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Hepatology Update 2024
Hepatology Update Speakers
Dedication. Expertise. Innovation.
Dr. Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao
Dr. Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao is a Professor of Medicine at Yale University and Chief of Digestive Diseases at the VA-Connecticut Healthcare System. She directs the Clinical Core of the Yale Liver Center and is an Associate Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. A former president of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), she joined Yale’s faculty in 1989 after earning her medical degree in Mexico and training in Hepatology at Yale.
Her research focuses on cirrhosis complications, including varices, hemorrhage, ascites, and peritonitis. She has authored over 200 publications and co-edited major hepatology texts. A sought-after mentor and lecturer, she has received several prestigious honors, including the International Recognition Award from EASL (2014) and the AASLD Mentor Achievement Award (2015).
Dr. Gideon Hirschfield
Dr. Gideon Hirschfield, holder of the Lily and Terry Horner Chair in Autoimmune Liver Disease Research, is an internationally trained clinician scientist focused on liver disease. With education and practice at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Birmingham, and Toronto, he aims to develop effective, personalized therapies for immune-mediated liver diseases.
He is globally recognized as a leader in liver medicine and a patient-centered clinician with nearly 15 years of experience in tertiary Hepatology care, including transplant management. Dr. Hirschfield has published nearly 200 papers and is a respected speaker and educator in Hepatology.
Dr. Giada Sebastiani
Giada Sebastiani is a Professor of Medicine at McGill University (the first woman in this rank in Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and a Clinician Scientist at McGill's Health Centre. She earned her medical degree at the University of Padua, Italy, and trained at institutions like Harvard, University College London, and the Lady Davis Institute.
Her research focuses on fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, and non-invasive diagnostics, with an emphasis on at-risk populations such as people with diabetes, HIV, and women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Dr. Sebastiani has authored 170 peer-reviewed articles, contributed to 13 book chapters, and spoken at 80 international events. She is a founding member of the Canadian NASH Network, a panelist in several liver disease guidelines, and her research is funded by Canadian health organizations.
Dr. Cynthia Tsien
She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at McGill University. She underwent training in hepatology, transplant hepatology, and research at the Toronto General Hospital and Cleveland Clinic. She obtained a Master in Public Health at the John Hopkins University. She specializes in the care of patients with liver disease pre- and post-transplant. Her research interests include sarcopenia, portal hypertension, and education.
Dr. Morven Cunningham
Dr Morven Cunningham completed medical training at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK. She undertook a PhD at Queen Mary, University of London, before completing a Fellowship in Hepatology at University of Toronto. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Staff Hepatologist at Toronto Centre for Liver Disease.
Bernadette Lettner
Bernadette Lettner comes to us with a background in community nursing. Until recently, she worked with the Toronto Community Hep C Program. Earlier this year, she took on the position of Lead, Hepatitis C Elimination: Clinical Training, Guidance and Monitoring. This new position has been tasked with the ambitious goal of positioning Ontario to meet targets to eliminate HCV as a public health threat by 2030. Working together with a province-wide coalition, and keenly focused on health equity, Bernadette is excited about sharing the current wins and future direction that will make this historic achievement a reality.
Dr. Scott Fung
Bio Coming Soon
Ina Cherepaha-Kantorovich
Ina has spent 34 years in healthcare, with 24 of those years at UHN. Her diverse career has spanned several key roles, including RN in ICU, PCC, APNE in perioperative services, NP in the thrombosis clinic, and currently as an Outpatient Nurse Manager. Throughout her career, Ina has demonstrated strong leadership, guiding teams and presenting her work both nationally and internationally. Some of her notable projects include the Life Lab initiative in partnership with a community lab, risk assessments for skin breakdown in perioperative settings, optimization of handover reports, diabetes management in perioperative environments, and VTE prophylaxis, all aimed at advancing nursing education and promoting nursing autonomy.
Dr. Kristel Leung
Dr. Kristel Leung first joined the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease (TCLD) in 2019 as a research associate & GI fellow. From 2021-2023, she was the inaugural Clinical & Research Fellow in Autoimmune Liver Diseases with Drs. Gideon Hirschfield & Aliya Gulamhusein, with concurrent pursuit of graduate studies in clinical epidemiology and health care research. At present, she is a clinical associate hepatologist at the TCLD while completing her PhD thesis focussed on epidemiology, outcomes and patient-reported outcomes in immune-mediated cholestatic liver diseases in Ontario.
Stephanie Lys, RN
Stefanie Lys, RN, CPMHN(C), is a Concurrent Disorder Clinician with experience in the field of mental health and addictions. Stefanie supports clients in making changes to their substance use through the concurrent disorder service and the rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinic. A registered nurse, Stefanie holds two Bachelor's Degrees from Queen's University, and is a Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse (Canada).
Ewa Konart, RSW
Ewa Konart, MSW, RSW, is a mental health and addictions clinician with three years of experience at the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, and eight years of experience working in the field of addictions. Ewa graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from York University.
