Dr. Gordon’s Story: From Patient to Advocate
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
I was just starting college, full of ambition and excitement for the future, when everything changed. One day, I began experiencing bowel urgency, stomach cramping, and blood in my stools. At first, I told myself it would pass, but the symptoms only got worse. Eventually, I had to take a leave of absence—something no young person wants to face.
At first, doctors thought I had Crohn’s disease—then later diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis. From that point on, my life was filled with colonoscopies, medications, and constant worry. Some of the treatments I was given, like prednisone, came with serious side effects.
Others worked for a while, only for my symptoms to return with a vengeance.
At first, doctors thought I had Crohn’s disease—then later diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis. From that point on, my life was filled with colonoscopies, medications, and constant worry. Some of the treatments I was given, like prednisone, came with serious side effects.
Others worked for a while, only for my symptoms to return with a vengeance.
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Challenging the Conventional Approach
By the time I became a practicing cardiologist, I had been dealing with UC for years. I managed my symptoms as best as I could, but there were times when I thought I might lose the battle—especially when doctors told me my only option was to remove my colon
(colectomy). It wasn’t until I tried a new type of treatment—a combination of a specialized enema and a compound called R-dihydrolipoic acid (RDLA)—that everything changed. Within days, my symptoms disappeared.
It felt like a miracle. Since then, I’ve been flare-free for over 14 years while taking only a simple maintenance medication. My experience opened my eyes to something critical: The mainstream approach to UC treatment does not always address the true cause of the disease. My treatment worked—but it was never widely researched or pursued further by the medical community. I started asking myself:
What if there are other potential treatments out there that are being overlooked?
(colectomy). It wasn’t until I tried a new type of treatment—a combination of a specialized enema and a compound called R-dihydrolipoic acid (RDLA)—that everything changed. Within days, my symptoms disappeared.
It felt like a miracle. Since then, I’ve been flare-free for over 14 years while taking only a simple maintenance medication. My experience opened my eyes to something critical: The mainstream approach to UC treatment does not always address the true cause of the disease. My treatment worked—but it was never widely researched or pursued further by the medical community. I started asking myself:
What if there are other potential treatments out there that are being overlooked?
Why we founded UC Well
I am one of the lucky ones. But too many people are still suffering. Up to one-third of UC patients eventually require a colectomy—and that’s unacceptable. Together with Rami Spahiu and Angela Gordon, RN I founded UC WELL to push for better answers. We are not here to claim that my treatment alone is the answer—but to push for more research into alternative causes and treatments for UC.
We believe the medical community must expand its focus beyond the traditional autoimmune theory and explore new research avenues that could help patients avoid a lifetime of suffering or unnecessary surgery.
That’s why we created UC WELL—to challenge outdated assumptions, support research into new possibilities, and advocate for a future where no one has to live in fear of UC.
Richard J Gordon, MD (President & CEO, UC Well)
We believe the medical community must expand its focus beyond the traditional autoimmune theory and explore new research avenues that could help patients avoid a lifetime of suffering or unnecessary surgery.
That’s why we created UC WELL—to challenge outdated assumptions, support research into new possibilities, and advocate for a future where no one has to live in fear of UC.
Richard J Gordon, MD (President & CEO, UC Well)
