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MC IBD 2026:
Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing IBD and Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs) in Preconception and Pregnancy
MC IBD is back for another full-day event, bringing together practitioners from diverse specialties including gastroenterology, family medicine, obstetrics, rheumatology, fertility, dermatology, nursing, and others. The program will feature a variety of seminars and interactive workshops lead by a faculty of renowned Canadian experts. The interactive program is designed to explore complex cases managed by multiple specialists as they evolve over the course of the pregnancy journey. It is focused on practical tips for managing these patients, as well as responses to commonly-asked questions as their pregnancy evolves.
Learning Objectives
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Discuss the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) during the preconception and pregnancy time period, with a focus on medications including advanced therapies
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Explain the importance of multidisciplinary care for women with IBD who are planning a pregnancy, who are pregnant, or who are post-partum
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Outline a management approach for women with IBD who are planning a pregnancy, who are pregnant, or who are post-partum, including multidisciplinary and patient-centered care
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
BMO Education & Conference Centre
60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2R1
By selecting 'Register Here', you'll be re-directed to a registration form to securely complete your transaction via PayPal using your credit card, Visa Debit card or PayPal account.
Event Participant Terms and Conditions
Program Chair
Vivian Huang, MSc, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine,
University of Toronto
Chair, MC IBD program https://mcibd.ca
About
MC IBD was founded in 2016, and has grown over the years to include ever more opportunities to gain knowledge and make connections in this evolving field. Join us to help make this year the best program yet!
Steering Committee
Vivian Huang, MSc, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Vivian Huang practices P4 (predictive, preventive, personalized, participatory) medicine, to optimize maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes in IBD through clinical innovations in patient and physician education, and e-health strategies. She developed the MCIBD educational program in 2016 and has continued the series into 2021. She also founded the Northern Alberta Preconception and Pregnancy in IBD clinical research program at the University of Alberta in 2014, and the Preconception and Pregnancy in IBD clinical research program at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto in 2017.
Vipul Jairath, MBChB, DPhil, MRCP, FRCPC
Dr. Jairath is Professor of Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and holder of the John and Susan McDonald Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinical Research at Western University. He is principal investigator for several investigator initiated randomized controlled trials. He has over 200 peer reviewed publications and supervises a number of post-graduate students at PhD and Masters level.
Perla Lansang, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Perla Lansang is a full-time staff dermatologist and associate professor in the Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto. She is based at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where she served as Division Director for 3 years. Prior to that, she was the Director of Undergraduate Education for the Division of Dermatology for over 10 years. She is cross-appointed at the Section of Paediatric Dermatology at the Hospital for Sick Children where she runs a pediatric psoriasis clinic, and the Division of Obstetric Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Cynthia Maxwell, MD, FRCSC (OB/GYN & MFM), RDMS, DABOG, DABOM
Cindy Maxwell MD FRCSC DABOM (Obesity Medicine) is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and Division Head at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Toronto. Her clinical and research interests center on medical disorders of pregnancy, with a focus on pregnancy affected by Inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal conditions. Dr. Maxwell is a member of the Provincial Council on Maternal and Child Health – serving on the Maternal and Neonatal Committee (MNC – MFM Lead) and the Maternal-Child Transport Advisory Committee (M-CTAC – MFM ex officio member). She is a Member of the Interim Leadership Council for the newly-formed South Central Ontario Maternal Neonatal Regional Network, encompassing 8 regional LHINs. She serves as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Ontario Obstetrical Network (SOON), representing Sinai Health System. She is an active Executive Member and past-President of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario.
Dharini Mahendira, MD, FRCPC, MScCH​
Dr. Dharini Mahendira, is a Clinician-teacher at St. Michael’s Hospital, and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Toronto. Upon completion of her rheumatology residency training at the University of Toronto, Dharini subsequently pursued further training in her clinical interest of managing rheumatic diseases in pregnancy. She is the founder and director of the Rheumatic Diseases and Pregnancy Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital. Her clinical research in this area has been presented nationally and internationally.
Additionally, Dharini is an award-winning teacher, with extensive involvement in post-graduate rheumatology teaching and curriculum development. She was the 2020 Canadian Rheumatology Association “Emerging Teacher-Educator” of the Year.
Natalie Morson, MD, CCFP
Dr. Natalie Morson is a staff physician practicing comprehensive family medicine including low risk obstetrics at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team. Dr. Morson earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2006 and then completed her Family Medicine residency, followed by a Low Risk Obstetrics Fellowship, at the University of Toronto in 2008. Dr. Morson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and is the Family Medicine Residency Site Program Director at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Parul Tandon, DO, FRCPC
Dr. Parul Tandon is an advanced inflammatory bowel diseases fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital. He completed his internal medicine training at the University of Ottawa and adult gastroenterology residency at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tandon is currently an Elliot Philipson clinician scientist trainee scholar, clinician investigator trainee, and a PhD student in clinical epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto. His PhD studies involve identifying disparities in access to care for women with IBD during preconception and pregnancy, and for infants born to women with IBD in the first years of life.
Brenda O'Connor, RN, BScN
Brenda O’Connor is a Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator in the Department of Surgery, within the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She is a member of Mount Sinai Hospital’s IBD Centre of Excellence, and involved in Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s Got to Go, as well as the annual Gutsy Walk. Brenda is also a Community Outreach Coordinator responsible for organizing and participating in peer-led support groups.
Luxin Ye, RPh
Luxin Ye is a pharmacist at Mount Sinai Hospital, providing clinical care to GI and general surgery inpatients. She graduated from University of Toronto Faculty of Pharmacy in 2007 and has been practicing since 2009. Luxin’s passion and goals include optimizing medication therapies in IBD patients and providing seamless care to transition patients from hospital to community.
Montana Skurka, OCT, MT
Montana Skurka works at SickKids hospital as a research associate in supportive care for oncology patients. She also works in the community as an Integrative Wellness Educator with a focus on providing individuals with a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing. As a passionate chronic illness and cancer advocate with lived experience, Montana is dedicated to helping others navigate their journey to health and wellness through somatic and embodiment-based healing modalities.
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