Silvia Vilarinho is a physician-scientist who investigates the genetic and molecular basis of liver diseases using genomics and human samples, having identified five novel genetic liver diseases. Her research aims to discover new genes important for liver function and to use cell biology and animal models to determine the specific mechanism(s) linking mutant gene to disease as a roadmap to further understand and treat rare and common liver diseases.
Michael Trauner, MD, received his medical education at the Karl-Franzens-University in Graz, Austria, where he also completed his clinical training in internal medicine and gastroenterology / hepatology. From 1994 to 1997 he postdoctoral research fellow at Yale University's Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Center in New Haven, USA. After returning to Graz, he established an internationally recognized research group in cholestatic and fatty liver diseases, and founded the Liver Center, serving as professor of experimental and clinical hepatology from 2005-2010.
Dr. Benjamin L. Shneider is the George Peterkin Endowed Chair and Head of the Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Shneider is a Pediatric Hepatologist actively involved in clinical and translational investigations of pediatric liver diseases.
Jean Molleston, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics; pediatric hepatologist and gastroenterologist; interested in clinical hepatology (MASLD, cholestatic liver disease, CF liver disease, cirrhosis/portal HTN, DILI), clinical research, and also in medical education
David S. Vitale MD is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati. He is a pediatric gastroenterologist and Director of the Interventional Endoscopy Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Within the Cincinnati Children's Interventional Endoscopy Center, Dr. Vitale performs ERCP, EUS, double balloon enteroscopy, amongst other advanced procedures with a national and international referral base and oversees the therapeutic endoscopy service. He works closely with physicians and patients in the Liver Care Center to provide endoscopic expertise. Dr.
Elliot Sean Rinzler, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Radiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of its Pediatric Radiology Division.<br><br>Dr. Rinzler holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Upon completing his internship at Tufts University in Boston, he became a flight surgeon in the US Air Force. He then completed radiology residency training at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr.
Andrew Wehrman is a pediatric transplant hepatologist at Boston Children's Hospital. He has research interests in cholestatic liver diseases including Alagille syndrome, biliary atresia, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis.
Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Rima Fawaz received her undergraduate and medical degree at the American University of Beirut. She then completed her pediatric residency at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, Gastroenterology fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center and her Pediatric Transplant Hepatology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Once she completed her training, Dr.
Emily Ventura, BSN, is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Advocacy and Resource Network. Established in 2018, PFIC Network's mission is to improve the lives of patients and families worldwide affected by PFIC. As the mother of a PFIC patient, she is deeply connected to this work. Prior to founding PFIC Network, Emily had a long career as an ICU nurse, which gives her unique insight into both the clinical and personal sides of the rare patient experience.
Nicola Pugliese is a board-certified gastroenterologist who is currently working as an Attending Physician in the Hepatology and Endoscopy Units at Humanitas Research Hospital and as an Adjunct Teaching Professor at Humanitas University in Milan, Italy. His clinical and research interests include viral hepatitis, MASLD and vascular liver disorders. In recent years, the focus of his research has increasingly shifted towards the clinical application of artificial intelligence to enhance patient care.