Speaker bios

Professor Ailsa Hart is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at St Mark’s Hospital and Past Dean of St Mark’s Hospital Academic Institute. In 2016, she achieved academic promotion at Imperial College London, UK, and is now Professor of Practice, making her among the youngest females to achieve this award at Imperial College. She is also Honorary Skou Professor at the University of Aarhus in Denmark. She studied medicine at Oxford University and was awarded a First-Class Honours Degree. She achieved her PhD with Imperial College London, funded by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship. She has mentored and trained many gastroenterologists, who are now clinical investigators engaged in IBD research nationally and internationally. Together with many of them, she has published 2 books and over 400 papers, reviews and book chapters. She was on the Governing Board of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) as Scientific Officer, Treasurer and was member of the Clinical Committee of ECCO. She has contributed to the IBD Clinical Research Group Committee for the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and is past Chair of the Gut Microbiota for Health Group of the BSG. She is the UK Patient and Public Involvement Lead for Gastroenterology, and is on the Research Committee at Crohn’s & Colitis UK. She is a member of the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD).

Dr Calum Moulton is a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at St Mark’s Hospital, and NIHR Advanced Fellow at the Division of Psychiatry (Imperial College London) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (King’s College London). Clinically and academically, Dr Moulton has a particular interest in improving fatigue and depression in people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and intestinal failure. He is studying novel medications to improve severe fatigue in IBD. He is Chief Investigator on the largest antidepressant trial to date in patients with IBD. 

Priscilla: "My name is Priscilla, I’m 31 and I live in Leicester. In 2022, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis - a moment that changed everything. I was working as an English lecturer teaching 16–18-year-olds, and it was my whole identity. Letting that go was heartbreaking. Living with this illness meant dealing with urgency, pain, blood, and even accidents - including in the classroom. It brought on anxiety, uncertainty, and moments that felt so isolating. As a Black woman, navigating the medical system also came with challenges, which is why I’m so passionate about speaking up and supporting others who may feel unheard. Even though it felt like my world was falling apart, I started rebuilding my life. I found joy in crochet, reading, and living a slower, more intentional life. I’ve discovered a new purpose through social media and advocacy. I use my voice to speak up for those who feel unheard, and in doing so, I’ve found connection, strength, and a renewed sense of identity. This journey hasn’t been easy, but it has led me to a place of growth, resilience, and unexpected joy. And now, I’m committed to supporting others who need it, reminding them they are not alone."

Catherine Winsor has worked in the healthcare charity sector for over 20 years, including senior roles at Prostate Cancer UK and Bowel Cancer UK, leading teams focused on improving healthcare pathways and the provision of patient support services. Catherine is passionate about health inequality and improving access to support for everyone.