Liver Talks: The Liver Fellow Network Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Mohammed "Zeeshan" Akhtar, MD, PhD, a liver transplant and hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, about his work in machine perfusion. We discuss how this technology is reshaping organ access, expanding the donor pool, and changing how transplant programs think about graft preservation. Join us for the only conversation about machines you've had recently that isn't about AI.

In this episode, we speak with Mohammed "Zeeshan" Akhtar, MD, PhD, a liver transplant and hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, about his work in machine perfusion. We discuss how this technology is reshaping organ access, expanding the donor pool, and changing how transplant programs think about graft preservation. Join us for the only conversation about machines you've had recently that isn't about AI.

What’s new in the world of portal hypertension?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Patrick Northup, Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at NYU Langone Health, about his career in hepatology and his expertise in vascular liver disease. We then dive into major updates from the most recent Baveno consensus meeting, exploring how the field is evolving from noninvasive risk stratification to modern approaches to NSBBs, endoscopic screening, and TIPS.

Hosts:

Vlad Fomin

Dilara Hatipoglu

Adam Winters

Alex Vogel

Edited By:

Taylor Gouterman

Join us for a deep dive into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy with leaders in the field: Dr. Parissa Tabrizian and Dr. Ju Dong Yang.

In this episode, we break down the modern management of HCC across disease stages, from surgical resection and locoregional therapies to systemic and immunotherapy options. Our guests walk us through real-world clinical decision-making and the nuances of multidisciplinary care in an increasingly complex treatment landscape.

We also feature a special segment at the end with Dr. Allie Cao who is the trainee lead for the HCC Special Interest Group (SIG).

Hosts:

Vlad Fomin

Dilara Hatipoglu

Adam Winters

Alex Vogel

Edited By:

Taylor Gouterman

Our first surgeon guest is here! Dr. Juan Rocca from Weill Cornell Medical Center joins us to break down living donor liver transplantation — from patient selection and surgical decision-making to the history of living donation. Plus, we can’t resist a little liver anatomy talk (yes, we have favorite segments).

Join us as we dive deep into Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) with a true titan in the field: Dr. Mazen Noureddin.

Dr. Noureddin joins us from the Houston Research Institute and Houston Methodist Hospital to break down the complexities of MASLD diagnosis and the modern care pathways that are redefining hepatology. We explore the current state of pharmacologic management and insights into the Phase 2 clinical trial of Efruxifermin (and learn to pronounce it!).

We have a special guest segment with Maria Mironova, the MASLD Special Interest Group (SIG) leader at AASLD, who shares how the SIG is shaping the future of liver research and education.

Join us for a unique recording from the live podcast at AASLD 2025!
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kaplan (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Fortune (Miami Transplant Institute) to break down a challenging case. Hear how these leaders in portal hypertension think through diagnosis, management, and the nuances of portal hypertension. 
Hosts:
Vlad Fomin 
Dilara Hatipoglu
Adam Winters
Alex Vogel
Guests:
David E. Kaplan
Brett E. Fortune
Edited By:
Taylor Gouterman

Join us for an in-depth discussion on Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) with Dr. Christina Lindenmeyer, board-certified transplant hepatologist at the Cleveland Clinic and founder of their groundbreaking Medical Intensive Liver Unit (MILU).

Dr. Lindenmeyer, who serves as Vice Chair of the AASLD ACLF Special Interest Group, breaks down the essential definitions and diagnostic criteria of ACLF, explores evidence-based management strategies, and shares insights from her extensive research in liver failure and transplantation.

We are excited to announce we have two new fellow hosts, Vlad Fomin and Dilara Hatipoglu! They are so excited to spend the year with you all learning about the liver. Listen to the end as we debut a brand new lightning round!

In Liver we trust.

On this episode of Liver Talks, Gideon Hirschfield, the Lily and Terry Horner Chair in Autoimmune Liver Disease Research and Professor at the University of Toronto, comes on to talk about the latest advances in primary biliary cholangitis.

Also, we bid Patrick Lee adieu and set the stage for new fellow leads!

Hosts:
Patrick Lee
Adam Winters
Alex Vogel

Guests:
Gideon Hirschfield

Edited by:
Taylor Gouterman

Enjoy a fantastic talk with the master of portal hypertension, Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao. Perfect for listening whilst in transit to or from San Diego for AASLD!

We are looking for interested trainees to take the reins of fellow lead for Liver Talks next academic year (2025-2026). Feel free to e-mail [email protected] if you are interested in learning more.

Hosts:

Patrick Lee

Adam Winters

Alex Vogel @AlexSVogel

Guests: Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao  @ggarciatsao

Music Credits:

All music furnished by ⁠https://freemusicarchive.org/⁠ under Creative Commons licensing.⁠http://brokeforfree.com/⁠⁠https://jahzzar.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠https://blankkytt.bandcamp.com⁠