I enjoy spending time with my patients; listening and making sure they feel heard and understood. Oftentimes, GI symptoms have been bothersome from months to years which can feel defeating and cause hopelessness. I empower my patients by creating a collaborative plan on how we are going to effectively resolve their GI concerns and improve their quality of life.

Sarah O’Rourke is a seasoned nurse practitioner with a background in treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In her role at Oshi Health, she’s passionate about educating IBD patients and helping them manage and prevent symptom flares. 

Prior to joining Oshi, Sarah worked with leading IBD experts at the University of Chicago Digestive Diseases Center. She also worked at an IBD practice co-managing and collaborating on patient care plans with Dr. David T. Rubin, Dr. Russell Cohen, and Dr. Sushila Dalal. 

She served as a preceptor and mentor for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship and has been involved in education panels for patient and family education events. Sarah has also presented on various IBD topics at academic conferences. 

In her personal life, Sarah loves spending time with her family and black lab, Bear. When she’s not outside hiking or discovering new places, she’s likely indoors reading or finding peace in the present moment with yoga or meditation.

Education:

  • Doctorate of Nursing Practice, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

Favorite Gut Health Tip

Diet. Movement. Mindfulness. Hydration. Sleep. Repeat. Our internal body systems are all interconnected and require a fine balance for us to feel good and promote our gut health. What we put in our bodies matters! Diet affects everything from our mood to our gut and how we feel in our bodies on a daily basis. It is also important to move your body through daily exercise, stay hydrated and practice mindfulness to keep stress and anxiety low.