Message from the Director
It is estimated that 1 in 133 people have celiac disease. That means that between 2.5 to 3 million Americans have the disease. Yet, the vast majority of cases are undiagnosed. the reason for this is that celiac disease remains a poorly understood disorder by both medical professionals and the public at large. Its presentations are varied and often people are misdiagnosed with other problems instead, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Celiac disease is relatively unique in that the treatment does not involve taking medication. Instead, it involves a complete change to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet. Unfortunately, many people diagnosed with celiac disease do not receive adequate education about this extremely important life change, leaving them confused and at risk for the complications of the disease.
The Celiac Center of Long Island (CCLI) was created to provide diagnostic services, treatment, education, and support to people with celiac disease. Our board-certified gastroenterologists understand the nuances of the disease, knowing when to consider it and how to diagnose it. We perform our endoscopic evaluations at our sister institution, the Endoscopy Center of Long Island (ECLI), where our board-certified pathologists are adept at assisting with making what can sometimes be a difficult diagnosis to confirm. Our registered dietician is available for consultations to review the complexities of the gluten-free diet, including providing information on shopping tips, recipes, and strategies when eating out. Our partnership with the Northwell Health System provides us with access to a multitude of specialists to address the metabolic and dermatalogic issues associated with celiac disease. Perhaps most importantly, we are dedicated to education the community. Our ongoing free lecture series provides valuable insights for patients, family members, and the general community into all aspects of celiac disease and the gluten free diet.
Finally, Long Islanders have a place to turn to for high-quality, compassionate care devoted to celiac disease, the Celiac Center of Long Island.
Alan Lipp, MD, FACP, FACG
To Contact CCLI-516-227-3254 and ask for Susan