2024 Gala for Crohn's & Colitis

Tell us about him/her. A compassionate and deeply loved physician, Dr. Andrew Simon Warner, Chief Emeritus of Gastroenterology at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, was a nationally recognized specialist in inflammatory bowel disease, mentor of countless gastroenterology fellows and staff, and a cherished husband and father. He died on June 10, 2024, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. Dr. Warner joined the staff at Lahey Clinic as a gastroenterologist in 1992, beginning as the Medical Director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He later became the Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, as well as a Senior Staff Physician. In 1999, he was chosen to be Chief of Gastroenterology, becoming one of the youngest department chairs in Lahey’s history. It was a position he held for the next 25 years. As Chief, Dr. Warner expanded the Lahey gastroenterology department into its current state of excellence, displaying extraordinary leadership skills and always advocating for those in his department. Working on the cutting edge of clinical research and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, he became a nationally recognized authority on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as a highly skilled endoscopist, having performed over 50,000 procedures. Establishing himself as one of the nation’s leading advocates for patient-centric care, he revolutionized a new approach to health care policy and was awarded the Congressional Advocacy Award in 2008. He firmly believed that “every physician should be a patient advocate, because the patient comes first.” Dr. Warner was a successful author in gastroenterology journals and principal investigator in numerous clinical trials including the research of Remicade/infliximab. In addition to being on countless committees at Lahey, Dr. Warner was a member of several national professional societies and groups including the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Medical Advisory Committee of the New England Chapter for 17 years. Dr. Warner was a devoted physician, one who truly cared about his patients as well as his staff. He leaves a great legacy in the medical field. When making a gift, donors will have an opportunity to leave a message in memory of Dr. Warner, which will be displayed on the timeline below. Philanthropic support helps to fund IBD research, advocacy, patient education, and support programs.