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Connections
Why join us for CONNECTIONS?
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You have just heard the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and received information from your doctor about treatments, but you still have so many questions. How do I explain this to family members, what is the best way to communicate with my child’s school, how can I support my child, how will this affect the family, and so much more. Where do you look for answers?
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CtoC provides peer-to-peer connections and support to families who often feel misunderstood as they are making tough decisions about medical treatments, navigating school and social issues, and dealing with the psychological impact of these diseases. Many people do not understand how serious Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis can be. We bring attention to these diseases in order to drive funding for research and to let people know they have somewhere to turn for support.
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When you contact us, we will connect you with a member of our community who is familiar with the issues you are coping with.​​​​
"My son was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an incurable, lifelong chronic illness. This has inspired me to do whatever I can to help other patients and families navigate Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Connecting to Cure Crohn's and Colitis has been my rock for over 6 years. Our journey has been supported with incredible advice and love."
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Bette F.
Click here to read more testimonials.
CONNECTIONS Support Group Facilitators
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Edward Feldman, M.D.
David Ziring, MD is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s and Associate Director of the Pediatric IBD Program within the F. Widjaja IBD Institute. He has dedicated his career to improving the lives of children and adolescents living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
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Dr. Ziring is known for his patient-centered approach and his commitment to helping families navigate the uncertainty and stress that often follows a new diagnosis. He provides individualized care that integrates traditional medical therapy with a growing focus on diet-based approaches and innovative monitoring tools. His clinical interests include advanced therapies for pediatric IBD and the use of point-of-care intestinal ultrasound in clinic to provide real-time information that enhances conversations, reduces uncertainty, and supports shared decision-making.
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Beyond the clinic, Dr. Ziring has contributed to the pediatric IBD community through education, research, and collaboration aimed at improving evidence-based care and expanding patient access to high-quality treatments. He is also passionate about mentorship and training future physicians and pediatric gastroenterologists.
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Dr. Ziring is especially committed to supporting families outside of traditional medical visits. He is proud to volunteer with Connecting to Cure, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families impacted by IBD. Through his involvement, he helps facilitate a monthly caregiver support group, creating a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to connect, share practical strategies, and feel less alone while caring for a child with IBD.​
David Ziring, M.D.
David Ziring, MD, has dedicated his life to helping children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). He received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School while earning his master's degree in clinical immunology. Dr. Ziring went on to receive residency training in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Orange County, then pursued subspecialty training in Pediatric Gastroenterology at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine with Marvin Ament, MD, and associated faculty. At UCLA, Dr. Ziring concentrated his research efforts on the regulation of the immune system in IBD with research mentor, Jonathan Braun, MD. He has since migrated research interests from working in the laboratory with animal models to studies involving patients with IBD. This work resulted in the award of a Broad Medical Research Program grant to study the immunomodulatory effects of large doses of vitamin D in children with Crohn's disease. He is currently primary investigator for a clinical trial to study the role of stem cell transplantation in adolescents and young adults with medically refractory Crohn’s disease.
Besides his research and direct patient care, Dr. Ziring works closely with the IBD community. He has served as medical director of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's national Team Challenge half marathons, with events in Napa, San Antonio, New Orleans, Miami and Hawaii that have raised more than $90 million. He has been a volunteer physician with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s summer program Camp Oasis, caring for more than 120 children with IBD each summer. Dr. Ziring serves as a primary investigator and a representative of Cedars-Sinai for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s national pediatric research network PROKIIDS and is a member of the IBD Committee for the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He is the editor of the book “Your Child with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Family Guide for Caregiving.” He has advocated for earlier FDA labeling for drugs approved to treat adults with inflammatory bowel disease, serving on several national committees. Dr. Ziring has been invited to speak at regional academic centers on topics from skeletal health in children with IBD, the importance of treating to mucosal healing, and the transition of care of teens with IBD.