UNC Professor Leads Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

Dr. Edward Barnes oversees multidisciplinary IBD care at the University of North Carolina.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Edward Barnes, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and co-director of the Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Why it matters

Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are complex conditions that require a team-based approach to provide the best care for patients. Dr. Barnes' leadership of the UNC IBD Center helps ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and research.

The details

As co-director of the Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at UNC, Dr. Barnes oversees a team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, nutritionists, and other specialists who work together to provide comprehensive care for patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory bowel conditions.

  • Dr. Barnes has been an associate professor at UNC since 2018.

The players

Edward Barnes, MD, MPH

An associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology and co-director of the Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A public research university where Dr. Barnes oversees the Multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center.

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The takeaway

Dr. Barnes' leadership of the UNC IBD Center demonstrates the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treating complex chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases, which can greatly improve patient outcomes.