Thought Leader

Featured MASLD/MASH Educators

Gabriella McCarty

NP-C

Lakewood, OH, USA

Gabriella McCarty is a gastroenterology/hepatology nurse practitioner. She obtained her masters and nurse practitioner degree at Case Western Reserve University in 2004. She has been practicing in this field for 26 years. She serves as faculty for Gastroenterology/ Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPP) and is an American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) committee member, serving on the education subcommittee. She will be completing her doctorate of nursing in May 2025. She loves all aspects of GI / Hepatology, education and nursing.

Alison Moe

PA-C

Braselton, GA, USA

Alison S. Moe, MS, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant specializing in gastroenterology at United Digestive's Braselton office in Hoschton, Georgia. She earned her Master of Science in Medical Education from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Anthropology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Alison is fluent in Spanish and has a special interest in treating irritable bowel syndrome and liver disease. With almost two decades of experience as a Physician Assistant, Alison has developed a strong foundation in both clinical practice and research, particularly in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. Alison's dedication to patient care includes extensive clinical hours, allowing her to cultivate deep relationships with patients as well as national experts caring for individuals, especially those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and advanced liver disease. Alison's commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of these conditions drives my clinical practice and ongoing research efforts, aiming to provide the highest standard of care for my patients.

Christie Morrison

AGACNP-BC

San Antonio, TX, USA

Christie Morrison is a Board Certified Adult Advanced Practice Nurse and Lead APP at Oshi Health, a digital digestive health practice and IBD APP at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants in San Antonio, Texas. She strives to improve the lives of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions through a multidisciplinary approach. She has worked in various roles as a GI advanced practice provider, including inpatient, outpatient clinic, and telehealth since 2015. Mrs. Morrison is currently an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology where she is serving on the Editorial Board. She is also a member of several GI societies, including TSGE, AGA, ASGE, and GHAPP. Christie was recently honored with the ACG APP Clinical Excellence Award for community practice. She collaborates with industry partners and GI colleagues to enhance education and engagement for APPs working in Gastroenterology. She strives to improve the quality of life and better patient outcomes in all chronic GI conditions and believes that providing resources to her peers through education can help her achieve this goal.

Jill Olmstead

DNP, ANP-BC

Fullerton, CA, USA

Jill Olmstead, DNP, ANP-BC, is a gastroenterology nurse practitioner with Providence St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in Fullerton, California. She specializes in diagnosing and managing gastrointestinal disorders, offering compassionate, evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.

Oyin Penny

MSN, FNP

Kansas City, MO, USA

Oyin Penny is a dedicated and experienced Nurse practitioner in Hepatology and Gastroenterology with a passion for providing comprehensive care to patients with various gastrointestinal disorders and liver disease. Oyin has 13+ years of clinical experience. She has an expertise in managing patients in conditions such as Steatotic liver disease (metabolic liver disease), chronic liver disease, hepatitis (acute or chronic), inflammatory bowel disease and functional GI disorders in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to ensure her patients receive the best quality care. Oyin is committed to a patient-centered care, with emphasis on education, disease prevention, and lifestyle modifications to improve health outcomes. In addition to clinical experience, Oyin is passionate about patient advocacy and mentorship. She is currently a Mentor for APPs for the ACG and also initiated and leads the KC Gut club for APPs in GI and Hepatology in the Kansas City area.

Emily Przybyl

PA-C

Buffalo, NY, USA

Emily Przybyl is a physician assistant who specializes in gastroenterology and hepatology at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Daemen University in Amherst, NY. She has over 5 years experience in her field and has a special interest in treating patients with MASLD/MASH.

Lisa Richards

MSN, FNP-BC, AF-AASLD

San Diego, CA, USA

Lisa Richards is a highly experienced Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of California, San Diego Health System. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Nursing, graduating magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego. With over 22 years of experience in Hepatology, Lisa has developed specialized expertise in MASLD (Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and its related research. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Clinical Operations at the MASLD Research Center, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing the field. A dedicated member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), Lisa has been honored with the prestigious title of Associate Fellow, recognizing her excellence and leadership in Hepatology. In addition to her clinical and research work, Lisa is an active speaker and thought leader in her field. She has presented at esteemed events such as the AASLD Annual Meeting, Global Hepatology and Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPPP), and various local and regional conferences, sharing her deep knowledge and insights into Hepatology. Known for her leadership and expertise, Lisa Richards is widely regarded as a key figure in advancing MASLD research and Hepatology care.

Ann Moore

Phoenix, AZ, USA

Ann Moore is a hepatology nurse practitioner and VP of Clinical Services at Arizona Liver Health. She has over 30 years of liver disease and liver transplant management experience and is recognized nationally for her liver disease expertise. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as Principal Investigator for multiple clinical trials in MASH and other liver diseases. Throughout her career, Ann has worked to expand access to liver disease care throughout the state of Arizona, running numerous outreach clinics in rural locations.

