Symposium on Crohn's Disease is Sunday in Deerfield

A symposium on Crohn’s disease is scheduled for Sunday at Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, 1201 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield.

Several medical professionals from across the globe will present “Game-changing Concepts in Crohn’s Medicine,” including compelling evidence pointing to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) as the root cause of Crohn’s.

According to a news release, MAP is a bacteria proven to cause Johne’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting domestic livestock that is strikingly similar to Crohn’s. Likewise, Crohn’s is a debilitating and aggressive form of IBD affecting an estimated four million people worldwide – and numbers are increasing, especially in children.

The cost for general admission at the symposium - which begins at 2 p.m. - is $25 per person (plus processing fee). Following the presentations, there will be a special “Meet & Greet,” during which guests can get to know the speakers better and ask further questions. An additional $75 donation applies for this portion.

All proceeds will go toward establishing the cause of Crohn’s and developing better therapies.

The event is sponsored by CJE SeniorLife and Jewish Child & Family Services.