Every year, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada proudly recognizes exceptional healthcare professionals and researchers whose work and dedication to care are improving the lives of people affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The 2026 award recipients include:
IBD Nurse of the Year: Karen Frost, RN(EC), MN, NP
IBD Physician of the Year: Dr. Jesse Siffledeen, MD, FRCPC
Rising Star: Dr. Ellen Kuenzig, PhD
Through compassionate care, innovative research and a commitment to their communities, these three leaders are helping build a better future for Canadians living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD Nurse of the Year Award
Karen Frost, RN(EC), MN, NP
Nurse Practitioner, SickKids IBD Centre
Program Director, Precision IBD and Monogenic Intestinal Diseases Program (PIMID), Hospital for Sick Children
Karen Frost is a nurse practitioner at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) IBD Centre and Program Director of the Precision IBD and Monogenic Intestinal Diseases Program (PIMID) in Toronto, Ontario. For more than 20 years, she has worked to improve care, education, and support for children and families affected by Crohn’s or colitis.
Through her work, Karen has helped develop teen IBD networks, educational resources, transitional-care pathways, and vaccination initiatives. She also contributed to the development of SickKids’ first hospital app to support IBD care and improve the patient experience.
Through her clinical, research and teaching roles, Karen champions collaborative, patient-centred care, and the important role nurses play supporting their patients. Her compassion and dedication have made a lasting difference for young people and their families affected by these diseases.
IBD Physician of the Year Award
Dr. Jesse Siffledeen, MD, FRCPC
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta
Director, South Edmonton Gastroenterology Research Unit
Site Lead Physician, Gastroenterology, Grey Nuns Hospital
Dr. Jesse Siffledeen is an IBD specialist, associate clinical professor at the University of Alberta and Director of the South Edmonton Gastroenterology Research Unit.
Since 2012, he has built a large clinical practice serving more than 1,200 people with Crohn's or colitis. In 2017, he established a clinical trials unit to give patients greater access to emerging treatments. The unit has participated in more than 40 clinical trials, helping some patients avoid major surgery or hospitalization while improving their quality of life.
Dr. Siffledeen also collaborates with healthcare professionals, researchers and patient organizations to strengthen IBD care both locally and nationally. His commitment to clinical research and patient-centred care continues to create meaningful change for those affected by Crohn's or colitis.
Rising Star Award
Dr. Ellen Kuenzig, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University
Associate Scientist, Children’s Health Research Instituten
Dr. Ellen Kuenzig is an assistant professor at Western University and an associate scientist at the Children’s Health Research Institute in London, Ontario.
Combining her personal experience of living with Crohn’s with her passion for research, Dr. Kuenzig studies how and why IBD develops, what may contribute to more severe disease, and how people with IBD interact with the healthcare system.
Her work uses routinely collected health information to identify patterns that can help improve healthcare services and inform policy. She also contributes to several national research networks and is Scientific Lead for the upcoming 2028 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada report.
Through her research and leadership, Dr. Kuenzig is helping build a stronger understanding of IBD and improve care for people across Canada.
Advancing Care and Research Together
All three recipient's work demonstrates the difference that compassionate care, meaningful collaboration, and innovative research can make.
Please join Crohn’s and Colitis Canada in congratulating this year's award recipients and thanking them for their extraordinary contributions to Canada’s Crohn's and colitis community.