Sandra Kim, MD, a nationally recognized expert in pediatric and adolescent inflammatory bowel disease, is the chair of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Prior to this, she was Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center within the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Kim is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Inteflex (Integrated Pre-medical/Medical) Program, earning bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology as well as her medical degree. She completed her residency and pediatric GI fellowship training at the Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Chidlren's Hospital followed by research post-doctoral training (NIH/NIDDK and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation funded) at the University of North Carolina Center for GI Biology and Disease under the mentorship of R. Balfour Sartor, MD.

Dr. Kim’s clinical and research interests focus on pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases: adolescent transitioning and quality improvement in pediatric IBD, advocacy for care access, and the impact of the gastrointestinal microbiota in IBD. As a reflection of her dedication to her profession, Dr. Kim was awarded the 2011 and 2018 Rosenthal Awards and a 2020 Uniting to Care and Cure Award for her leadership in patient education and advocacy by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Improve Care Now (ICN), a national pediatric IBD quality improvement network. She is the current co-chair of the DEI committee and a member of the Community Council for ICN.Furthermore, she is a member of the NASPGHAN Foundation Board of Directors.

Dr. Kim has been an active member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation over the past 25 years. She was a past chair for the Government Affairs and Pediatric Affairs committees for the Foundation’s National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC) and has remained involved in the Foundation - funded pediatric research network, PROKIIDS. She was on the Board of Directors for the Central Ohio chapter of the Foundation and recently completed her term as board president for the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia chapter of the Foundation (2021-2022). She currently is a member of the Northern Ohio Chapter Board of Directors for the Foundation and recently joined the National Board of Trustees for the Foundation.