After being diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at the age of ten, Claudia knew she wanted to pursue a career that would better patient outcomes for children living with gastrointestinal diseases. She believes living with IBD has given her the tenacity and resilience to pursue this goal. Claudia recently completed a Master of Science in Cell Biology at UofT and is currently working at SickKids as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the IBD Centre. SickKids is a familiar territory for Claudia as she’s volunteered in IBD research at the hospital since she was sixteen years old. Apart from research, Claudia is passionate about advocating for invisible illnesses. She serves as a patient partner for the PACE project, which aims to improve the transition to adult care for IBD patients. She is looking forward to bringing her past experiences – both as a patient and as a patient partner – to CCHCSP.