Our Team

URMC's Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division has an experienced team of physicians and ancillary providers who are devoted exclusively to the management of diseases of the GI tract, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts.

Our doctors are among the most highly trained in the nation. For example, we have the only Gastroenterologists in the region who are fellowship trained in advanced therapeutic endoscopy, liver transplantation and nutrition.
Our doctors are on the front lines of the latest developments in the field due to their involvement in clinical trials and basic science research. This translates into state of the art care for our patients and access to national trials.
Our providers are highly accessible. Urgent referrals can often be accommodated within 24 hours.
Our team is highly experienced, performing more procedures (and more complex endoscopic procedures) than any other center in the area.

Clinical Faculty

Vivek Kaul, M.D., FACG	Dr. Vivek Kaul is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Acting Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at URMC. After attending medical school at Delhi University, he completed Internal Medicine residency at SUNY-Downstate Medical University in NYC and Gastroenterology Fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. He also completed an additional year of fellowship in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy (EUS & ERCP) at St. Luke's Pancreaticobiliary Center in Milwaukee. He has a special interest and expertise in advanced therapeutic endoscopy, Endoscopic Ultrasound, ERCP, Esophageal Endotherapy and Hepatobiliary disease. He serves on several national Gastroenterology committees, is a reviewer for several journals and has several publications and presentations to his credit.
Arthur J. DeCross, M.D.	Dr. Arthur DeCross is an Associate Professor of Medicine at URMC and serves as the Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship training program. He attended medical school at Albany Medical College, completed Internal Medicine training at Strong Memorial Hospital-University of Rochester, and completed Gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of Virginia. Dr. DeCross is very involved with educational programs for medical students, medical residents, and gastroenterology fellows. In addition to general gastroenterology, his primary areas of interest and expertise are in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease, and the specialized nutritional support of gastrointestinal disorders. Dr. DeCross serves on several national committees of the American Gastroenterological Association, primarily in the areas of medical education and training.
Jonathan Huang, D.O.	Dr. Huang is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. He attended medical school at Midwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, Residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Evanston, Gastroenterology and Advanced Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Huang is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and eligible for certificate of qualification in Transplant Hepatology. Dr. Huang has formal training and expertise in all liver diseases and liver transplantation. He specializes in viral hepatitis, hepatic encephalopathy, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatobiliary malignancies, and other liver diseases. Prior to joining URMC, Dr. Huang was on faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has received multiple teaching awards for both residency and medical school education. He regularly participates in clinical trials as well as other research activities in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Benedict J. Maliakkal, M.D.	Dr. Benedict Maliakkal is an Associate Professor of Medicine at URMC and the Medical Director of the Liver Transplant program at Strong. He attended medical school at St. John's Medical College in India, completed his residency at Coney Island Hospital, and completed his fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit. Dr. Maliakkal was on the faculty at Albany Medical College for twelve years, where he was an Associate Professor. Dr. Maliakkal is board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology and transplant hepatology. He specializes in viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and other liver/GI disease in patients with HIV. As a Transplant hepatologist, he takes care of patients with end stage liver disease from all causes and also those with liver tumors both benign and malignant. He is involved in multiple clinical trials involving new medications for Hepatitis C and other causes of liver diseases, as well as medications and procedures that can help manage complications of cirrhosis of the liver.
Nuri Ozden, M.D.	Dr. Ozden is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Director for Endoscopic Research. He attended medical school at Marmara University in Turkey and completed fellowships in Gastroenterology at University of Nebraska, Transplant Hepatology at University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at Beth Israel Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, in Boston. Dr. Ozden has interests in Pancreaticobiliary Endoscopy/ERCP, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Therapeutic Endoscopy, pancreatic cancer, hepatobiliary malignancy, and acute and chronic liver diseases.
Gopal Ramaraju, M.D.	Dr. Ramaraju is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at URMC and the Associate Director of Transplant Hepatology. He attended medical school at Guntur Medical College in India and completed fellowships in the Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology at University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. He worked as a transplant hepatologist in the Liver Transplant Center at University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey before joining URMC. He is experienced in the management of Hepatitis C, pre and post liver transplant patients and hepato-biliary malignancies. He regularly participates in clinical trials and other research activities in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Lawrence J. Saubermann, M.D.	Dr. Lawrence Saubermann is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at URMC and Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease program. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas/Southwestern Medical School, completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University in Providence, and completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Saubermann specializes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), with ongoing active clinical and basic research in the field. He has a number of publications, including original manuscripts, book chapters and reviews. He is a reviewer for many top journals and is a funded investigator with NIH funding.
Ashok N. Shah, M.D.	Dr. Ashok Shah is Professor of Medicine at URMC and one of the most experienced gastroenterologists in the region. He earned his medical degree from B. J. Medical College in India with subsequent Gastroenterology fellowships at The Lahey Clinic in Boston and at the University of Rochester. Dr. Shah has over 35 years experience in gastroenterology and has particular interests in IBD, pancreatic disease, liver diseases and celiac disease. He was recently honored with the M.A.C.G. Award by the American College of Gastroenterology for his achievements in clinical gastroenterology and education. Dr. Shah has particular interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. He is a founding member of both the CCFA of Rochester and the Celiac Society of Rochester.
Asad Ullah, M.D.	Dr. Asad Ullah is an Associate Professor of Medicine at URMC and Chief of Endoscopy at Strong Memorial Hospital. He attended medical school at King Edward Medical College in Pakistan and completed his fellowship at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Ullah's special interests include advanced endoscopic procedures, pancreaticobiliary diseases, GI malignancies, as well as other endoscopic examinations and gastroenterology consultations.
Thomas Werth, M.D.	Dr. Werth is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Medical Director of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Endoscopy Center. He attended medical school at University of Kansas, Kansas City. He did his internship, Residency and fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard, Boston. Dr. Werth is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology. Dr. Werth has previously held faculty appointments with medical schools in Texas and North Carolina. He assisted with the establishment of the liver transplant program in Charlotte and is experienced in the care of patients with advanced hepatolbiliary and gastrointestinal disease. He has participate din a number of clinical research trials including treatments of Hepatitis C Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cirrhosis and IBS.

