Marcella A. Howard is a certified family nurse practitioner in gastroenterology. In 1996 Marcie became a certified gastroenterology nurse. Marcie graduated from University of Illinois Chicago at Rockford in 1999. She has been employed as a nurse practitioner since 1999 at Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Ltd. Marcie worked as a GI staff nurse for seven years prior to assuming her nurse practitioner position. She is an active member of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates and Illinois Society for Advanced Nurse Practitioners. She has presented for nurses locally on GERD. She has also presented on Celiac Sprue for regional GI nurses. In fall of 2003, Marcie is presenting a GI presentation at the annual meeting of Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nurses.