Our Faculty
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
James V. Guarrera, MD, FACS
Chief of Surgery; Director, Liver Transplantation
Dr. James Guarrera is Professor of Surgery and Chief of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery. Dr. Guarrera, is an experienced and innovative surgeon and researcher who pioneered new developments in transplantation including use of Machine Perfusion for Liver Preservation. He has been federally funded and holds 7 patents for his novel research. He has over 100 publications and book chapters and has won prestigious “Rising Star” awards from both the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the International Liver Transplantation Society. He comes to University Hospital from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City where he served as Surgical Director of Adult Liver Transplantation Program for over a decade.
Background
Medical Specialty: Transplant Surgery (General Surgery Board)/Hepatobiliary Surgery
Medical Interests: Transplant Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Minimally Invasive Solid Organ Surgery, Advanced Oncologic Surgery
MD Degree: Mount Sinai School of Medicine – 1998 (Alpha Omega Alpha member)
Residency: General Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, 1998 – 2004
Fellowship: Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, 2004-2006
Board Certification: Transplant Surgery (General Surgery Board) – American Board of Surgery, 2005, Recertified 2015
Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP, AGAF, FAASLD, FRCP
Medical Director, Liver Transplantation
Dr. Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos currently serves as Professor of medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at New Jersey Medical School and the Medical Director of Liver Transplantation for University Hospital.
He completed his medical degrees (MD and PhD) at the University of Athens in Greece, followed by residency and fellowships at Sismanogleio General Hospital in Athens and the University Of Miami School Of Medicine. Dr. Pyrsopoulos is board certified in the areas of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology. He received his M.B.A. from the University Of Miami School Of Business.
Dr. Pyrsopoulos is a Fellow of The American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Association of the Study of Liver Diseases. He is also a member of various medical associations such the European Association of the Study of the Liver, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Society of Transplantation, among others. He has served in numerous national and institutional committees. In addition, he served as the Region 2 Review Board Chair for UNOS.
Background
Medical Specialty: Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology (Internal Medicine)
Medical Interests: Liver Transplant, Hepatitis, Liver Cancer, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Primary Sclerosing, Cholangitis, Varices, Gastric Varices, Ascites, Hepato-renal Syndrome, Hepatic Encephalopathy, and Immunosuppression Rejection
MD Degree: National University of Athens Medical School (Athens, Greece), 1991
Internship: Chief Resident, Sismanoglion General Hospital (Athens, Greece), 1994 – 1998
Residency: Internal Medicine, Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami, 2001 – 2003
Fellowships: Clinical Research Fellowship – Liver Disease, Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami, 1998 – 2001; Clinical Fellow-Hepatology/Liver Disease, Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami, 2003 – 2005
TRANSPLANT AND HEPATOBILIARY SURGEONS
Flavio Paterno, MD, MPH, FACS
Associate Director, Liver Transplantation
Flavio Paterno, MD, MPH, FACS is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency at Yale University (New Haven, CT), and his transplant surgery fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas, TX). Dr. Paterno is certified by the American Board Surgery and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Prior to coming to Rutgers, Dr. Paterno worked for 6 years at the University of Cincinnati where he contributed to the growth of liver and kidney transplant programs.
Dr. Paterno’s areas of expertise include liver transplantation, liver surgery, bile duct repair/surgery, treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, surgery for liver metastases, portal hypertension surgery, kidney transplantation, adrenalectomy, surgery of pancreas, and laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Paterno is a very compassionate surgeon and distinguishes himself for his attention and dedication to his patients. He strongly believes in multidisciplinary care based on a close collaboration with all physicians and specialists involved in the care of each patient.
He is committed to excellence in clinical service, research, and education. He has published several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and multiple abstracts presented at major national surgery meetings. His research focus is on improving patients’ outcomes, optimization of organ utilization, disparities in access to health care, immunosuppression, and treatment of rejection.
Background
Medical Specialty: Surgery of Liver, Cholecystectomy, Inguinal Hernia Repair, Surgery of Pancreas, Surgery of Spleen, Adrenal Gland, Portal Hypertension, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Liver Transplant, Kidney Transplant, and Pancreas Transplant
MD Degree: University of Palerno Medical School, 1998
MPH Degree: University of Cincinnati, 2017
Keri Lunsford, MD, PhD, FACS
Director, Transplant Research
Keri E. Lunsford MD, PhD, FACS is an Assistant Professor of Surgery and a liver transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon on faculty at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a member of the Center for Immunity and Inflammation. Prior to joining the faculty at Rutgers, she was on faculty at Houston Methodist Hospital where she played a key role in the groundbreaking protocol for liver transplant for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and she is internationally recognized as an expert in this field.
