Notable IBD Publication from the UPMC Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition | UPMC Physician Resources

• UPMC Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition faculty published a notable research article in the publication, Annals of Gastroenterology, that explored the association of a high globulin fraction in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Notable Publication: Future of U.S. Living-Donor Liver Transplant | UPMC Physician Resources

• The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute recently published research in Liver Transplantation that explored the future of U.S. living donor liver transplant. Faculty from the Division included Kiran Bambha, MD; Scott Biggins, MD; and Swaytha Ganesh, MD, along with Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute’s Christopher Hughes, MD, and Abhi Humar, MD. Dr. Bambha served as corresponding author of the study.

Dr. Duerr, Dr. Chen & Colleagues Featured by Nature Communications | Department of Medicine

• A key publication by Richard Duerr, MD, Wei Chen, PhD, and colleagues, “A Unified Model-based Framework for Doublet or Multiplet Detection in Single-cell Multiomics Data”, has been featured on the Nature Communications Editors’ Highlights Webpage in the “Biotechnology and Methods” section.

View more research publications from our faculty on PubMed.

UPMC Earns Rectal Cancer Accreditation from American College of Surgeons | UPMC Physician Resources

• The UPMC Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.
•  “We have one of the highest volume rectal cancer programs in western Pennsylvania and our neighboring states,” explains James Celebrezze, MD, director of the rectal cancer multidisciplinary team at UPMC Passavant and UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside. “Rectal cancer care is always evolving, and it’s our goal to treat patients in a way that’s above the standard of care.”

Innovations in Living-Donor Liver Transplant | UPMC Physician Resources

• Kiran Bambha, MD, MSc, presented on "Innovations in Living Donor Liver Transplant" at the Annual Update in Hepatology. Dr. Bambha is a professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and serves as medical director of Hepatology and director of Liver Transplant Quality and Innovations at UPMC.

Adopting Telemedicine for Care of Colorectal Surgery Patients | UPMC Physician Resources

• Over the last several years, the UPMC Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery has implemented a total telemedicine pathway as a novel and high-quality option for preoperative patients. David Medich, MD, FACS, FASCRS, chief, and Andrew Watson, MD, MLitt, FACS, surgeon, explain the benefits of telemedicine, a natural evolution for health care in today’s world of comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) and widespread use of advanced consumer electronics.

LDLT at UPMC is a Treatment Option for Patients with Advanced Cancer | UPMC Physician Resources

• For patients with advanced liver cancers, a living-donor liver transplant can provide an opportunity to intervene earlier in the disease course. Living donation represents a vital frontier in treating liver cancers and improving long-term outcomes for patients with limited treatment options. Our goal is to collaborate with you and your team to provide the best care possible. To consult with a UPMC Transplant Services physician or to refer a patient, please visit UPMCPhysicianResources.com/LiverTransplant.

UPMC Center for Liver Care Welcomes New Faculty | UPMC Physician Resources

• The UPMC Center for Liver Care is excited to welcome Stela Celaj, MD, PhD, and Alison Jazwinski Faust, MD, MHS, FAASLD, as the newest transplant hepatologists at the Center. With Dr. Celaj and Dr. Faust, the UPMC Center for Liver Care will continue to provide expert evaluation and treatment, including liver transplant care, for patients living with liver disease.

Dr. Beier Receives Federal Research Award | Department of Medicine

• Juliane Beier, PhD, has been awarded a federal NIH R21 grant to study effects of the East Palestine, OH train derailment on community health. Dr. Beier and Dr. Maureen Lichtveld (co-PI) will examine exposures of people living near the derailment and their environment (i.e., outdoor air, indoor air, and drinking water). Residents’ health and blood samples will be collected to determine the immediate and long-term health impacts from this disaster.

Dr. Binion Featured in Patient Podcast | Department of Medicine

• David Binion, MD, was featured in the national Bowel Moments Spotify podcast in January 2024, where he discussed his inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient care and research. Dr. Binion is a professor of medicine with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He serves as the translational research lead for the UPMC IBD Center and as the director of nutrition support services for the Division.

