As Quebec Honorary Chair for the Montreal Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, Nesrine is an ambassador for IBD and for the Faculty  

 

On June 2, Nesrine Aboulhamid, a McGill medical student (Class of 2027) who has Crohn’s disease, proudly served as the Quebec Honorary Chair for this year’s Montreal Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. The annual walk, which takes place in over 50 locations across Canada, is the largest single-day fundraiser for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.  

  

From patient to provider  

This year’s Montreal event was especially significant with Nesrine at the helm. Her journey with Crohn’s disease began at age 17, following her first colonoscopy where she was told: “Food has nothing to do with Crohn’s disease.” Questioning this statement, she developed a keen interest in the gut microbiome and its relationship with nutrition. This curiosity drove her to pursue a undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences and become a Registered Dietitian, determined to explore and better understand the intricate link between diet and gut health. Her commitment to enhancing personalized treatments led her to publish a paper with the McGill IBD Research Group on comparative effectiveness of biologics. She also advocated for her community’s rights, emphasizing the need to consider patient-specific responses amidst recent cost-driven mandates to switch from original biologics to biosimilars. 

 

She eventually decided to return to school to pursue a medical degree, aiming to both become a care provider for patients like herself and to inspire others to pursue a career in medicine by proving that determination can conquer chronic illness barriers.  

 

Hope, stories and laughter 

 

Nesrine has been part of Montreal’s Gutsy Walk organizing committee for several years and became a peer support mentor with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, using her voice and personal experiences to raise awareness. She looks forward to every Gutsy Walk as a day filled with hope, shared stories and laughter. She has met others who understand the challenges she faces, and formed friendships that enrich her life in ways she never thought possible. Coming back every year is important because it is a day when a whole community stands – and walks! – together, supporting and lifting one another up. It is a chance for her to turn her struggles into something positive by raising awareness and funds for research – with every dollar bringing us one step closer to a cure. 

 

Strong FMHS presence 

 

Nesrine is among several members of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in her journey. The Montreal Chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is led by Edden Gitelman, a graduate student in the Department of Experimental Medicine, and Taylor Morganstein, a medical student from the Class of 2026. Their collaborative efforts have significantly contributed to the chapter’s success and impact. 

 

The 2024 Gutsy Walk event had an impressive turnout, with participants walking both in-person and virtually across Canada and raised over $2 million, which will be directed towards research, patient programs and advocacy initiatives. Importantly, over $112,000 was raised in Montreal alone, where more than 200 people affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis gathered in support. Nesrine’s leadership and enthusiasm were pivotal in garnering this support and participation, adding a personal touch and reminding everyone of the human side of these conditions. 

 

Learn more about Crohn’s and Colitis here!