Research Faculty

Andrei Ivanov, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor of Medicine
Lawrence J. Sauberman, M.D.	Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. Lawrence Saubermann is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at URMC and Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease program. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas/Southwestern Medical School, completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University in Providence, and completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Saubermann specializes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), with ongoing active clinical and basic research in the field. He has a number of publications, including original manuscripts, book chapters and reviews. He is a reviewer for many top journals and is a funded investigator with NIH funding.
Jun Sun, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor of Medicine
David Yule, Ph.D.	Professor of Medicine; Pharmacology & Physiology

Physician Extenders

Marcia Fowler, FNP-C

Marcia Fowler

Marcia Fowler is a Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She earned her MS from the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at St. John Fisher College and has experience in transplant hepatology. Marcia has special interests in both Hepatitis and end stage liver disease.

Tiffany Main, FNP-C

Tiffany Main

Tiffany C. Main is a Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has an MS from the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and has worked in vascular/plastic surgery and radiology.

Nancy Brown RPA-C

Nancy Brown is a Certified Physician Assistant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology outpatient clinic. She has an BS f Science in Food Systems Economics and Management from Michigan State University and a BS of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY and has worked as a Urology Physician Assistant.

Dorothy Mason, FNP-C

Dorothy Mason

Dorothy Mason is a Certified Nurse Practitioner within the outpatient clinic in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has an MS from the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at St. John Fisher College and a BS in Nursing from Alfred University. Dorothy has experience in urgent care and served as an instructor at Rochester General Hospital before joining the University of Rochester.

Celeste Phillips, MS, RN-C, ANP

Celeste Phillips is a Certified Nurse Practitioner within the outpatient clinic in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has an MS from the University of Rochester and a BS in Nursing from D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY. Celeste has experience in Adult Cardiology.

Sarah Enslin, RPA-C

Sarah Enslin is a Certified Physician Assistant within the outpatient clinic in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has a Bachelors of Science, Physician Assistant Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. Sarah comes from the Department of Surgery, Solid Organ Transplantation at Strong Memorial Hospital as an advanced practice provider for transplant surgery and hepatology teams.

Lauren Westcott, PA

Lauren Westcott is a Physician Assistant within the outpatient clinic in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She recently attained her Bachelor's of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology in the Physician Assistant Program.

Administrator

Mark McNaney, MS

Mark McNaney

Mark J. McNaney is the Administrator of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the Department of Medicine. Mark has an MS in Health Systems Leadership from the University of Rochester. Prior to joining the division, he worked as the Administrator of community health initiatives at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and as the Administrator of Transplant Services at SUNY Upstate Medical University.