Hoag is proud to announce that Caroline Hwang, MD, has been named the Margolis Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease—a milestone made possible by years of visionary philanthropy and the Margolis family’s long-standing commitment to advancing IBD care. Endowed chairs are a significant form of philanthropic investment at Hoag, providing sustained funding that empowers physician leaders to accelerate research, advance innovation, and strengthen Hoag’s privademic model — where academic-level discovery is translated into world-class care for the community. 

Debbie and Jeff Margolis named the Margolis Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program in 2018 through a deeply personal commitment to improving care for patients and families living with IBD, and they have shaped its growth from the beginning. Their partnership—grounded in both philanthropy and extraordinary volunteer leadership, including Debbie’s service as a member and Chair of the Hoag Hospital Foundation Board and Jeff’s past service on the Hoag Board of Directors—has fueled the development of a program designed to deliver cutting-edge medicine and bring innovation directly to the community. 

Dr. Hwang, who joined Hoag in 2019, serves as Program Director of the Margolis Family IBD Program. A board-certified gastroenterologist and nationally recognized IBD expert, she trained at UCLA, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, UCSF, and previously served as Medical Director of the IBD Center at Keck Medicine of USC. She is an active member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. 

Under her leadership, Hoag’s program has grown into one of the largest IBD programs in Orange County, with dedicated specialists and a significant portfolio of clinical trials, giving patients access to promising new therapies close to home. 

Philanthropy has been central to this progress. In 2025, donor support enabled Hoag to introduce the Samsung RS85 Prestige gastrointestinal ultrasound, the first technology of its kind in Orange County and among the first in California. This noninvasive tool allows specialists to monitor inflammation in real time during a brief office visit, reducing the need for more complex testing and giving patients faster insight into their disease activity. 

The endowed chair will accelerate Hoag’s momentum even further. Through funds from the chair, Dr. Hwang is advancing integrative and personalized IBD care, expanding research into nutrition, the microbiome, and supplements, and pursuing partnerships that support anti-inflammatory nutrition and patient education. Additional priorities include growing peer-support programming and exploring technologies to help patients get care faster.  

For Dr. Hwang, the chair represents more than program growth—it reflects hope and visibility for the IBD community. 

“People living with IBD often feel like they have to hide it or suffer in silence,” she says. “This support sends a powerful message: You can thrive with this disease. You are not just a patient—you are a person, and we are here to help you live fully.” 

The Margolis family’s enduring leadership continues to elevate IBD care at Hoag and shape the program’s future. 

“When we first partnered with Hoag, our hope was to build something lasting for families living with IBD,” said Debbie Margolis. “Establishing this endowed chair ensures that innovation continues, that patients have access to the very best care, and that no one facing this disease feels alone. We are proud to support a program that is advancing science while never losing sight of the person behind the diagnosis.” 

Through the Margolis Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hoag is accelerating innovation, expanding access, and ensuring patients across Orange County receive worldclass, compassionate digestive healthcare close to home. 

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