Bruce Rosengarten has had an extensive senior executive career including roles that took him across our region and internationally. While living with ulcerative colitis for over 40 years, he built a highly successful career, however, it took him 39 years to admit publicly he has colitis. He has often taken up roles in not-for-profit organisations as a passionate believer in supporting the community.
Bruce is the author of Passionate Leadership, and today runs his own consultancy and is a member of several advisory Boards as well as being Chairman, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia.
You have lived with ulcerative colitis for over 40 years. How have your views on IBD and chronic illness changed for you over this time?
Living with a chronic disease that no one sees is difficult. I was totally secretive about my disease for 39 years, then it took a massive step for me to start to share my experience with Ulcerative colitis. My view is that the more people with chronic disease and for us, Crohn's or colitis, we can have sharing information and being confident and able to speak about their disease the better. I truly believe the lack of understanding amongst a wide group of people about chronic disease holds back the investment needed to help millions of people in Australia with many forms of chronic disease. If we use our voices and are loud enough maybe we can be heard more. The Live Fearless challenge is one way of bringing people together and inspiring conversation, openness and awareness of Crohn's and colitis.
Why is it important to you to advocate for people with IBD? And where do you see opportunity for change/progress in the future?
There are over 100,000 people with Crohn's or colitis in Australia and the numbers are growing rapidly. We need to improve the quality of care, support, education and access for people with Crohn's and colitis. We need to develop support structures and systems across all areas of Australia in both public and private care systems and ensure our rural and regional areas are well supported.
We need research to improve care and allow people to live fearlessly whilst we and others search for the cause and cure of these diseases. Our advocacy seeks to help people live their lives fearlessly, to support those around them who are indeed supporting them, to help our medical and allied medical professionals help support people with Crohn's and colitis.
How have your experiences managing ulcerative colitis affected your ability as a leader – have they given you any useful insights?
As I was so secretive I hid my disease, and the impact on my life from people. Now I use my experience with chronic disease and the impact on people's lives as a part of the way I may engage with people. Now Ulcerative colitis is a part of my story and a part of the conversation. It helps people think about chronic diseases, especially invisible ones. During Covid, with many people with autoimmune disease taking medications that change vulnerabilities and risks, the importance of building conversations around the diseases has been very helpful.
