Get to Know the 2025 Fellows: Kaitlyn Niznik (New York, U.S.A.)

What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone newly diagnosed with IBD?

To anyone newly diagnosed, please give yourself some grace.  Know that there's going to be hard times ahead and you're going to experience things you never expected to deal with in your life.  It's okay to have bad days. It's okay to ask for help when you need it and be transparent with loved ones about how you're feeling.  Above all, don't forget your online IBD community is here for you!

How has your experience with IBD shaped you (personally, professionally, or both!)?

When I was younger I developed a severe blood/needle phobia.  As a precaution, I was excused from countless science lessons in school.  Since my diagnosis, I've tried to make up for lost time and learn more about the human body.  I read pathology books and IBD research papers in my free time so that I can be a more informed patient. 

What perspectives, topics, stories, or projects are you looking forward to sharing with the CCYAN community this year? 

I'm hoping to bring some art opportunities into my CCYAN Fellowship!  I am very interested in the topics of narrative medicine, biomedical communication, and medical illustration.  One perspective I am excited to share is having an IBD while also battling blood, medical, and needles phobias.  

What is your favorite book, movie, or tv series, and why?

My favorite movie is the Bollywood film Queen (2013) for its messages of independence and finding yourself.  I feel like getting an IBD in my 20s stunted my independence, so I really connect with the main character’s journey.  It also has one of my favorite songs ever - “Kinare”.

What’s your favorite song, band, or musical artist?

My favorite band is Enter the Haggis - a Canadian Celtic rock band with bagpipes and fiddles.  I've been to four of their concerts and own way too many of their t-shirts.  

What is your favorite hobby or fun activity?

I was an Irish step dancer for 11 years through high school and joined a Bollywood dance team for 5 years in college.  This year, I'm hoping to rekindle my love for Indian dancing by starting classical Bharatanatyam.

Get to Know the 2025 Fellows: Beamlak Alebel (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

What inspired you to apply for the CCYAN fellowship?

I was inspired to apply for the CCYAN fellowship because it is inspiring to see how people with IBD support each other and live their lives fully despite the challenges. These individuals serve as role models showing that it's possible to thrive with IBD seeing this kind of support can be incredibly empowering to feel less alone.

What is something you wish more people understood about living with IBD?

I wish people understood that living with IBD is a life threatening condition, not caused by malnutrition. Taking medication doesn't mean we are weak or incapable, we can manage our symptoms and still work and study and live lives. Again, sometimes certain foods can trigger our symptoms and while it might seem confusing we choose specific diets, because we understand what's happening behind-the-scenes in our bodies. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone newly diagnosed with IBD?

Know that IBD doesn't mean you can't live a full or meaningful life. Embrace it also knowing that you are not alone, embrace the lows with strength and appreciate the highs.

How has your experience with IBD shaped you (personally, professionally, or both)?

My experience with IBD shaped me in many ways. It made me to be empathetic toward others facing invisible illness, it also taught me the importance of self care and faith whenever we face uncertainty. Professionally it has fueled my passion to advocate and be resilient and made me turn my challenges into opportunities to help others.

What perspective, topic, stories, or projects are you looking forward to sharing with  CCYAN community this year?

My goal as a CCYAN advocate is to empower individuals living in IBD by sharing the lessons I learned from my journey. In addition to this, I have a goal to develop an app which is multilingual containing  both Amharic and English to support IBD patients in Ethiopia and globally.

As someone with IBD, what is something someone (a friend, family member, partner, teacher, doctor etc) has said or done that made you feel supported or understood?

One thing that has made me feel supported as someone with IBD was hearing 'you are not alone - you can, we can’ from a Crohns and Colitis Ethiopia member. It gives me hope and reminds me that we are in this together.

What is your favourite hobby or fun activity?

My favourite hobbies are going to church and taking night walks with my brother. Those moments give me peace and faith and time to connect with my family.

What are your favourite books, movies, or TV series and why?

My favourite TV series is Don't mess with an Angel (cuidado con al angel) which is a Mexican telenovela originally in Spanish. I found it interesting because of its emotional story and strong characters. It showed overcoming challenges with love and strength. 

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

If I could have any superpower it would be the ability to cure illness and provide basic needs for every one. I would work to make sure that no one has to suffer from lack of these essentials.