Delete the Wheat - Blog

Get the Facts on COVID-19 Vaccines and Celiac Disease

/

Get the Facts on COVID-19 Vaccines and Celiac Disease

Register here:

https://partners.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7Msf1y-bScmTiN8znYAhQA

Join the National Celiac Association (NCA) and the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program for a discussion on celiac disease and COVID-19 vaccines. The second webinar in our “All Things Celiac” 2021 series will be held Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 1:00pm EST. Speakers will present on selected topics for 60 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.

Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic requires understanding variations in the human immune system, how different groups are affected by the virus, and how we can leverage science to develop targeted vaccines to protect us. Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the Precisions Vaccine Program in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dr. Lael Yonker, pediatric pulmonologist and co-founder of the Pediatric COVID-19 Biorepository at Massachusetts General Hospital, will lead the discussion to help attendees understand what is known about the COVID-19 virus today and how new developments will help to contain community spread of the virus.

Lee Graham, executive director of the National Celiac Association, will introduce the webinar and Dr. Dascha Weir, pediatric gastroenterologist in the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Celiac Disease Program, will moderate the session. Please submit general questions when you register or during the webinar on the Zoom platform.

Please note: This is an educational webinar, and no information is intended for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 1.25 CEU for Registered Dietitians (pending); 1.5 CEUs for Registered Nurses. CEU certificates will be sent to participants via email after completion of webinar.

Save The Dates!

Thursday, April 15: “Gluten-Free Farm to Table: Delicious, Nutritious and Affordable Options for Whole Food.” A closer look at local, seasonal produce, home herb gardens, and healthy gluten-free dishes featuring gluten-free grains with a registered dietitian and chef

Wednesday, May 25: “Research Roundup: Promising Therapies for Celiac Disease” – A panel with gastroenterologists from the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital’s Celiac Program, and the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment, Massachusetts General Hospital, will highlight the latest research from Digestive Disease Week for treatment alternatives to the gluten-free diet.

/ /

Melinda Dennis, MS, RDN

Hi! I was diagnosed with celiac disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis (an associated skin rash) in 1992 when celiac disease was considered to be rare. Following my passion for teaching, I received my MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion from Simmons College in Boston, MA, completed my clinical internship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and in 2004 co-founded the Celiac Center as the Nutrition Coordinator and a research co-investigator where I work today.

I enjoy lecturing nationally and internationally and have written extensively on the nutritional management of celiac disease, including the award-winning book Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting and Thriving Gluten Free. I am lead author and editor of the comprehensive nutrition and medical website: celiacnow.org and served two terms as the first dietitian Councilor at Large for the North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease.

I now serve as Executive Committee Member of the Celiac Research Program at Harvard Medical School. and as Senior Nutritionist Consultant to the National Celiac Association.

I've been interviewed by NPR, US News and World Report, Today's Dietitian, Boston Magazine, AARP, Eating Well, the Harvard Health Letter, the Boston Globe, the LA Times, WCVB TV Boston, Fox News, and numerous radio stations and gluten-free magazines. It's been my pleasure to work with many patients and multiple gluten-free companies to advance the awareness of gluten-related disorders. Click here to access links to various interviews and articles.

Banner Photo: Courtesy of Newton Community Farm, MA