Andrew Jablonski – Short Bowel Patient & Expert Advocate

A Compassionate Leader In Short Bowel Syndrome Support

Andrew (Andy) E. Jablonski is the visionary Founder and Executive Director of the Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation, Inc. (SBSF), a distinguished 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Driven by his own personal journey as a patient, Andy has dedicated over 13 years to a singular, unwavering mission: providing life-changing support, vital resources, and expert advocacy to individuals, caregivers, and medical professionals navigating the daily challenges of Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). Under his compassionate leadership, SBSF has grown from a local initiative into a global lifeline of hope and resilience.

Educational Journey & Non-Profit Leadership

Andy’s professional leadership is backed by a robust educational foundation tailored to understanding both business operations and the deeply human side of chronic illness:

  • Degree in Entrepreneurship from Southeast Community College, equipping him with the strategic skills needed to build and sustain a national non-profit organization.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations (Specializing in Mental Health and Counseling) from Doane University, providing him with a profound psychological understanding of the emotional toll and trauma often associated with rare, chronic diseases.

Leveraging this comprehensive background, Andy oversees the day-to-day operations of SBSF, ensuring that the organization delivers seamless, high-impact resources that address both the physical and emotional aspects of intestinal failure.

Rare Disease Industry Expertise & Therapy Advancements

As the founder of SBSF, Andy bridges the critical gap between patients and the pharmaceutical industry. Recognized as a influential figure in orphan drug advocacy, his expertise spans more than a decade of active industry collaboration:

  • Advising Leading Industry Pioneers: From 2011 to 2017, Andy served as a trusted Patient and Physician Communications Advisor for major pharmaceutical stakeholders, including NPS Pharmaceuticals, Naia Pharmaceuticals, and Shire Pharmaceuticals.

  • Bridging the Medical Divide: He acts as a crucial liaison, facilitating productive dialogue and collaboration between the pharmaceutical innovators who develop rare-disease drugs and the specialized gastroenterologists and surgeons who treat SBS.

  • Advancing Novel Therapies: Andy played an instrumental, frontline role in advocating for the clinical advancement and patient accessibility of groundbreaking, orphan-designated treatments for SBS, including GATTEX® (teduglutide).

Community Engagement, Public Speaking, & Global Advocacy

Andy believes that true healing begins when a patient realizes they are not alone. He channels his energy into global awareness and hands-on community building through several avenues:

🎤 Dynamic Public Speaking

Andy is an enthusiastic, sought-after public speaker who frequently addresses medical conferences, university hospitals, and rare disease forums. By sharing his unique perspective as both an industry expert and a lifelong SBS patient, he successfully amplifies global awareness, challenges clinical preconceptions, and humanizes the data charts.

🌐 Digital Peer Support

Recognizing the deep isolation that accompanies a rare disease diagnosis, Andy actively manages and moderates multiple online support groups. These safe digital spaces allow thousands of pediatric families and adult patients worldwide to share practical tips, trade medical experiences, and find daily comfort.

A Lifeline of Hope

Andrew Jablonski’s lifelong mission is simple yet profound: to improve the daily quality of life, care equity, and clinical outcomes for everyone affected by Short Bowel Syndrome. His lived experience, combined with his professional acumen, continues to give a powerful voice to a community that spent years waiting to be heard.

“To understand the disease, you first must understand the patient. We are creating a world where no SBS patient ever has to navigate their journey in the dark.” — Andrew Jablonski