We are a faculty group with a broad range of clinical expertise and research experience, and our goal is to provide comprehensive training to future gastroenterologists in all aspects of the specialty. In order to provide the necessary breadth of fellowship education, we have a faculty member with clinical expertise within every subspecialty focus of gastroenterology.

Nizar Mukhtar, MD
Program Director

Nizar Mukhtar, MD
Program Director
Medical Education
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Additional Training
Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco
Areas of Interest
Acute and chronic liver disease management, including chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases; management of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma; and pre- and post-liver transplant evaluation.
Current Professional and Public Service Activities
Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Liver Clinic Director of Hepatology, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center Board Member, Kaiser Permanente Northern California West Bay Regional Liver Tumor Board Board Member, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Liver Transplant Advisory Board National Committee Member, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Committee Member, San Francisco Liver Cancer Task Force
Research Focus
Identifying and addressing health disparities and inequities in care pertaining to chronic liver disease management; understanding the complex interplay of patient, provider, health care system, and societal factors that influence adherence to established guidelines for management of chronic viral hepatitis B, including hepatocellular carcinoma screening and management; and characterization of the epidemiologic and metabolic features of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C infection.
What makes me thrive
Quality time with family, friends, and colleagues, running, tennis, eating great food, and watching films.
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
I cherish the opportunity to teach and learn from our new fellows. I look forward to forging new lifelong relationships with and between the new fellows that will foster their personal and professional development as individuals and gastroenterologists.
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Jeffrey Fox, MD, MPH
Associate Program Director, Regional Chair of Gastroenterology

Jeffrey Fox, MD, MPH
Associate Program Director, Regional Chair of Gastroenterology
Medical Education
UC San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA
Residency
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Additional training
Master of Public Health, UCSD/SDSU
Areas of interest
Biliary endoscopy, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, Operational efficiency, Ergonomics of GI, Improving colorectal cancer screening quality and monitoring adherence to national guidelines
Current positions
Chair of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Chair of Interregional Chiefs of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Federation (KP National) Chief of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Assistant GI Fellowship director, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Gastroenterology lead, The Permanente Symposium (KP’s national annual multidisciplinary CME conference)
What makes me thrive
My family and friends, interacting with my phenomenal peers in GI (physicians and staff), mountain biking and hiking Marin headlands, multiple sports fan including fantasy baseball, playing music
What excites me about the fellowship
Learning strategies to foster a successful 25+ year career, with attention to ergonomics and finding joy in the exciting and mundane parts of GI practice
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Lyle Shlager, MD

Lyle Shlager, MD
Medical Education
Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Area of Interests
Hepatitis B and pregnancy
Additional Professional Positions
American Board of Internal Medicine/Gastroenterology Standard Setting Committee Fall 2019 Chief of Gastroenterology Kaiser San Francisco 1992-2017
What makes me thrive
Time with family, Skiing, Hiking, Exercise
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
The opportunity to teach fellows in an organization that emphasizes patient care and outcomes in a diverse patient population with a very fun atmosphere which encourages teaching and cooperation among the all the physicians.
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Fernando Velayos, MD, MPH
Chief of Gastroenterology, Kaiser San Francisco, Key Clinical Faculty, IBD Regional Program

Fernando Velayos, MD, MPH
Chief of Gastroenterology, Kaiser San Francisco, Key Clinical Faculty, IBD Regional Program
Medical Education
University of California, San Francisco
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Additional Training
Masters in Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Area of Interests
Inflammatory bowel disease, clinical research, predictive models of disease, population health, colorectal cancer, fellow education, clinical trials
What makes me thrive
daily gratitude
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
After training gastroenterology fellows for over a decade at the UCSF. I look forward to working with fellows again. I look forward to doing everything in my power to make their training experience the best possible and to make sure they are prepared to help achieve their goals when they enter the next stage in their professional life.
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Rosa Valadao, MD
Chief of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Oakland

