53: Get to Know "A Gluten Free Family"

Join Podcast Coordinator Leah Popovic as she speaks to well renowned actress and producer Sam Doumit about her experience living with a wheat allergy. Doumit, who starred alongside Rob Schnieder in the film “The Hot Chick,” provides insight to working in Hollywood with dietary restrictions, as well as how her attitude and self-advocacy has played a role in her health today.

In this episode, we chat with two renowned gastroenterologists, Dr, Benjamin Lebwohl and Dr. Ritu Verma, about the role genetic tests and biopsies play in diagnosing celiac disease. What can these tests tell us about a patient's health? Are they necessary to diagnose celiac disease? The conversation is followed by a community Q&A.    Dr. Lebwohl and Dr. Verma are members of The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD). The SSCD is a professional organization of physicians, nurses, dietitians, and allied health professionals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who specialize in the treatment of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.

In this episode, we chatted with Colleen and Libby, two sisters who were diagnosed with celiac disease at the same time, shortly after their older brother was diagnosed. Their story emphasizes the importance of getting relatives tested, regardless of symptoms, and sheds light on what it's like to grow up with celiac disease today.    This episode is sponsored by imaware. Use our code to get a discount on at-home testing kits!

World-renowned celiac disease expert Dr. Stefano Guandalini, MD, sat down with us to answer your questions about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. In this episode, the audience-submitted questions focused on conditions that are commonly seen alongside celiac disease. Dr. Guandalini is also the medical advisor for the sponsor of this Town Hall, imaware™.

We facilitated a community Q&A with Amelie Therrien, MD, gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, about potential non-dietary treatments for celiac disease. She answers your questions about how some of these potential treatments work, the role of the gluten challenge in clinical trials, and whether treatments may work for other autoimmune conditions, too. This event was sponsored by the Solutions for Celiac study on latiglutenase. 

Beyond Celiac ambassador Noah Lustbader is one of the youngest scientists working hands-on towards a cure for celiac disease. As a junior in college at Vanderbilt University, Noah is already pioneering a multi-centered project with Vanderbilt’s Clinic Director Dr. Dawn Adams, including centers such as Mayo Clinic and Harvard. In this episode, he talks about his experience as an undergraduate research assistant alongside Dr. Arnold Han at Columbia University's Irving Medical Center, studying t-cells and possible therapeutic strategies for celiac disease in a professional laboratory.

Healthcare systems across the globe often fall short when caring for celiac disease patients. Himanshi Pareek shares how misinformation from her doctors in India worsened her condition, leading to her own scientific discoveries which countered the medical advice she received.

Roby Sobieski is an actor, model and magician whose appearance on “The Bachelorette” has lended him lots of social media popularity. His aunt, Alice Bast, founder and CEO of Beyond Celiac, connects him to our organization, where Roby has advocated for greater celiac disease awareness, and even volunteered at our 2020 virtual event entitled “An Evening Beyond Celiac.” In this episode, Podcast Coordinator Leah Popovic learns more about Roby’s connections to celiac disease, as well as his experience with Bachelor Nation and what his future may hold. 

You might recognize Sarah Joy Brown from her various on-screen acting appearances, such as General Hospital and Big Momma’s House. Get to know more about her life behind the scenes as an actress with celiac disease, as she speaks with Podcast Coordinator Leah Popovic on the importance of visibility and advocacy, especially in the acting industry.

Hear our Reach Beyond Celiac ambassadors share advice on how to safely enjoy gluten-free foods in foreign countries.