Dr. Saloman in Nature News | Department of Medicine

• Jami Saloman, PhD, and colleagues discussed “How Cancer Hijacks the Nervous System to Grow and Spread” in a Nature News Feature. She was also featured in USA Today, where she discussed how reducing stress on the nervous system may slow tumor growth. Dr. Saloman is an assistant professor of medicine with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, where she works to understand the role of the nervous system in pancreas homeostasis and disease, especially related to pancreatic pain.

16 UPMC Gastroenterology and Colon and Rectal Surgery Physicians Recognized as Top Doctors in Pittsburgh Magazine

• These physicians are part of the Top Doctors® list, which is compiled by Castle Connolly. The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process is entirely merit-based. Castle Connolly’s peer-to-peer nominations and rigorous research process ensure only the most qualified physicians are included.

• Gastroenterology:
  • David G. Binion, MD
  • Randall E. Brand, MD
  • Jennifer S. Chennat, MD
  • Su Min Cho, MD
  • Kapil B. Chopra, MD
  • Howard M. Dubner, MD
  • Kevin M. McGrath, MD
  • Michael L. Mlecko, MD
  • Tina Musahl, MD
  • Michael A. Pezzone, MD, PhD
  • Marc B. Schwartz, MD
  • Adam Slivka, MD, PhD
  • Lee M. Weinberg, MD

• Colon and Rectal Surgery:
  • James J. Baran, MD
  • Marc Brozovich, MD
  • David S. Medich, MD

UPMC Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Welcomes New Faculty Members

The UPMC Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition welcomed several new faculty members in 2024:

• Amy E. Hosmer, MD
• Julia McNabb-Baltar, MD, MPH
• Sun Jung (Sunny) Oh, MD
• Kelly M. Thomas, MD

Gastroenterology Digest 2024 | UPMC

• David Medich, MD, Andrew Watson, MD, MLitt, Sultan Mahmood, MD, Juliane I. Beier, PhD, and David Binion, MD, authored articles for this CME publication including "Low-level Exposure to Vinyl Chloride: Modeling the Impact on the Liver," "Leveraging Big-data Analytics to Understand Inflammatory Bowel Disease," "A Comprehensive Third-space Endoscopy Program at UPMC Passavant," and "Adopting Telemedicine for the Preoperative and Postoperative Care of Colorectal Surgery Patients."

New Paradigms in Gastrointestinal Surgery and Medicine | UPMC Physician Resources

• The UPMC Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the UPMC Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition held an education program to explore advancements in colorectal cancer treatment and advanced endoscopy.

  
  During this conference, participants discussed telemedicine as a tool to enhance access to colorectal cancer treatment. Participants also developed innovative, multidisciplinary models for colorectal cancer treatment.

2024 Update in Medical Hepatology | UPMC Physician Resources

• The UPMC Center for Liver Care held a hepatology-focused physician education program to explore current trends, management techniques, new innovations, and research to treat a full range of liver conditions.

  
  During this conference, participants learned about advancements in liver disease treatments, barriers to liver transplantation and living-donor liver transplantation, and more from our liver disease experts.

UPMC and Pitt at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024 | UPMC Physician Resources

• Experts from UPMC provide comprehensive, individualized care to patients with a wide range of digestive diseases and conditions. They’re also on the forefront of innovation in the field and routinely participate in, and lead, novel research to help advance digestive health care.

  
  Faculty from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh were well-represented at this year’s Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) annual conference, held in Washington D.C. from May 18 to 21. Our experts shared their expertise in a range of gastrointestinal conditions.

2023-2024 UPMC Gut Club Series

• In 2024, UPMC hosted in-person educational and networking events for digestive disease providers. These lectures offered an opportunity for digestive disease providers to learn about innovations in digestive health care. Featured lectures explored treatment advancements in neurogastroenterology diseases, advanced endoscopy, and alcohol-associated hepatitis.