Thought Leader

Featured MASLD/MASH Educators

Elizabeth Alqueza

PA-C

Boston, MA, USA

Elizabeth Alqueza, PA-C is a board certified Physician Associate at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2004 with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree and subsequently completed the AASLD NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship. Elizabeth has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings with a strong commitment to patient care. Currently working at BIDMC Liver Center, Elizabeth has 5 years of dedicated experience in Hepatology. Her practice focuses primarily on steatotic liver disease, including Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). Elizabeth is an active member of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers.

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.

Sherona Bau

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sherona Bau graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 2008, with Master of Science in Nursing dual program specialized in Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist. In 2010, she has joined UCLA Pfleger Liver Institute and Asian Liver Cancer Center working as an outpatient Nurse Practitioner specializing in liver diseases including viral hepatitis, hepatobiliary diseases, alcohol related liver diseases, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease/Steatohepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since 2016, she has been a guest lecturer at UCLA School of Nursing for Master Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) and MSN Adult/Gero Acute Care program. She is also a preceptor for Adult/Gero Acute Care Program. She participated in Hepatitis C Screening in the Community Churches to promote awareness of hepatitis C and the importance of treatment of hepatitis C. She also participates in Patient Symposium at UCLA to give a lecture to update care of the liver transplant patients. She is also a faculty of Gastroenterology Hepatology Advanced Practice Provider (GHAPP) since 2018 and a speaker for both GHAPP National meeting and Regional GHAPP in Los Angeles. Since 2013, she has published total 14 research papers and case report including the most recent three are Recommendations for the Management of MASH by Advanced Practice Providers in the US, Clinicians and Patients Confront Practical Issues in Wilson Disease, and Overview of chronic Hepatitis B management.

Maribeth Capuno

DNP, RN, ANP-BC

Richmond, VA, USA

Maribeth Capuno obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University in 1996. She was then certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Cardiology for over 20 years, specializing in Heart Failure. In 2019, she advanced her education by obtaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia. In 2021, she relocated to Richmond Virginia and took a position in the Hepatology department at the Richmond Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. In this position, her focus has been on patients with MASLD/MASH throughout the spectrum of their disease. She works with her patients to develop an individualized plan of care to assist them in controlling their metabolic conditions which are contributing to their liver disease. She also is a Sub-Investigator on multiple MASLD/MASH clinical trials.

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.

Jessica Crimaldi

MSN, NP-C, CMSRN

Cleveland, OH, USA

Jessica Crimaldi, MSN, APRN,CNP, CMSRN was born and raised in the greater Cleveland area. She attended Cleveland State University for her BSN; during her time at CSU she had the opportunity to work at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in a 3-year internship entitled the "Nursing Experiential Program." In this role she had the opportunity to learn many of the roles on a typical nursing unit while working 1 year as a Unit Secretary, 1 year as a Nurse Assistant and 1 year as a Nurse Intern. She started her nursing career on an inpatient Internal Medicine and Telemetry Teaching Unit where she worked as an RN while completing her MSN at the University of Akron. Since graduation in 2015 she has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition seeing inpatients with gastrointestinal and liver disorders at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. In addition, to her clinical role, she is also the Manager for over 50 Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition APPs. She is the Co-Director for the nation's first Inflammatory Bowel Disease APP Fellowship which is in its third year. She has presented nationally and published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (JNP). She is Faculty for Gastroenterology and Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPP) National Organization and Milestone APP. When she is not busy with work Jessica is a wife, parent to 2 young children and dog mom. She is a foster parent and passionate about improving the foster care system. She enjoys being outdoors, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Jeremy Davis

ACNP-BC

Shreveport, LA, USA

Jeremy Davis ACNP is a board-certified acute care nurse practitioner who has been practicing in the focus of hepatology at GastroIntestinal Specialists A.M.C. since 2012. Jeremy’s areas of interest include MASLD, MASH, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, cholestatic liver disease, and autoimmune liver disease. Jeremy has been an active faculty ambassador of Gastroenterology & Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers (GHAPP) since 2019 and is a lecturer at both regional and national conferences. Jeremy is also an Associate member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) since 2014. Jeremy received his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Jeremy’s hobbies include spending time with his family, cooking and traveling.

Sarah Dawkins

FNP-C, MSN, RN

Durham, NC, USA

Sarah Dawkins, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner specializing in general and transplant hepatology at Duke University Medical Center, where she has practiced since 2017. She holds a BS in Biology and a BA in Romance Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Duke University and worked in the Neuroscience ICU at Duke while earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She became a certified family nurse practitioner in 2015 and initially worked in a private gastroenterology practice before joining Duke Gastroenterology. Her clinical interests include autoimmune liver disease, transplant hepatology and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Sarah currently serves as the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Team Lead for the GI Division at Duke. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, attending fitness classes, cheering on the UNC Tar Heels, and spending time with her three young children and their orange cat, Zeus.

Anthony Derencius

MPAS, PA-C

San Antonio, TX, USA

Anthony Derencius, PA-C is a former U.S. Army medic and a 2010 honor graduate of the military’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program. During his 11 years in the Army, he provided care to patients and soldiers around the world, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. After leaving the Army, PA-C Derencius focused his clinical career in the gastroenterology and hepatology field. He has worked in private practice GI in Hawaii and in both general and transplant hepatology in San Antonio, gaining extensive outpatient and inpatient experience. In 2024, he joined Pinnacle Clinical Research, bringing a wealth of clinical expertise to his role as an investigator in many clinical trials for MASLD and other liver diseases. In 2018, he completed a one-year American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) Foundation NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship. He is also an active member of several medical societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the AASLD.

