For over 50 years, the Hepatology Program at Michigan Medicine has provided state-of-the-art liver care, research, and education. Our faculty are committed to patient education and physician training. The Program has trained a majority of the transplant hepatologists practicing in Michigan. In addition to providing hepatology training for U-M gastroenterology fellows, the Hepatology Program offers a one-year Transplant Hepatology Fellowship for candidates who have completed an ABIM-certified three-year Gastroenterology Fellowship.
Our History
Dr. Keith Henley, a renowned hepatologist at Michigan Medicine, began the program's work over 50 years ago. He earned an enviable reputation for integrity, accessibility, scrupulous fairness, and a deep moral conscience.
Dr. Henley joined the University of Michigan Medical School faculty in 1954 and in 1972 began leading the Division of Gastroenterology as chief. In the same year, he founded the Hepatology Program. In 1985, he, along with Dr. Jeremiah Turcotte (the T of the CTP [Child-Turcotte-Pugh] score that is used to assess severity of liver disease), established the University of Michigan Liver Transplant Program, one of the first in the United States.
Dr. Henley was the first to describe alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, which is used throughout the world as a diagnostic tool for liver injury. His primary research focus during the latter part of his career and into retirement, was the development of an infrastructure to aid in the education and care of patients with hepatitis in Vietnam and in other countries afflicted with high incidences of the disease.
Dr. Henley also strengthened the GI presence at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs hospital. The results of his clinical efforts and his hepatology research have had far-reaching impact on the care of liver disease and liver transplant patients. Dr. Henley led the Division until 1981 and retired in 1993.
Following his retirement, Dr. Henley remained active as a faculty member and professor emeritus in the Department of Internal Medicine. In honor of Dr. Henley’s contribution to the field of hepatology, the care of patients with liver diseases, and the Michigan Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the University of Michigan and the Henley Family established the Keith S. Henley, MD, Collegiate Professorship in Gastroenterology in 2008.
Our Team
Faculty
- Anna S. F. Lok, MD, FRCP
- Frederick K. Askari, MD, PhD
- Patricia Bloom, MD
- Graham F. Brady, MD, PhD
- Vincent Chen, MD
- Hari S. Conjeevaram, MD, MS
- Robert J. Fontana, MD
- Hellan K. Kwon, MD
- Nikhilesh R. Mazumder, MD, MPH
- Jessica L. Mellinger, MD, MSc
- Neehar Parikh, MD
- Ponni Perumalswami, MD
- Nataliya Razumilava, MD
- Pratima Sharma, MD, MS
- Elizabeth K. Speliotes, MD, PhD, MPH
- Grace L. Su, MD
- Andrew W. Tai, MD, PhD
- Elliot B. Tapper, MD
Advanced Practice Providers
Carrie Bergmans, MS, PA-C
Carrie graduated with a Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Emory University in 2015 and joined the Hepatology Program in early 2016. Carrie helps to care for patients in the General Hepatology Clinic, Viral Hepatitis Clinic, and Liver Transplant Clinic.
Andrea Gajos, MSN, ANP-BC
Andrea graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008 from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Science of Nursing from Madonna University in May 2013. She is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner. Andrea joined the Hepatology Program in 2013 and helps to care for patients in the General Hepatology Clinic, Viral Hepatitis Clinic, and Liver Transplant Clinic.
Tracy Licari, MS, PA-C
Tracy graduated with a Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Wayne State University in May 2000 and joined the Hepatology Program in 2000. She is a key member of the Liver Transplant Program and plays a major role in the care of patients pre- and post-liver transplant. Tracy is also interested in the diagnosis and management of liver cancer. She is a member of the Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Clinic at the University of Michigan Cancer Center where she actively evaluates and monitors patients with hepatic malignancies.
Kelly Oberhelman, MS, PA-C
Kelly graduated with a Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Wayne State University in May 2000 and joined the Hepatology Program in 2000. She is a key member of the General Hepatology Clinic and Viral Hepatitis Clinic. Kelly is in charge of monitoring patients receiving antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B and C. Her expertise and experience in management of patients with viral hepatitis has led to an invitation to speak at the Hepatology Associates Course at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Kelly also assists in clinical trials of antiviral therapies and has co-authored several papers in peer-reviewed medical journals. Kelly also cares for patients pre- and post-liver transplant.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
Lorraine Bonkowski, RDN
Taubman Clinic
Lorraine earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and completed her Dietetic Internship at Henry Ford Hospital. She has been with the University of Michigan outpatient Hepatology Clinic and Liver Transplant Clinic since 2018. In these clinics she focuses on patients with liver diseases such as cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease including patients going through the liver transplant process. Her prior experience as a dietitian includes pediatric oncology and hematology.
