Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program

Caroline Hwang, MD

Dr. Caroline Hwang is the Program Director for the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program at Hoag. Dr. Hwang received her Doctor of Medicine from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. She then went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, a clinical research fellowship for the Hereditary Colon/Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program at Columbia University and a gastroenterology fellowship at University of California San Francisco. Dr. Hwang is board certified in gastroenterology and is a recognized expert in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Hwang joined Hoag following her time at Keck Medicine of USC, where she was Medical Director of their IBD Center and served as an assistant professor of medicine, as well as a mentor for numerous physicians-in-training specializing in IBD/GI care. She has focused research on the role of nutrition in IBD outcomes and responses to therapies, as well as disparities in IBD outcomes. Dr. Hwang is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Elizabeth R. Raskin, MD

Elizabeth R. Raskin, M.D., is Surgical Director for the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program within the Digestive Health Institute at Hoag. A colorectal surgeon with approximately 20 years of experience advancing state-of-the-art technologies and innovative surgical techniques, Dr. Raskin understands the importance of how medical care is delivered and provides cutting-edge, comprehensive care to provide better surgical treatment and improved patient recovery. Specializing in the treatment of complex colon, rectal and anal conditions, including laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical techniques, Dr. Raskin believes we must use our experience, instinct and imagination to reach beyond traditional boundaries to pave the way for better healthcare today and tomorrow. Skilled in minimally invasive surgery, she has a keen interest in examining how robotic surgery and developing technologies can improve patient treatment options and outcomes. As a researcher, Dr. Raskin has specific interests in IBD, complex diverticular disease, and ostomy creation and care. She has written and contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbooks and has presented multiple national and international lectures on a wide array of colorectal topics. Dr. Raskin lectures, teaches and trains surgeons of all levels, allied health representatives and industry on robotics. As a perpetual student, Dr. Raskin is uniquely interested in energy medicine and functional healing as an adjunct to surgical care.

Caroline Hwang, MD

Dr. Caroline Hwang is the Program Director for the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program at Hoag. Dr. Hwang received her Doctor of Medicine from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. She then went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, a clinical research fellowship for the Hereditary Colon/Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program at Columbia University and a gastroenterology fellowship at University of California San Francisco. Dr. Hwang is board certified in gastroenterology and is a recognized expert in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Hwang joined Hoag following her time at Keck Medicine of USC, where she was Medical Director of their IBD Center and served as an assistant professor of medicine, as well as a mentor for numerous physicians-in-training specializing in IBD/GI care. She has focused research on the role of nutrition in IBD outcomes and responses to therapies, as well as disparities in IBD outcomes. Dr. Hwang is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Elizabeth R. Raskin, MD

Elizabeth R. Raskin, M.D., is Surgical Director for the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program within the Digestive Health Institute at Hoag. A colorectal surgeon with approximately 20 years of experience advancing state-of-the-art technologies and innovative surgical techniques, Dr. Raskin understands the importance of how medical care is delivered and provides cutting-edge, comprehensive care to provide better surgical treatment and improved patient recovery. Specializing in the treatment of complex colon, rectal and anal conditions, including laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical techniques, Dr. Raskin believes we must use our experience, instinct and imagination to reach beyond traditional boundaries to pave the way for better healthcare today and tomorrow. Skilled in minimally invasive surgery, she has a keen interest in examining how robotic surgery and developing technologies can improve patient treatment options and outcomes. As a researcher, Dr. Raskin has specific interests in IBD, complex diverticular disease, and ostomy creation and care. She has written and contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbooks and has presented multiple national and international lectures on a wide array of colorectal topics. Dr. Raskin lectures, teaches and trains surgeons of all levels, allied health representatives and industry on robotics. As a perpetual student, Dr. Raskin is uniquely interested in energy medicine and functional healing as an adjunct to surgical care.

Rashmi Kumar, MD

Dr. Kumar is a gastroenterologist for the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program at the Hoag Digestive Health Institute. She is focused on digestive health with a special interest in helping patients manage inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Kumar provides individualized treatment plans and works with a team of digestive health experts to provide a comprehensive approach to wellness for each patient. Dr. Kumar completed her compulsory rotating internship at Patna Medical College in Bihar, India before her internship and residency program in internal medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Kumar went on to complete her gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (UACOMP) and her advanced IBD fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Prior to joining Hoag, she started and established the IBD clinic at Banner University Medical Center- Phoenix, served as a clinical assistant professor at UACOMP and mentored medical residents and GI fellows. Dr. Kumar is double board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a member of American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and the International Bowel Ultrasound Group. In addition to caring for her patients, Dr. Kumar is actively involved in research projects related to inflammatory bowel disease. She has authored numerous publications and presented at national and international conferences.

Pollyanna Wong, PA

Physician Assistant

David R. Braxton, MD

Lenni Pearson, RN-BSN

Clinical Nurse Navigator

Kim DeLiema, LCSW

Digestive Health Therapist

Chelsea Honrath, RDN

Registered Dietitian