8th Annual Gala Benefit for the Celiac Diease Center at Columbia U. Medical Center

The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University invites you to celebrate 8 years of commitment and dedication to profoundly improving the lives of celiac patients around the globe. Join us for a reception and dinner at Mandarin Oriental, New York in New York City for an evening of spectacular gluten-free food and entertainment.

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Mandarin Oriental, New York
80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street
New York, NY 10023

Cocktails & Silent Auction 6:30 p.m.
Remarks & Dinner 7:30 p.m.
Music by Julliard
Attire: Festive

Silent Auction: Fabulous gifts will be offered through a silent auction. Checks, Amex, Visa and MasterCard will be accepted.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Pre-registration is required!

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Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University

Celiac Disease is an incurable autoimmune disorder characterized by intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. This intolerance damages the small intestine causing malabsorption of nutrients. In children, symptoms of the disease may include gastrointestinal problems, failure to thrive, tooth discoloration, short stature or developmental delays. In adults, untreated Celiac Disease may be associated with anemia, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis or infertility as well as Type 1 diabetes and certain cancers. The only known treatment for the disease is strict removal of gluten from the diet. The variety of symptoms combined with a general lack of awareness of the disease often leads to misdiagnosis or no diagnosis. Yet, celiac disease is actually relatively common. An estimated 3 million Americans have Celiac Disease (it is more prevalent than Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Multiple Sclerosis), yet 97% of cases are undiagnosed, leaving millions at risk.

The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center was established within the Department of Medicine at Columbia University in 2001 under the guidance of Peter Green, MD, one of a few recognized experts on celiac disease in the United States. The Center’s mission is to redefine the future of celiac disease and treatment through continuing advances in patient care, research, education and patient advocacy. The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center is one of a few centers in the United States that provides comprehensive medical care, including nutritional counseling, for adult and pediatric patients with celiac disease.

All of the Center’s research is directed toward celiac disease clinical, epidemiology, and mechanisms of pathogenesis of celiac disease and patient and physician education. The Center is diagnosing and treating more than 2800 patients annually from around the world. For additional information, please visit us online at www.celiacdiseasecenter.org