Rosa Valadao, MD
Chief of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Oakland
Medical Education
Howard University School of Medicine
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
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Howard Chang, MD
Site Director, Kaiser Oakland

Howard Chang, MD
Site Director, Kaiser Oakland
Medical Education
Northwestern University Medical School
Residency
Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School
Fellowship
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Area of Interests
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal motility disorders, Barrett’s esophagus
What makes me thrive
Traveling with my family, reading fantasy books, hiking, playing tennis, receiving a “thank you” from my patients
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
The chance to give to fellows what my mentors gave me.
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Jeff Lee, MD, MPH
Key Clinical Faculty, Research

Jeff Lee, MD, MPH
Key Clinical Faculty, Research
Medical Education
University of California, San Diego
Residency
University of California, San Diego
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Additional Training
Masters in Clinical Research, University of California San Diego Masters in Public Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Additional Professional Positions
Editorial Board, Gastroenterology Advisory Board, Gastroenterology Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco Digestive Disease Week Abstract Review Committee Member, American Gastroenterological Association Research Scientist at Division of Research Clinical Research Lead for KPNC’s GI fellowship program
Active Grants
National Cancer Institute (K07 grant)
Area of Interests
My research focuses on the epidemiology of colorectal cancer, colorectal polyps, and other gastrointestinal cancers (e.g., gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma); optimizing the colorectal cancer screening and surveillance processes; evaluating and improving invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer screening; pharmacoepidemiology; and the use of implementation science to reduce low-value care.
What makes me thrive
Spending time with my three kids; enjoying a cup of pour over coffee; and watching Cal football
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Douglas Corley, MD, PhD, MPH

Douglas Corley, MD, PhD, MPH
Medical Education
University of Pennsylvania
Residency
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco
Additional Training
MPH and PhD in epidemiology at University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health
Research Interests
Current active research projects include evaluations of Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, genetic risk of cancer, family cancer syndromes, and delivery science/applied research.
Research Grants
Dr. Corley has had over 25 federally funded grants. Currently, he is lead investigator for the colorectal cancer component of the National Cancer Institute's Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR) consortium, a multisite effort to evaluate and improve cancer-screening processes; separate multi-center National Cancer Institute grants on colorectal cancer, genetic risk, and hepatocellular carcinoma; and a large pragmatic trial funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Additional Professional Roles
Director, Delivery Science and Applied Research Research Scientist III Division of Research Co-Editor in Chief, Gastroenterology Journal Co-Local Research Chair Kaiser San Francisco
What makes me thrive
I thrive by spending time outdoors with family and friends (hiking, biking and camping).
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
I am excited to have a GI fellowship for the continual opportunities for new learning and education.
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Yao Heng, MD

Yao Heng, MD
Medical Education
University of California, San Francisco
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Fellowship
University of Washington
Additional Training
University of Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium
Area of Interests
Small bowel and microbiome
What makes me thrive
Helping patients feel better
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
To be part of a program that aims to provide the community excellent clinical gastroenterologists.
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Andrew Lu, MD

Andrew Lu, MD
Medical Education
University of California, San Diego
Residency
Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA
Fellowship
St Lukes-Roosevelt, Columbia University
Area of Interests
Liver Cancer
What makes me thrive
Music composition
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
Readying the next generation of caregivers.
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Elizabeth Ross, MD

Elizabeth Ross, MD
Medical Education
New York University School of Medicine
Residency
New York University School of Medicine
Fellowship
New York University School of Medicine
Area of Interests
Fecal transplant, IBD, MD-RN communication
What makes me thrive
Time with family and friends, traveling to beautiful places, hiking, exploring restaurants in SF, reading for pleasure (outside of work), emptying my inbox.
What I most look forward to in the new fellowship
I look forward to the challenge of training future doctors to try to simultaneously be caring, thoughtful and conscientious.
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Suraj Gupta, MD
Key Clinical Faculty, Advanced Endoscopy

