to empower marginalized populations.

The Need for DEI in Celiac Disease

The vision of Beyond Celiac is a world in which people with celiac disease can live healthy lives, free from social stigma and fear of gluten exposure – A world Beyond Celiac. 

At the heart of this vision is a world in which all people have equal access to good health choices, healthcare, and health outcomes.

Our work is dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for celiac disease, and part of that effort is focused on reducing disparities, both in diagnosis and access to resources. Achieving health equity comes from ensuring equity of opportunity and access in all facets of life for all members of the celiac disease community.

As a result, our ongoing commitment is to continue advocating for access to healthcare and the right for everyone to live their healthiest life, especially communities that are disproportionately affected by systemic, longstanding inequities of any type. We recognize that only by working with and listening to people of all races, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual and gender orientations, abilities, and cultural backgrounds can we truly understand and appreciate one another and fulfill our mission of a world Beyond Celiac. Our work in all areas will reflect this important truth – in science, in events and community resources, in partnerships, and in all of our interactions with the celiac disease community.

When we say ‘together for a cure’, we mean everyone.

We believe the way forward is in genuinely moving together, with understanding, acceptance, justice, and fairness for all.

Celiac Disease Disparity Research

Studies, including some helmed by Beyond Celiac, are beginning to uncover vast disparities in celiac disease diagnosis and treatment. More work is needed in this area, but so far research has found:

Our Health Equity Projects and Partners

Partnership with National Minority Quality Forum

Beyond Celiac partnered with NMQF, an organization dedicated to reducing patient risk by assuring optimal care for all, to uncover and address disparities in celiac disease.

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Partnership with Takeda

Beyond Celiac has entered a multi-year partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to identify and reduce disparities in celiac disease diagnosis and management, aiming to raise awareness and help minority patients participate in clinical trials.

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A black woman and man standing behind a sitting elderly black man, all smiling.

Color of Crohn’s & Chronic Illness

COCCI was created with the mission to improve the quality of life for BIPOC who are affected by IBD, digestive disorders and associated chronic illnesses through Community, Research, Education, and Advocacy. We partner with COCCI on smaller projects like posts and events.

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Ambassador Arturo Chacón-Cruz

Renowned Mexican opera tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz has partnered with Beyond Celiac to spread awareness of celiac disease in English and Spanish to his global audience.

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A photo of Makamae with her child, who is wearing a skeleton costume.

Voices of Celiac Disease

Our award-winning campaign to collect and share celiac disease diagnosis stories.

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The Latest in Research

Beyond Celiac shares the latest in research related to celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and disparities.

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Featured Content

Discussing Diversity and Disparities in Celiac Disease with NMQF

Panel Discussion on Expanding Diversity in Celiac Disease

Voices of Celiac Disease

Jessica

“At one point celiac disease was discussed but dismissed because of my ethnicity.”

Read the full story

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board

Juanita Belton, PA-C, MPH

Advisory Board Member

 Physician assistant in gastroenterology at Boston Medical Center with a subspecialty in Inflammatory bowel disease and instructor at Boston University Medical Center’s Dempsey Center for Digestive Disease

A photo of Elimarie smiling. She has long, curly hair.

Elimarie Caballero Quiñones, PsyD

Advisory Board Member

Clinical Psychologist at Brenner’s Children Hospital and Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in NC. Puerto Rican, bilingual, and a 2023 Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leaders

Amanda Cartee, MD

Advisory Board Member

Gastroenterologist, University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital; assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham

Nan Du, MD, MPH

Advisory Board Member

Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Boston Children’s Hospital with subspeciality in celiac disease, and instructor at Harvard Medical School

Monique Germone, PhD, BCBA

Advisory Board Member

Pediatric psychologist of the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease at Children’s Hospital Colorado and associate professor at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine

Keegan Gilsenan 

Advisory Board Member

Student at Middlebury College. Creator and director of the Green Mountain Gluten-Free Access Project expanding access to celiac-friendly foods in Vermont food pantries and shelves

Tiffany Lynn Valentine, MBA

Advisory Board Member

Healthcare drug development expert, business and operational strategy transformation leader with over 25 years of experience in drug development

Liz Purvis

Advisory Board Member

Advocate. Black and mixed-race content creator living with celiac disease. Shares educational materials, reviews, and recipes on the Instagram account @yeet.that.wheat 

Elizabeth Valencia, MD, JD, FCLM 

Advisory Board Member

Enterprise Associate Dean of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine for Arizona, Florida, Minnesota campuses; medical expert in Breast Cancer Imaging & Intervention at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN

Beyond Celiac Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Debra Silberg, MD, PhD, FACG

Chief Scientific Officer

Deanne Field

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Erin Miller, MPH

Assistant Director of Research & Health Equity Programs

Lauren Wallach

Social media coordinator