Cory Greenberg, a professional cyclist from Southern California, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at a young age—a condition that initially cast doubt on his athletic dreams. Despite facing hospitalization and doctors advising him to reconsider his cycling career, Corey was determined not to let IBD derail his goals. Cory’s journey with IBD took a transformative turn when, after two weeks without solid food, he was given a simple grilled cheese sandwich in the hospital—delicious but nutritionally disconnected from his needs as an athlete. Determined to take control of his health, he adopted a layered, holistic approach: he worked with a nutritionist to design a diet tailored to his metabolic needs, saw a chiropractor to manage the physical stress cycling put on his body, and trained with a coach to balance performance with the realities of fatigue from IBD. This multifaceted approach led him to over a decade of remission.
Inspired by his experience, Cory founded Ride4IBD, a movement to promote IBD awareness through cycling, with an emphasis on positive branding. He sought to make IBD advocacy both inspirational and “cool”—designing branded gear, hosting a virtual cycling event during COVID, and eventually racing in Ride4IBD apparel to make IBD visibility part of global cycling events. Through partnerships with organizations like the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and Project Visible, Cory aims to inspire others to manage their conditions and connect with support networks. Today, he competes worldwide, spreading awareness about IBD and providing on-the-ground resources for those living with it, making IBD advocacy as dynamic as his sport.
Cory now uses SonarMD through his GI practice, finding it an invaluable tool for managing his IBD with the consistent, coordinated support he once lacked. Reflecting on his early days after diagnosis, he recognizes that SonarMD’s proactive care model is exactly the kind of guidance he wished had been available, especially during times of intense symptom management. He believes that SonarMD will be a game-changer for other patients who are not yet in remission, offering them a foundation of resources and monitoring that can improve their quality of life and empower them on their journey to stability.
Key Takeaways:
- Comprehensive, Multi-Layered Approach: Cory overcame the challenges of IBD by stacking diverse strategies, including a biologic treatment, a customized metabolic diet, chiropractic care, and mental coaching to address his body’s unique needs and build resilience.
- Empowering the IBD Community: Through his Ride4IBD initiative and Project Visible, Cory combines his passion for cycling with advocacy, working to rebrand IBD awareness and create a supportive, positive narrative for those living with the disease.
- SonarMD’s Role in Consistent Support: Now utilizing SonarMD in his care regimen, Cory values the platform as a tool that offers the continuous support he once lacked, particularly for patients who are not in remission and need proactive care.
This article was originally published on the SonarMD website and is republished here with permission.
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About Dr. K
Dr. Lawrence Kosinski (@lrkosinski) is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of SonarMD – a care coordination and drug optimization solution for gut health. After spending 30+ years of his career as a leading clinician and researcher in gastroenterology, Dr. K is now 100% dedicated to bringing patients, providers and payers together to advance value-based care. Dr. K is routinely tapped to present at leading GI and payer conferences, including DDW, GI Outlook, AHIP and others. He has published numerous research projects and previously served on the governing board of the American Gastroenterological Association.
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