CHICAGO CHAPTER

Eric Berlin

Eric Berlin was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease the summer after he graduated from high school in 1985. In a pre-dawn prednisone haze during a flare in 2008, Eric drew up a plan for an organization that would provide support to IBD patients and families. Shortly thereafter, he learned of the IBD Support Foundation and was eager to help. He became a facilitator for the Chicago Adult Spport Group, and has enjoyed tremendously helping other patients through good and bad times and working to facilitate camaraderie, perspective, and hope. Eric is also a litigation partner at Jones Day in Chicago, a member of the Board of Directors for the Better Government Association, on the Associates Board for the Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation, a competitive runner, a rock drummer, and father and husband.

Erica Matagrano

Erica Matagrano was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in the fall 2004. Reaching out to family members who also have IBD, Erica was able to gain the support she needed to help her cope and deal with her disease. Realizing how fortunate she was to have those family members, Erica contacted her gastroenterologist and offered her assistance to other patients who were struggling with their disease. Eagerly attending the first Adult Support Group of the IBD Support Foundation she hasn't missed a meeting since and eventually became one of the support group facilitators. In addition to working with the IBD Support Foundation Erica is the Administrative Director of the IBD Center at the University of Chicago Medical Center and is the secretary for the Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation.