Gastroenterology

Spencer Behr, MD will present "A Primer to Abdominal Imaging". Spencer Behr, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology and the Director of the Fellowship for both the Abdominal Imaging subspecialty and for the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco. He obtained his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston in 2005.

Sara Miller, MPH, FNP will present on "Health Disparities in Liver Tranplantation". Sara Miller, MPH, FNP is a nurse practitioner who cares for patients with end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis, including those who are preparing for a liver transplant. She assists with presurgical evaluations and managing complications of liver disease.

Dr. Yao is a gastroenterologist and medical director of the Liver Transplant Program at UCSF Medical Center. Dr. Yao is a professor of medicine in the UCSF School of Medicine. He also is director of UCSF's Liver Transplant Outreach and Community Liaison Program. In his research, he is interested in liver cancer treatment, particularly related to liver transplants, and has contributed to important publications in this area. His other research interests include hepatitis B infection and outcomes for liver transplantation.

Mustafa Arain, MD will present "Chronic Pancreatits - A Practical Approach". Dr. Arain is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. Dr. Arain received his medical degree from Guy’s, King’s St. Thomas’ School of Medicine. He went on to complete a residency in medicine at the University of Minnesota, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship and advanced endoscopy fellowship in gastroenterology, both also at the University of Minnesota. Dr.

Calvin Chou, MD, PhD,  will present "The Art of Feedback". Dr. Chou is professor of clinical medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), and staff physician at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in San Francisco. After undergraduate work at Yale, he received his PhD in microbiology and his MD at Columbia University, and subsequently completed residency training in internal medicine at UCSF.

Sujatha Sankaran will present "Tools for Quality Improvement & Patient Safety". Dr. Sankaran is an Associate Professor of Medicine with the Division of Hospital Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and subsequently completed her training in Internal Medicine at the Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center program in June 2005. She then worked as an Academic Hospitalist at Columbia University in New York City, where she was actively involved in resident education.

Dr. Sun-Chuan Dai is a gastroenterologist who specializes in endoscopic treatments. He cares for people with complex pancreas or bile duct problems, as well as those who have other damage to the digestive tract. He is passionate about communicating with his patients, and believes that a few minutes of careful explanation can go a long way toward relieving anxiety.

Dr. Pooja Dharwadkar is a gastroenterologist at UCSF Medical Center. She received her medical degree from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine Residency and her Gastroenterology Fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Patrick Avila is a gastroenterologist in Stanford, California and is affiliated with UCSF Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and went on to complete his Internal Medicine Residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at UCSF followed by an additional fellowship at UCSF specializing in Advanced Endoscopy.