Background
Medical Specialty: Liver and Kidney Transplantation, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver and Biliary Resections, Advanced GI Oncology Surgery, Advanced Laparoscopic, Solid Organ Surgery, General Surgery, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma
Medical Interests: Liver Transplant Oncology, Simultaneous Liver Kidney Transplantation, and Liver Transplant Futility
MD Degree: The Ohio State University of Medicine, 2007
Residency: General Surgery, Duke University, 2013
Fellowship: Abdominal Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of California (Los Angeles),2015
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery – Transplant Surgery (General Surgery Board)
Arpit N. Amin, MD
Arpit N. Amin, MD is an Assistant Professor of Surgery for the Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
He graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) in 2010. He completed his General Surgery residency training at New York Medical College – Westchester Medical Center in 2015. He completed fellowship training in Multi-organ Abdominal Transplant Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery at the University of California – Los Angeles in 2019. He further completed advanced fellowship training in cadaveric split and living donor liver transplantation, pediatric liver transplantation and pediatric kidney transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2020.
As part of his academic endeavors, Dr. Amin has published many peer-reviewed scientific articles and multiple book chapters along with performing several oral presentations at major national general surgical and transplant surgical meetings. In addition, Dr. Amin is a member of American College of Surgeons, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, The Transplantation Society, Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation, International Pediatric Transplant Association, and Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Association.
Dr. Amin is committed to maintaining excellence in pediatric and adult transplant patient care, advancing research in transplantation, and progressing medical student and surgical resident education.
Background
Medical Specialty: Pediatric/Adult Liver Transplantation, Pediatric/Adult Kidney Transplantation, Pancreas Transplantation, Liver Surgery, Bile Duct Surgery, Pancreas Surgery, General Surgery, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Hepatobiliary Surgery
MD Degree: State University of New York (SUNY), 2020
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery – Transplant Surgery (General Surgery Board)
Grace S. Lee-Riddle, MD
Grace S. Lee-Riddle, MD, MSME is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School. She graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her residency in general surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where she also completed a Fellowship in Advanced Biomedical Ethics and obtained a Master of Science in Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. She subsequently completed her fellowship in Multi-Organ Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medical Centers. Dr. Lee-Riddle is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Lee-Riddle’s clinical interests include liver transplantation, kidney transplantation, and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Lee-Riddle’s academic interests include transplant ethics and policy, clinical outcomes, and surgical education. Dr. Lee-Riddle is known for her dedication to her patients and enjoys being a part of a multidisciplinary team of transplant specialists.
Background
Medical Specialty: Liver Transplantation, Renal Transplantation. Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver/ Biliary/ Pancreatic
Resections, Advanced GI Oncologic Surgery, General Surgery
Medical Interests: Cholecystectomy, Nephrectomy, Bile Duct Cancer, Biliary Surgery, Biomedical Ethics, Cholangiocarcinoma, Gallbladder, Gallbladder Cancer, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver Cancer, Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation, Medical Education, Public Policy, Renal Transplant
MD Degree: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 2012
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery – Transplant Surgery (General Surgery Board)
HEPATOLOGISTS
Mumtaz Niazi, MD
Dr. Niazi is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. and an attending physician of Hepatology at University Hospital. Dr. Niazi obtained his medical degree at University of Punjab in Faisalabad, Pakistan. He completed his Internal Medical Residency at the Long Island College Hospital in Long Island NY. and his fellowship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ.
Background
Medical Specialty: Hepatology, Internal Medicine
Medical Interests: Gastroenterology, Hepatology
MD Degree: University of Punjab (Pakistan), – 1997
Residency: Internal Medicine, The Long Island College Hospital (NY), 2002 – 2005
Fellowship: Hepatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 2005 – 2006
Raquel Olivo-Salcedo, MD
Dr. Olivo-Salcedo is an Assistant Professor of Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and an attending physician of Hepatology at University Hospital. Dr. Olivo-Salcedo obtained her medical degree at INTEC in the Dominican Republic with Magna Cum Laude honors. She completed her Internal Medical Residency and served as Chief Medical Resident at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York. She practiced there as an attending physician of Internal Medicine in addition to serving as a Medical Instructor at College University of NY (CUNY) Sophie Davis School of Medicine. Dr.
