Welcome to the Vancouver Island Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic
This clinic is a virtual community for people living with IBD and health care practitioners, and a resource for anyone, anywhere, with an interest in IBD.
What is IBD?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, that result in inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBD affects Canadians of all ages, ethnicities, and genders. In fact, 1 in 140 Canadians has IBD – one of the highest incidence rates in the world – and we anticipate that by 2030, it will be 1 in 100. From many years of research, we now understand the cause of IBD to be a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
IBD & Lifestyle
Inflammatory Bowel Disease can sometimes cause ‘flares’, during which a person will experience diarrhea, rectal bleeding, urgent bowel movements, abdominal cramps, pain, fatigue, or weight loss. This can be distressing and disruptive to a person’s lifestyle. As soon as flare symptoms develop, one should contact their physician to submit blood and stool tests, so that a treatment plan can be established as soon as possible.
Simple ways for patients to stay healthy and reduce flares.
Important Nutrients and Minerals for IBD
Vitamin D is very important for healthy bones and it is commonly deficient among Canadians ...
+ Learn more
Folic Acid, like Vitamin B12, is key to fundamental cellular processes in all of our organs ...
+ Learn more
Vitamin B12 is essential for basic cellular functions in the body ...
+ Learn more
Iron is another essential nutrient that can become deficient in those with IBD ...
+ Learn more
Reproductive Health and IBD
Women with IBD can have successful pregnancies but should seek expert support before and during the process. Most of the medications used to treat IBD are safe during pregnancy and the highest chance of a successful pregnancy is accomplished by keeping inflammation under control. There is a low chance (<10%) of children developing IBD when they have a parent with the condition.
It is important for women to receive annual pap tests, even if previous exams have been negative. This is especially important for women receiving treatment for IBD.
FAQ & Resources
- Are IBD and IBS the same?
- Are people with IBD immunocompromised?
- How often should someone with IBD have a colonoscopy?
See our pages on Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and medications for further information and frequently asked questions. Other sources of good information about inflammatory bowel disease, along with some downloadable material for patients and health care practitioners:
About Us
The Vancouver Island Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic consists of gastroenterologists, IBD nurse specialists, and dieticians. The IBD Care Team works with gastrointestinal surgeons, pediatric IBD specialists, and referring physicians to ensure that each patient has a well-coordinated and comprehensive treatment plan.
See our latest news and upcoming events.
Our Team
Dr. Dustin Loomes
MD, FRCPC, Clinical Instructor Department of Medicine, UBC
Read bio +
Dr. Voja Jovanovic
MD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Read bio +
Dr. Kevin Rioux
MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Read bio +
Dr. Andrew Singh
MD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor (UBC)
Read bio +
Chantal Vaillancourt
RN, IBD and Clinical trials
Read bio +
Lisa Hogarth
RN (IBD), Island Health IBD Flare Clinic
Read bio +
Contact Us
For patient referrals, physicians or MOAs should use pathwaysbc.ca
If you are new to Pathways, contact the South Island Division of Family Practice for a password: (250) 658-3303