Tanisha Singh, India

Tanisha is 27 years old and lives in New Delhi, India. She is a mental health practitioner and works as a therapist with several groups of people including patients of chronic illnesses including but not limited to IBD. Tanisha’s masters thesis was based on exploring the lived experiences of women living with IBD which helped her learn that the transition period for those who have been recently diagnosed with a chronic illness like IBD, is a very sensitive time for the individual, who requires support and assistance in making this transition more easily. Tanisha belives that with her training in psychology, she will be able to fill up the gaps existing in the current health infrastructure available for patients of chronic illnesses, which lacks a great deal in the mental health aspect of living with a physical condition such as IBD.

Tanisha was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 23 and has since been inspired to utilise her skills to create awareness around issues concerning individuals living with IBD, as well as to use her experience and skills to make the journey easier on fellow IBD-ians.

She is also a dancer and ever since being diagnosed with IBD has helped her take up this dance form more regularly in her life, as she believes that art is one such pleasure in life that can help you restore whatever it is that the trials and tribulations of life take away.

Karen Mancera, USA

Karen is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Florida majoring in biomedical engineering. She graduated with a BS in bioengineering from the University of Georgia in 2021. She is currently focused on conducting research on the human gut microbiome within inflammatory bowel disease. As a first-generation Latinx student, she aims to support younger students in STEM through mentoring programs. She enjoys collecting indoor plants, weight training, and crafting.

Karen was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2021 at age 22. After trying multiple medications, and some hospitalizations within a year, she reached remission with Remicade. She is passionate about outreach opportunities and hopes to increase IBD awareness through her research and through her advocacy within CCYAN.

Mahder Ayalew, Ethiopia

Mahder is a 22-year-old nurse from Ethiopia who graduated from Addis Ababa University with a B.S. in nursing in 2021. Mahder was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at 17 years old after living with painful symptoms for more than six years. Almost three years ago, Mahder was connected with 2022 fellow Dr. Fasika Teferra and has enjoyed getting to learn from others’ experiences through Fasika’s online support group, Crohn’s and Colitis Ethiopia. She has also volunteered as the patient support director for this group.

Mahder is a huge advocate for patients with IBD and her journey has given her life purpose and strengthened her faith. In her free time, Mahder enjoys spending time with her three adorable nieces.

Linda Yoo, USA

Linda Yoo is a PhD student in nursing science at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and works as a registered nurse while attending graduate school. She was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2012. Linda decided to pursue nursing after experiencing compassionate care from a nurse when struggling with UC in high school. During her undergraduate studies, she discovered her passion for research. Currently, Linda is focused on understanding the impact of sleep on IBD symptoms and disease activity. She hopes to continue conducting research that impacts and sheds light on the daily lives of those with IBD. As a CCYAN fellow, she wishes to share IBD research and advocate for IBD research that prioritizes the needs of IBD patients. Linda is humbled to be a CCYAN fellow and excited for this opportunity to share information on IBD and learn about advocacy!

Divya Mehrish, USA

Divya is a sophomore at Stanford University double majoring in Comparative Literature and Science, Technology, and Society, with a focus on medical humanities. A widely published writer from New York City, she is passionate about creative writing, learning languages, theater, nature, and IBD advocacy and research, as a member of the National Council of College Leaders (NCCL) at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Divya was diagnosed with fulminant Ulcerative Colitis when she was thirteen years old. Barely avoiding a colectomy, she struggled through colonoscopies, trials of various biologics, and endless hospitalizations. As her health appeared to be failing her, she began to lose hope. But when you reach this in-between—when you come close enough to sniffing death—you are reminded of the gift of life. And at thirteen, she was not ready to let go. So she fought fiercely for her recovery, and continues to fight. 

Divya realized she had a tendency to feel inside of herself—to tuck every feeling away into a fold of intestine. So, she turned to storytelling to learn to feel outside of herself. Creative writing is a form of cathartic communication—it’s a way to tell one’s story. She has used writing to teach others about empathy, promote understanding about chronic illness, and reduce stigma. 

Her UC has become her platform, her secret weapon—the strength she has gained in her journey has made her more confident in her voice and more resilient. She is passionate about emboldening others to be revolutionary with their own words. 

Laurel Dorr, USA

Laurel lives in New England and currently works as a TRIO Writing Specialist, serving community college students who are first-generation, have a low income, or have a disability. She earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree in 2021, studied in Vassar College’s Exploring Transfer immersion program, and hopes to begin a bachelor's degree in Education and/or Women’s and Gender Studies in the fall of 2023. Recently, she also completed an editorial internship with Sundress Publications.

After several years of ambiguous symptoms, Laurel was diagnosed with Crohn’s colitis in 2020 during a severe flare. For much of that time, her mindset was laser-focused on a resolution to her IBD story—to achieve long-term remission. When that didn’t happen, however, she became interested in how we craft narratives around our identities, particularly chronic illness. That process has allowed her to examine the “chronic” element of her disease, and begin rewriting her perceptions and language around illness.

She isn’t certain what her future career will look like, but she envisions a role somewhere between education and disability/health advocacy. Her passions for writing and teaching, as well as her emerging interest in critical identity studies, seem to be intersecting in exciting ways. In the process, she hopes to help others craft their own personal narratives—through her writing-related work, and as a 2023 CCYAN Fellow!