A strong commitment to cultural humility, anti-racism, and anti-oppression are integral to how Ewa practices social work.
Dr. Aliya Gulamhusein
Dr. Aliya Gulamhusein, MD, MPH, FRCPC, is a staff Hepatologist at Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Francis Family Liver Clinic and specializes in Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Autoimmune Hepatitis and Transplant.
Elizabeth Lee, NP
Elizabeth (Liz) Lee is a nurse practitioner at the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, UHN, with over 16 years of experience in chronic liver disease management, particularly cirrhosis and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD).
She is involved in quality improvement initiatives, research projects, and is an active member of the AASLD and CASL ALD SIG committees. Liz also supports patient-led initiatives, including the Chinese Hepatitis B Support Group, and promotes clinical education for hepatology nurses. She is a Hub Member for ECHO Ontario Liver, past president of the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses (CAHN), an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, and chairs the Colina Yim Hepatology Update.
Magdalena Kuczynski,
RN, BScN, MScHSED
Magdalena Kuczynski is a Hepatitis Support Nurse with 25 years of experience managing patients with chronic liver disease. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Science Education from McMaster University and has dedicated her career to improving patient care and education. Magdalena is also a Hub Member for ECHO Liver, a provincially funded initiative that supports a virtual learning community for primary care providers in the management of liver disease.
Vanessa Wojtala
Vanessa Wojtala is the founder of the Liver Awareness Foundation (LAF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting liver health, alerting young adults to conditions, and raising awareness of alcohol-associated liver disease. In the summer of 2022, Vanessa faced catastrophic liver failure thousands of miles from home. Determined to understand her prognosis, she immersed herself in learning about liver functions, diseases, and lifestyle medicine. As a survivor of liver failure, alcohol-related hepatitis, and stage 4 cirrhosis, Vanessa’s resilience has completely transformed her life. With a background in multimedia journalism, sports marketing, and entrepreneurship, Vanessa is committed to living an alcohol-free life. Passionate about advocating for those with mental health and alcohol use disorders, Vanessa educates and empowers others to care of their livers, embodying LAF’s core principle: “Mind Your Liver. It Needs You.™ “
Dr. Ed Tam
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Arndt Vogel
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Mamatha Bhat
Dr. Mamatha Bhat is a Hepatologist and Clinician-Scientist at UHN's Ajmera Transplant Centre and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She completed her medical training at McGill University, a fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, and a PhD in Medical Biophysics at U of T.
Her research focuses on improving liver transplant outcomes using AI, RNA nanomedicine, and systems biology. Dr. Bhat co-leads the Transplant AI initiative, serves on the CDTRP Executive Committee, and will chair the International Liver Transplant Society's Basic and Translational Science Research Committee. She also directs the Clinician-Scientist Training Program at U of T.
Dr. Keyur Patel
Dr. Patel received his Medical degree from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom and completed his Gastroenterology/Hepatology training in Australia. He completed his post-doctoral research in Clinical and Translational Research in viral hepatitis at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, San Diego, CA and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC. He was a Consultant Hepatologist at Duke University from 2005 until moving to University of Toronto in 2016. His research interests include early clinical therapeutics for NAFLD and non-invasive biomarkers of fibrosis.
Dr. Kai Duan
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Marco Puglia
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Jordan Feld
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Julian Hercun
Dr. Hercun completed his medical training as well as his Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology fellowship at the Université de Montreal. After completing additional training at the Liver Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases he will be joining the Liver Unit of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) in 2021. His clinical and research interest include auto-immune liver disease as well as hepatic involvement in systemic diseases.
Dr. Ali Helmi
Dr. Ali Helmi. graduated medical school at University of Toronto in 2019 and did his residency in diagnostic radiology at U of T as well. Currently, he is an IR fellow at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging working at UHN and Mount Sinai Hospital.
Dr. Natcha Cheewasereechon
Natcha Cheewasereechon , Gastroenterologist and hepatologist, Currently clinical research fellowship, focusing on autoimmune liver disease at TCLD.
Laura Valenza, RN
Laura Valenza is a dedicated Registered Nurse with over 10 years of experience, currently working in the Medical Day Unit at Toronto General Hospital. With experience in inpatient, outpatient, and home care settings, Laura brings a well-rounded approach to patient care. Her colleagues in the Medical Day Unit have selected her to champion the nurse-led paracentesis clinic held every Wednesday, recognizing her skill and leadership. Laura’s expertise and compassionate approach have made her a valuable member of the healthcare team, where she continues to advance her skills and contribute to the hospital’s high standards of care.
Holly Thompson
Holly is a Nurse Practitioner at Toronto General Hospital, UHN, within the HPB surgical Oncology program. She graduated from Dalhousie University with her Bachelor’s degree and went on to complete her MN-NP in Primary Health Care at Athabasca University. Her primary area of practice is working with patients with hepatopancreatobiliary malignancies.
Dr. Julie Tan
Bio Coming Soon
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