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Mission and Leadership

Our Mission

Mission and Leadership

The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD) is a society of medical, scientific, and allied health professionals dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of celiac disease and gluten-related disorders.

Our mission is to foster research, promote excellence in clinical care, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.

As the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Celiac Disease Foundation, the SSCD continues to advance scientific discovery and clinical excellence while strengthening collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and advocates to improve patient outcomes.

The SSCD has been established to

  • Organize educational, training, and scientific conferences, workshops, and similar gatherings for the medical and scientific communities;
  • Encourage careers in the field of celiac disease by promoting education, training, and mentorship for clinical practitioners and researchers;
  • Develop funding from private and public sources for research and use a peer-review process to award grants;
  • Provide leadership in developing clinical and research protocols to ensure early detection, effective treatment, and scientific progress;
  • Provide patient-support groups and related organizations with medically and scientifically sound information about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity;
  • Contribute medical and scientific guidance to government policy and regulatory deliberations; and
  • Engage in information exchange and collaboration with the pharmaceutical and medical testing industries.

Through its partnership with the Celiac Disease Foundation, the SSCD strengthens its mission to accelerate research, expand education, and enhance clinical care for individuals affected by celiac disease.

Leadership

  • Dawn Adams, MD, MS, CNSC

    Chair

    Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director, Center for Human Nutrition, and Director of Celiac Clinic, Vanderbilt University; Nashville, TN

  • Maureen Leonard, MD, MMSc

    Chair Elect

    Director, Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MassGeneral Hospital for Children; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA

  • Marisa Stahl, MD, MSCS

    Treasurer

    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado; Aurora, CO

  • Stephanie Moleski, MD

    Secretary

    Associate Professor of Medicine; Director of the Celiac Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Philadelphia, PA

  • Ritu Verma, MD

    Past Chair

    Professor of Pediatrics, Section Chief, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Medical Director, Celiac Disease Center, Vice Chair, Ambulatory Pediatric Strategy, 2020 Master Clinician, Bucksbaum Institute, University of Chicago; Chicago, IL

Councilors

  • Jackie Jossen, MD

    The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University in New York, New York

  • Imad Absah, MD

    Mayo Clinic

  • Sharon Weston, MS, RD, CSP, LDN

    Boston Children’s Hospital

Call for nominations

Councilor nominations for 2026-2028 are now open. Four Councilors will be appointed. The Councilor’s role is to attend monthly Executive Committee meetings and represent the SSCD committees, which include the Education, Research, Membership, and Dietitian Committees. Councilors are expected to take an active role in the committee that they are supporting. If you would like to nominate someone for a Councilor position, please fill out the nomination form here.