Meet the Team
The liver transplant and hepatobiliary diseases program at University Hospital is organized with a team approach designed to give comprehensive, individualized care to patients with complex diseases. The team consists of a designated group of physicians, physician assistants, nurse coordinators, social workers, financial coordinators, and nutritionists. Physicians include hepatologists (liver disease specialists), transplant surgeons, a psychiatrist with expertise in transplant issues, and other specialists as the need arises. Nurse coordinators play an important role as the daily, direct and personal liaison between the transplant team and the patient.
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| (l-r) Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, MD, PhD, MBA; James V. Guarrera, MD, FACS |
Program Leadership
James V. Guarrera, MD, FACS, Program 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. Credentials
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. Credentials
Transplant/Hepatobiliary Surgeons
Arpit Amin, MD
Arpit Amin, MD graduated from State University of New York – Upstate Medical University. He completed his General Surgery residency training at New York Medical College – Westchester Medical Center. He completed fellowship training in Multi-organ Abdominal Transplant Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery at University of California – Los Angeles in 2019. He further completed advanced fellowship training in cadaveric split and living donor liver transplantation, pediatric liver transplantation, pediatric kidney transplantation and pediatric / adult intestinal transplantation at University of Pittsburgh and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2020. Dr. Amin is certified by the American Board of Surgery and by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Credentials
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). Credentials
Dr. 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 cholaniocarcinoma, and she is internationally recognized as an expert in this field. Credentials
Lloyd Brown, MD
Dr. Lloyd Brown, Assistant Professor of Surgery, graduated from the University of Rochester and continued at the University of Rochester School of Medicine for his medical degree. He did a residency in general surgery at Ohio State University's department of surgery and completed a transplant fellowship in Detroit. Dr Brown is also active in Clinical and Translational Research and the Global Surgery program. Credentials
Physician Assistants
Elisabete DaSilva, PA-C
Jacqueline Kocot, PA-C
Transplant 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. Credentials
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. Credentials
Zaid Tafesh, MD
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. Credentials
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. Credentials
Gastroenterology & Advanced Endoscopy
Sushil K. Ahlawat M.D.
Dr. Sushil Ahlawat, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of
Endoscopy at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He earned his medical
degree from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak (India) and M.S.
(Clinical Research) from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester. He was a
medicine resident at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, and completed
gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy training at Georgetown University Hospital in
Washington. Credentials
Interventional Radiology
Dr. Kumar
Dr. Shukla
Dr. Kioza
Dr. Klyde
Patient Navigators
The patient's initial contact with the center will be with a patient navigator. They will arrange initial appointments with the team, and obtain records from the referring physician office. The navigators work side by side with the coordinator to assist the patient during the evaluation period.
Patients whose last name begins with A-L
Julie Vargas, CMA, phone: 973-972-3613 fax: 973-972-2605
Patients whose last name begins with M-Z
Maria DeAlmeida, phone: 973-972-9460 fax: 973-972-1375
Patients who have already been added to the UNOS Liver Transplant Waitlist
Anjaya West, CMA, phone: 973-972-8059 fax: 973-972-3866
Transplant Coordinators
Upon the first visit, the patient will meet with a transplant coordinator—a Registered Nurse with special training in transplantation. The Transplant Coordinator schedules all tests and activities from pre-evaluation to follow up care. This individual will be the patient's main partner through the transplantation process, explaining every step along the way.
Pre-Transplant Nurse Coordinators
For patients who are being evaluated for a possible liver transplant:
For all patients whose last name begins with A-I
Luanne Ivanow RN, BSN, 973-972-8239
For all patients whose last name begins with M-Z
Emily Berls RN, BSN, 973-972-6616
For patients who have already been added to the UNOS Liver Transplant Waitlist:
Maria Elena Montero, RN, BSN, 973-972-5439
Post-Transplant Nurse Coordinators
For patients who have received a liver transplant whose last name begins with A-I
Esther Aligmayo, RN, BSN, 973-972-9619
For patients who have received a liver transplant whose last name begins with J-Q
Lisa Jakubowski, RN, BSN, 973-972-0951
For patients who have received a liver transplant whose last name begins with R-Z
Alissa Santos RN, MSN, 973-972-9609
Patient Navigator
Lucy Palacio, 973-972-5442
Inpatient Pre and Post Coordinator
Chester Guss RN, BSN, 973-972-9609
Social Worker
The Social Worker meets with patients to evaluate their social support system, coping ability, and past psychosocial history. The patient will need to identify a primary care partner, or someone to support them before and after transplant. The Social Worker also can refer you to community agencies that can address the changes and difficulties the patient and their family may experience. Assistance could include referrals to community transportation, or financial grant applications. Connecting the patient with others who have experienced transplantation firsthand is another aspect of this role. One resource is the Positive Living Liver Support Group, which meets monthly.
For all patients whose last name begins with A-I
Mimi Toney, LCSW, 973-972-5115
For all patients whose last name begins with J-Q
Jennifer Cashin, LCSW, 973-972-2460
For all patients whose last name begins with R-Z
Jessica Avery, LCSW, 973-972-7911
Financial Coordinators
The Financial Coordinators meet with the patient and family members to discuss specific information regarding the costs of transplantation, including insurance and prescription coverage as well as any out-of-pocket expenses. The coordinator will go over any financial issues related to medical care, both before and after the transplant, as well as identify options and create a plan that works best for the patient and family. For patients with inadequate health insurance, the financial coordinator will advise and refer the patient to an appropriate agency for eligibility. It is essential the patient communicate any changes in insurance to your coordinator
For all patients whose last name begins with A-I
Chukwuka Ndukwe, BA, 973-972-9614
For all patients whose last name begins with J-Q
Irma Nunez, 973-972-2872
For all patients whose last name begins with R-Z
Felma Izar, BSBA, 973-972-8951
Pharmacy
The pharmacist will review the patient's current medications and make suggestions to the MD. Then for post-transplant care, you will require a daily program of immunosuppressive drug therapy. The pharmacist is an authority on these medications, and can answer questions about the doctor's instructions for taking them. The patient should never change the dosage schedule unless specifically told to do so by the doctor or transplant coordinator.
Merlin Punnoose, Pharm D. BCPS, 973-972-8939
Brielle Okulizc, PharmD., 973-972-3267
Stephanie Holland, CPHT, Pharmacy Liaison, 973-972-7600
Katherine Gonzalez, CPHT, Pharmacy Liasion 973-972-9459
Registered Dietitian
A Registered Dietitian will review the dietary habits with the patient and family as well as help the patient develop and maintain an appropriate diet before and after the transplant. If the patient is overweight or underweight, our transplant dietitian will counsel the patient regarding healthy habits to improve nutritional status. The dietitian can also provide recipes and helpful hints to reduce health risks.
David Mercado, RD, 973-972-0765
Clinic Staff
Clinic Front Desk 973-972-2018
Nicholas Santoiemma, BSN, RN-BC, CCRN, Clinic Manager, 973-972-2025
Ghizlane Maachi, Medical Office Assistant
Frances Alvarez, ACT
Mevlija Abazi, ACT
Shirley Rivera, ACT
Data Analysis
Geoffrey Koizumi
Administrative Staff
Jeannatte Torres, Program Assistant 973-972-3181
Melissa Lugardo, Staff Assistant, 973-972-8412
Renee Wooten, Staff Assistant, 973-972-2652
Quality Coordinator
Sandra Lao, RN, MSN
Administration
Kathleen Ruping, MBA, BSN, RN, CCTC, Administrative Director, 973-972-9554
Joel Lindower, Assistant Administrative Director, 973-972-8352