Peri-anal Crohn’s Disease: Surgical Bottom Lines with Mr Thakkar & Miss Stedman

Peri-anal Crohn’s Disease: Surgical Bottom Lines with Mr Thakkar & Miss Stedman

This week, THE pIBD DIGEST hits a true bottom-line milestone — surgeons join the podcast for the very first time to tackle one of the most sensitive (and least sat-on) topics in paediatric IBD. Kicking things off, Mr Hemanshoo Thakkar, paediatric surgeon at Evelina London, takes on the challenge — feared by abscesses, outsmarting fistulae, and always determined to get to the bottom of the problem… surgically, of course. Next up, Southampton Children’s Hospital’s own Miss Francesca Stedman expertly unthreads the nuances of setons in peri-anal Crohn’s disease. And at the bottom end of the episode, don’t miss our “Surgical Gut-fire Round” with Miss Stedman — quick questions, sharp answers, and just the right dose of surgical wit. Practical pearls and a touch of cheek — stay curious… but never abscessed.

World IBD Day Special: Purpling the Grey of Advanced Therapies with Prof Anne Griffiths (Toronto)

In this episode of THE pIBD DIGEST, we mark World IBD Day with a global mentor and leading PIBD expert, Prof Anne Griffiths (SickKids, Toronto). No talk of purple—just a masterclass in navigating the grey zones of advanced therapy positioning in IBD. Complex questions? Handled with ease. Nuances? Dissected flawlessly with the calm authority of someone who has truly seen it all. We wrap things up on a lighter note, with Dr Coelho reimagining Mambo No. 5 into a biologics-inspired poem: “The Mumbo-Jumbo of Advanced Therapies.”

Tokyo Talks: A ‘Sunny’ Perspective on Paediatric IBD in Japan (with Prof Arai)

In this episode of THE PIBD Digest, we travel to Tokyo for an inspiring and uplifting conversation with Professor Katsuhiro Arai or “Sunny” —a paediatric gastroenterologist whose warmth is as striking as his scientific expertise. Sunny is also President-Elect of the Asia Pacific Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and Chair of its Scientific Committee. With trademark enthusiasm and infectious positivity, Sunny shares insights into paediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Japan, including the national IBD registry, emerging PIBD trends, and how data is shaping better care for children. What really stands out is Sunny’s deep passion for the psychological wellbeing of patients and their families—reminding us that caring for children with IBD means supporting hearts and minds, not just guts. Full of wisdom, and that unmistakable ‘Sunny’ sparkle, this episode is a joyful reminder that compassion and connection are just as powerful as medicine.

Arabian Insights: PIBD in Saudi Arabia – with Dr Ali Zaidan

In this episode of THE pIBD DIGEST, we pack our virtual bags and head to Saudi Arabia to explore the evolving landscape of paediatric IBD. Our guide is Dr Ali Zaidan, paediatric gastroenterologist from Jeddah, who gives us an honest, practical view of what pIBD really looks like in day to day clinical practice. We talk about some uniquely important regional factors, including consanguinity and its impact on the IBD spectrum, and hear about the impressive immune dysregulation programme developed in collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr Zaidan also shares insights from the structured paediatric GI fellowship programme he directs, alongside his pioneering work in education and training in PIBD. Thought provoking, informative, and refreshingly grounded, this episode reminds us that while PIBD may present differently across regions, curiosity, collaboration (and good conversations) are very much universal.

PIBD Echoes from BSPGHAN Leeds 2026 (Part 2): With Dr Christian Selinger and Dr Aaron Bancil

In Part 2 of our BSPGHAN IBD series, we’re joined by Dr Christian Selinger, adult gastroenterologist from Leeds, who paints a rather lovely picture of paediatric IBD care—while also gently bursting the bubble that, in several domains, we still have plenty to learn from our adult IBD colleagues. In the second half of the episode, Dr Aaron Bancil from The Royal London Hospital takes us into the world of dietary intervention in IBD, offering a glimpse into the low emulsifier diet being explored as part of the ADDapt trial. Food for thought—cleverly emulsified!