April Morris

FNP

Midlothian, VA, USA

Mrs. April Morris received a bachelor of science in biology and nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. She went on to complete a master’s degree in nursing at VCU and became a board-certified family nurse practitioner in 2006. Initially, she worked in hepatology at VCU Medical Center for many years focusing on treating those patients with chronic hepatitis C. She then worked in a community hospital-based setting at the Liver Institute of Virginia in Newport News, VA and Richmond, VA for several years as the senior nurse practitioner. In this role, she gained extensive experience evaluating and managing patients with various acute and chronic liver diseases and conditions, including complications related to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She was also a sub-investigator for many liver-related clinical trials including studies conducted to develop better oral medications for chronic hepatitis C, NASH and PBC. Currently, she works full-time in the GI/Hepatology department at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, VA. In this role, she is primarily working to help develop a metabolic liver clinic to benefit those patients with NASH. Mrs. Morris is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and an executive committee member and advisor for Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

Janet Gripshover

DNP, MBA

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Janet Gripshover, DNP, MBA, AF-AASLD, is a highly experienced Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Manager for Cedars-Sinai’s Liver Transplant Program in Los Angeles. With over 15 years of clinical and leadership expertise in hepatology, Dr. Gripshover is recognized for her commitment to advancing the role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in liver care. She has led numerous initiatives to foster APP education and collaboration, including founding the APP HCV Consortium in Baltimore, MD, and creating the GI APP Grand Rounds series at Geisinger Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre, PA. In addition to speaking at national conferences, Dr. Gripshover has developed and delivered a wide range of educational and professional development seminars for non-physician providers across the country. An advocate for patient-centered innovation, she also founded and moderated the first hospital-sponsored Facebook support group for liver transplant recipients — a project that earned her the New Media Award for Healthcare from the Baltimore Business Journal and national recognition. Dr. Gripshover is an active member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), where she has served on the Hepatology Associates Committee and the Women’s Initiatives Committee, helping launch the AASLD Women’s Leadership Program. She currently serves as Vice Chair of AASLD’s Hepatology Associates Special Interest Group and is also a member of the Hepatology Associates Committee for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Milly Ng

FNP, MPH

Boston, MA, USA

Miu Lai "Milly" Ng FNP-BC, MPH is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner specializing in hepatology at Tufts Medical Center, with 8 years of experience in managing patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), including the lean MASH population. Passionate about improving liver health within the Asian population, Miu Lai is actively engaged in community outreach and education. Their clinical expertise includes the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and liver-targeted medications to optimize treatment outcomes. In addition to clinical practice, Miu Lai serves as a consultant for Pharmaceuticals and contributes expertise to multiple advisory boards and podcasts, advocating for advancements in hepatology care.

Michelle Barnett

PA-C, MPAS, DFAAPA

Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Michelle Barnett is a highly experienced physician assistant specializing in patient-focused and evidence-based hepatology at Peak Gastroenterology Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The most rewarding part of her position includes educating patients and collaborating with other GI advanced practice providers to enhance care for the growing MASLD/MASH population. She is now a subinvestigtor for hepatology clinical trials with Peak in Colorado Springs. With over 30 years in the GI and liver communities, she has held leadership roles, including serving as President of the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA) and receiving CAPA's Physician Assistant of the Year award. She is a national speaker and has given lectures for the AAPA, GHAPP and AANP. A graduate of Wichita State University and the University of Nebraska, Michelle has been recognized with the DFAAPA distinction and honors such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation's IBD internship and the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders Ally Award. Passionate about holistic care, she incorporates lifestyle strategies like nutrition, yoga, and meditation into her practice. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys hiking, travel, musical theater, and supporting her favorite Colorado sports teams.

Erin Parkinson

MS, APRN, FNP-C

St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Erin Parkinson has been a board-certified family nurse practitioner since 2007 and has been practicing in Transplant and Non-transplant Hepatology with the Tampa General Medical Group since 2011. She is the Lead Advanced Practice Provider for the Hepatology program. She has presented at national and regional meetings and is the author of multiple abstracts and poster presentations. She serves as a sub investigator for multiple clinical trials within hepatology and conducts her own research surrounding APP led practice initiatives and hepatitis C. She is a member of the AASLD annual meeting education committee and was a mentor for the ELAPP program with AASLD. She resides in St. Petersburg Florida with her husband and two sons.

Christina Hanson

FNP-C

Denver, CO, USA

Christina Hanson is a nurse practitioner in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at South Denver GI, with nearly 20 years of clinical practice. She is a course director and board of trustee for GHAPP. An active researcher with extensive leadership and teaching experience, she is a champion of evidence-based practice, data-driven care delivery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and quality patient care. Christina is committed to amplifying professional development, growth, and contributions of advanced practice.