Olivo-Salcedo subsequently completed her Hepatology fellowship at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Background
Medical Specialty: Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Interests: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine
MD Degree: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), 2009
Internship: Internal Medicine, St. Barnabas Hospital (NYC), 2012 – 2013
Residency: Internal Medicine, St. Barnabas Hospital (NYC), 2013 – 2015
Fellowship: Hepatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 2016 – 2017
Zaid Tafesh, MD, MSc
Dr. Tafesh obtained his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and graduated in 2013 with academic honors. He completed both his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Gastroenterology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine. He also completed a one year fellowship in Adult Transplant Hepatology at both the Columbia and Weill Cornell campuses of New York Presbyterian Hospital. During his Gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Tafesh obtained a Masters in Health Policy and Economic from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
He is also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He has published several peer-reviewed articles and abstracts and has an interest in health services and outcomes research in the fields of hepatology and liver transplantation. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and practices as a Transplant Hepatologist at University Hospital.
Background
Medical Specialty: Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Interests: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine
MD Degree: Weill Cornell Medical College (Qatar), 2013
Ali Wakil, MD
Dr. Wakil is board certified in Medicine. He obtained his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland/Bahrain and graduated in 2015 with academic honors. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Ascension St Agnes Healthcare in Baltimore where he served as a chief resident in his final year of training. He subsequently completed fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical school.
He is a member of the American Association for the study of Liver disease (AASLD) and he has published several peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in the fields of hepatology and liver transplantation. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and practices as a Transplant Hepatologist at University Hospital.
Background
Medical Specialty: Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine
Medical Interests: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine
MD Degree: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Bahrain), 2015
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
Elisabete DaSilva, PA-C
Elisabete DaSilva, PA-C handles all of the outpatient liver transplant and hepatobiliary cases at University Hospital.
GASTROENTEROLOGY AND ADVANCED ENDOSCOPY
Kaveh Hajifathalian, MD
Dr Hajifathalian completed his medical degree (MD) at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, followed by his fellowships in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cornell University NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. He then completed his fellowship in advanced at therapeutic endoscopy at Cornell University NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Hajifathalian is board certified in the areas of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He received his MPH in Quantitative Methods from Harvard University, School of Public Health.
His research focuses on the role of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures in the management of obesity and chronic liver and biliary disease, as well as development and evaluation of cutting-edge advanced endoscopic techniques. Dr. Hajifathalian has published more than 60 papers in prestigious scientific journals and his work has been cited more than 14,000 times by other researchers in the field. Dr. Hajifathalian is an associate editor for Foregut, the official journal of the American Foregut Society, and is a member of various medical associations such as the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Director of the Advanced Endoscopy at Rutgers University Hospital.
Background
MD Degree: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2008
Seyedehsan Navabi, M.D.
Dr. Seyedehsan Navabi, currently serves as assistant Professor of Medicine and as Gastroenterology and Hepatology faculty at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He completed his medical degree (MD) at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2008 and after his graduation he was working as a family physician and then emergency medicine physician until 2012, before he moved to the United States. This was followed by training in Internal Medicine residency and then Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship at the Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Background
Medical Specialty: Gastroenterology (Board Certified), Obesity Medicine (Board Certified), Internal Medicine (Board Certified)
Medical Interests: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder, Obesity Medicine, and he routinely manages and sees patients with General Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders
MD Degree: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Iran)
Internship: The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Internal Medicine, 2013 – 2014
Residency: The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Internal Medicine, 2014 – 2016
Fellowship: The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program – 2016 – 2019
Weizheng William Wang, M.D.
Dr. Weizheng William Wang, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He earned his medical degree from Hengyang Medical College, Nanhua University. He did one-year research fellowship at Stanford University and four years medical research at College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in New York City. He completed his medical residency from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He did his gastroenterology Fellowship in University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Background
Medical Specialty: Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology (Internal Medicine), Internal Medicine
Medical Interests: Therapeutic/Interventional Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Variceal Banding Ligation, GI Stents, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), Double or Single Balloon Assisted Enteroscopy, Gastroenterology Nutrition, Colon Cancer Screening, Pancreatitis, IBD
MD Degree: Hengyang Medical College, Nanhua University (China), 1983
Internship: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center (Einstein Hospital), Yeshiva University (NY), 1997 – 1998
Residency: Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center (Einstein Hospital), Yeshiva University (NY), 1998 – 2000
Fellowship: Gastroenterology, Division of Digestive Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 2000 – 2003