Stacie Egan

DNP, FNP-C

Layton, UT, USA

Stacie Egan, DNP, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in gastroenterology, practicing with the Ogden Clinic in Utah. Born and raised in the Ogden area, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Weber State University, graduating summa cum laude. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati, and most recently her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, which she obtained in 2022. Stacie joined Ogden Clinic in 2017 and works primarily through the Layton Specialty location, where she focuses on digestive health, disease prevention, and helping patients improve quality of life through clinical care and education. Her passion for gastroenterology stems from her strong belief in the impact of preventative health and the importance of gut health in overall wellness. Beyond her clinical work, Stacie values a patient-centered approach—listening to patients, addressing their concerns, and applying her knowledge to support them in achieving better health outcomes. She resides locally, is married, and in her free time enjoys Utah’s outdoor lifestyle, including trail running, enjoying natural areas like Snowbasin, and participating in the Ogden Marathon.

Melissa Franco

PA-C, MMS

Miami, FL, USA

Melissa Franco is a Physician Associate at the University of Miami- specializing in the management of patients with liver diseases, ranging from acute hepatitis to complex chronic conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. With a strong focus on MASH, autoimmune hepatitis, PBC, viral hepatitides, and cirrhosis- Melissa is dedicated to delivering compassionate, comprehensive care tailored to each patient's unique needs. She is deeply committed to patient education, and strives to empower individuals to take an active role in their health journey, fostering collaboration, and confidence at every stage of care.

Jennifer Geremia

MPAS, PA-C

Cranston, RI, USA

Jennifer Geremia, MPAS, PA-C, is a practicing Physician Assistant in outpatient Gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. With GI experience for 15 years including community GI care in RI and currently tertiary care. In addition to clinical practice she enjoys educating both her peers and future PAs. Jennifer currently teaches at UNE, MCPHS and MGH PA programs. She is also on the Education committee and faculty for GHAPP and is actively working on the AGA APP task force as well as an APP contributor to ASGE .

HoChong Gilles

DNP, FNP-BC, AF-AASLD

Midlothian, VA, USA

HoChong Gilles earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Nursing, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2018, she completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the University of Virginia. With over 25 years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner specializing in hepatology, Dr. Gilles currently serves as the Clinical Program Director for the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division and Assistant Director of GI Research in Richmond, Virginia. Her clinical and research interests encompass metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD/MASH), portal hypertension, liver transplantation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. An active member of the liver disease community, she is proud to hold the designation of Associate Fellow with the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD).

Elizabeth Goacher

PA-C

Raleigh, NC, USA

Elizabeth Goacher is a Physician Assistant with Duke University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Duke Liver Center, April 2001 to the present. Her pronouns are she/her. She is currently engaged in full time clinical practice in Hepatology. Her clinical work encompasses the full spectrum of liver disease patient population, from early stage disease to end of life, with a particular interest in portal hypertension. She served as Team Lead for the Duke Division of Gastroenterology Advanced Practice group of 25 Advanced Practice Providers 2014-2023. She is also lecturer and preceptor at Duke University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Elizabeth graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program in 1998 after earning her Bachelor of Arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991. She is past Chair of the Hepatology Associates Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and was a member of the inaugural class of Associate Fellows of AASLD in 2020. When she is not at work, she maintains a health boundary from technology (aka EPIC) and spends as much time outdoors as possible. When asked to design and implement her dream job, she would own and operate a cocktail and tapas venue while instructing fitness classes on a large piece of lakeside property in North Carolina alongside her canine rescue, foster and retraining agency.

Ellie Gonyeau

Boston, MA, USA

Ellie Gonyeau is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Nurse Practitioner degree from Simmons University and has been practicing since 2020. Ellie is affiliated with Cape Cod Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, providing comprehensive care to patients with various gastrointestinal conditions. She is committed to delivering patient-centered care and building long-term, trusting relationships with her patients.

Tina Gregg

NP-C

Flowood, MS, USA

Tina Marie Gregg, NP-C, is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in gastroenterology with a particular focus on liver disease. She serves as The Liver Clinic Specialist at GI Associates & Endoscopy Center in Flowood, Mississippi, where she provides comprehensive care for patients with conditions such as cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and other chronic liver disorders. Tina earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mississippi College and has been certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2007. At GI Associates, she is actively involved in both clinic visits and procedural care, coordinating diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, and long-term disease management. Known for her compassionate and thorough approach, Tina is dedicated to helping patients understand their conditions and treatment options while ensuring close follow-up and ongoing support.

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).

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.

Anna Marie Hefner

PhD, RN, CPNP, FAASLD

Southern California, CA, USA

Anna Marie Hefner PhD, RN, CPNP, FAASLD is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and expert nurse in the field of Hepatology, specializing in fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Anna Marie is an Associate Professor at Azusa Pacific University, School of Nursing, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Anna received her Masters of Science in Nursing from California State University in Long Beach, and her Masters of Arts, Education, and Special Education at Azusa Pacific University. Anna Marie completed her Doctorate in Nursing at the University of San Diego, with an emphasis in nutritional status of the patient with end-stage liver disease. Anna Marie is the Director of the NASH-ville clinics at Southern California Liver Centers. Anna Marie has received three consecutive mid-level professional awards for her work on facilitating lifestyle changes to manage progressive fatty liver disease from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Anna Marie is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

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.