Summer Collier

MSN, FNP-BC

San Diego, CA, USA

Summer Collier is a nurse practitioner with advanced expertise in hepatology and a strong commitment to evidence-based, multidisciplinary care. At UC San Diego Health, she provides comprehensive management for patients with chronic liver disease, including viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Collier is actively engaged in clinical research and has participated in multidisciplinary studies on liver fibrosis, steatosis, and treatment protocols for hepatitis C and alcohol use disorder. Her scholarly work focuses on improving transitions of care for patients with cirrhosis and expanding access to pharmacologic treatments for patients with alcohol use disorder. A recognized leader in the field, Collier has presented at national conferences including The Liver Meeting (AASLD), Digestive Disease Week (DDW), and GHAPP, speaking on topics such as cirrhosis care, hepatology red flags, and advanced practice provider leadership. She previously served as Chair of the Advanced Practice Council at UC San Diego Health, driving initiatives that elevated APP visibility and impact within the organization. Before joining UC San Diego Health, she was a family nurse practitioner and HIV specialist with Family Health Centers of San Diego. She also has prior experience as a registered nurse. Collier completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree from University of San Diego and will complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from University of California, Los Angeles in June 2025. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Allysa Saggese

New York, NY, USA

Allysa Saggese is a graduate of Columbia University School of Nursing with a Master's Degree in Nursing. She is board certified with the ANCC as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in Hepatology, Liver Transplantation and Hepatology Research at Weill Cornell Medicine since 2018. Her main interests include Steatotic Liver Disease, Primary Biliary Cholangitis and cirrhotic liver disease, as well as the spectrum of research within hepatology.

Patrick Horne

ARNP

Florida, USA

Patrick M. Horne, MSN, APRN-BC, FNP, AF-AASLD is the Assistant Director of Clinical Hepatology Research and Clinical Programs Coordinator at the University of Florida’s Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Florida College of Nursing. His research focuses on hepatology clinical trials, including viral hepatitis, MASH, autoimmune hepatitis, cholestatic liver disease, and HCC. He has published extensively in clinical hepatology and has presented at major conferences such as AASLD, AGA NP/PA, and GHAPP.

Valerie Shin

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Valerie Shin earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University. After earning her degree, she advanced her nursing career with the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Los Angeles, California. Valerie furthered her career by completing the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she obtained a Master’s degree. During her clinical rotation, she had the privilege of being mentored at the liver clinic, where she developed a strong interest in hepatology and the management of liver diseases. This experience led her to her current role as a Hepatology Nurse Practitioner at the Pfleger Liver Institute at UCLA Health, where she continues to specialize in liver disease care. In addition to providing exceptional patient care, Valerie Shin has a strong passion for education, both in teaching future APPs and empowering her patients. She enjoys educating her NP students in her clinic and was honored with the opportunity to lecture NP students at UCLA School of Nursing on the topic of liver cirrhosis and its complications. Valerie also contributes to the annual UCLA Patient Seminar for Liver Diseases, where she provides essential patient education. Furthermore, she is actively involved in the GHAPP meetings, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to advancing both the education of current and future APPs and the care of liver disease patients.

Lavinia Iordache

PA-C

Miami, FL, USA

Lavinia Iordache earned her Masters of Clinical Medical Science from Barry University in Miami and she has been practicing as a Physician Associate in the field of Hepatology for the past 10 years. She completed a one year AASLD fellowship under the guidance of her supervising physicians and she continues to provide care to a complex patient population in an academic environment. She previously attended Medical School in her home country of Romania and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University with a Bachelor Degree in Biochemistry. She holds a NCCPA certification and is a proud member of several professional associations as well as animal welfare organizations. Her dedication to helping people with liver disease extends to both inpatient and outpatient settings and she has been expanding her clinical practice to include Internal Medicine as well as General Gastroenterology. She values a holistic and patient-centered approach to care and is a big advocate for patient education, always striving to connect with her patients to promote understanding of diseases, build trust and improve outcomes through collaboration. Lavinia is fluent in Spanish and particularly enjoys communicating with her Latin patient population in South Florida as she has a lifelong interest in learning different dialects and connecting with people of various ethnic backgrounds. In her free time, Lavinia particularly enjoys exploring new destinations, she has taste for adventures, unique art galleries and museums, loves cooking and entertaining and she is intentional about pursuing a holistic lifestyle through conscientious choices for a mindful integration of mind, body and soul.

Tessa Janovsky

PA-C

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Tessa Janovsky obtained her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 2017. She accepted a position in the Gastroenterology Department at Valleywise Health in 2017 where her passion for Liver Disease was born with special interest in MASLD/MASH. Caring for a primarily underserved population with a large proportion of Hispanic patients, Tessa quickly realized that there were gaps in timely diagnosis and proper treatment for MASLD/MASH patients. Her interest in liver disease led her to accept a position at Banner University Liver Transplant Center where she would gain knowledge and experience in liver transplant selection and post liver transplant care. During that time, Tessa obtained a certification in Obesity Management from the Obesity Medicine Association with a goal to help patients optimize their journey with weight loss, which is a primary focus in MASLD/MASH treatment. Tessa now practices in an outpatient Hepatology Clinic at Arizona Liver Health, where she has been for the past 3 years. With a primary focus on patients with MASLD/MASH, she strives to take an individualized approach with each patient to optimize treatment strategies, including lifestyle interventions, pharmacologic management, and clinical trial opportunities.