Suraj Gupta, MD
Key Clinical Faculty, Advanced Endoscopy
Medical education
Boston University School of Medicine
Residency
University of Michigan
Fellowship
Tufts Medical Center
Advanced Endoscopy Training
Maine Medical Center
Areas of interest
Advanced biliary endoscopy, Diagnostic and Therapeutic EUS, Pancreatic Necrosectomy, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, Colorectal cancer screening and improving adenoma detection rate, GI Quality Improvement
Additional Professional Positions
Gastroenterology Lead for Quality Improvement, San Francisco Treasurer, Northern California Society for Clinical Gastroenterology (NCSCG) Kaiser Permanente Advanced Endoscopy Review Panel
Research
Clinical Investigator, Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiologic and Translational Studies (PROCEED), NIH/NIDDK
What makes me thrive
Spending time with my family, International Travel, Running, Indulging in the amazing coffee and food of the Bay Area
What excites me about the fellowship
I look forward to interacting with fellows on a regular basis and trying to teach some of the techniques and clinical pearls I have learned over the years. I also look forward to continuing to educate myself on the latest clinical practices and research and ensure that my clinical practice is evidence based and up to date.
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Michelle Nazareth, MD, FACG

Michelle Nazareth, MD, FACG
Medical Education
St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences
Residency
Rochester General Hospital / University of Rochester , Rochester, NY
Fellowship
University of California San Francisco
Areas of Interest
EMR, ERCP / cholangioscopy and women’s health in gastroenterology
What makes me thrive
my family, learning new languages, experimenting with creating food from different cuisines of the world, working on lacemaking, crocheting and knitting.
What I most look forward to in the fellowship
the opportunity to learn whilst teaching and interacting with fellows and making a difference in their education
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Chris Hamerski, MD

Chris Hamerski, MD
Medical Education
University of California - San Francisco
Residency
University of California - San Francisco
Fellowship
UC Irvine Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UC Los Angeles Medical Center
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Kunal Karia, MD

Kunal Karia, MD
Medical Education
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Residency
New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medic, New York, NY
Fellowship
New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medic, New York, NY
ADVANCED ENDOSCOPY TRAINING
Montefiore Medical Center
AREAS OF INTEREST
Advanced biliary endoscopy, Diagnostic and Therapeutic EUS, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, Endoscopic Full Thickness Resection, Luminal stenting
WHAT MAKES ME THRIVE
Providing exceptional care to patients, spending time with my family, travel, exploring the Bay Area
WHAT EXCITES ME ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
I will always remember how transformative my fellowship training was and look forward to mentoring the fellows in a similar manner. I am excited to pass on the knowledge I've gained throughout the years and working collaboratively with the fellows to ensure our practice is evidence-based as our specialty continues to evolve.
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Liat Fine, MD

Liat Fine, MD
Medical Education
University of Maryland
Residency
University of California San Francisco
Fellowship
Kaiser Permanente Northern California, San Francisco
Areas of interest
Inflammatory bowel disease, functional GI disorders, diet, nutrition and lifestyle factors in the prevention and management of GI conditions
What makes me thrive
Spending time with my friends and family, being outdoors, traveling
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Angela Lam, MD

Angela Lam, MD
Medical Education
UC San Francisco
Residency
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Fellowship
Kaiser Permanente Northern California, San Francisco
AREA OF INTERESTS
Colorectal cancer screening and prevention, colonoscopy quality, clinical research, quality improvement, health disparities
WHAT MAKES ME THRIVE
Sunshine, the outdoors, delicious food
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Our goal is to provide an excellent, well-rounded educational experience that prepares fellows for a successful career in diagnosing and treating patients with digestive disorders. We have outstanding clinicians, researchers and a large, diverse patient population. Our role as a tertiary center within a large integrated health network provides the unique opportunity to diagnose and treat both common and unusual gastrointestinal disorders. We look forward to teaching our fellows in this clinical setting, and are committed to training future gastroenterologists. Thank you very much for your interest in our program!– Dr. Lyle Shlager, Program Director