Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Trainees

Kate Buzzi Contact Information: Tel: (212) 305-5903

Education:

• Bates College, B.S., 2001
• Drexel University College of Medicine, M.D. 2006

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and resident, Pediatrics, Brown University, 2006-2009
• Fellow, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Columbia Presbysterian Medical Center, 2009-current

Interests/Specialties:

• Intestinal Development
• Intestinal Motility
• Intestinal Inflammation

Mentor: Benjamin Ohlstein, MD, PhD

Research Plan:
My research focuses on the role of enteroendocrine cells and G-protein coupled receptors in peristalsis of the adult and larval Drosophila. We hope that once the mechanisms of peristalsis have been elucidated, we will be able to identify pharmaceutical targets which can alter intestinal motility.

Kimberley Chien, MD Contact Information: Tel: (212) 305-5903 Email: Kac9091@nyp.org

Education:

• Tufts University, B.S., 2001
• State University of New York-Downstate College of Medicine, MD, 2006

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and Resident,Pediatrics, New York University, 2006-2009
• Fellow, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 2009-present

Interests/Specialties:

• Gastrointestinal development
• Gastrointestinal Motility
• Functional gastrointestinal disorders

Mentor: Dr. Michael Gershon

Research Plan:
Serotonin has been shown to have many effects on the gastrointestinal system. Some of these effects include development of the enteric nervous system, cell growth, satiety, sensation, motility, and obesity. My research will study the effects of serotonin and serotonin receptors on neuro-gastrointestinal development.

Anne Abbott Pierog

Education:

• Dartmouth College, B.A., 2004
• Tufts School of Medicine, MD, 2008

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and Resident, Columbia University, 2008 - 2011

Kerry Jo Lee, MD Contact Information: Tel: (212) 342-2962 Fax: (212) 342-4779 Email: kel9032@nyp.org

Education:

• Princeton University, B.A. 1999
• NYU School of Medicine, MD 2007

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and Resident, Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 2007-2010

Interests/Specialties:

• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Microbiology
• Evolutionary Biology

Sarah Anne Taylor, MD

Education:

• Hamilton College, B.A., 2003 Summa Cum Laude
• New York University School of Medicine, MD, 2008

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and Resident, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, 2008 - 2012

Awards and Honors:

• 1999-2003: Dean's List
• 2000: Phi Beta Kappa Book Prize
• 2000: Coleman Burke Prize Scholarship Recipient
• 2003: Summa Cum Laude Honors Recipient
• 2003: Honors in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
• 2003: Donald J. Denney Prize in Physical Chemistry
• 2003: Mary McMaster Hallock Prize in Science - for excellence in science as judged by the Health Professions
• 2003: Fulbright Scholarship Recipient
• 2011: Pediatric Scientist Development Program Award

Interests/Specialties:

• Pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology

Jennifer Vittorio, MD

Education:

• Fairfield University, B.S, 2001
• Georgetown University School of Medicine, MD, 2006

Postgraduate Training:

• Intern and Resident, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Georgetown University Hospital, 2006-2010
• Fellow, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 2010-2013

Interests/Specialties:

• Hepatology
• Celiac Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Transition of Care from pediatrics to adult medicine

Mentor: Michael Gershon, MD

Research Plan:
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease in premature infants. Along with pathologic effects in the bowel, severe NEC also can also cause multisystem injury including damage to the liver. Despite the fact that liver injury is a prominent component of this disease only a limited number of studies have investigated the pathophysiology of this process. My lab has developed a murine model of NEC and the goal of my project is to study the effect of NEC on the development of liver injury and the role of serotonin in liver inflammation.

Previous Fellow Research Projects

1. Anil Kesavan, MD -- Fellowship Research Projects: 1) Gastrointestinal complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 2) Evaluation of citrulline as a biomarker of intestinal mucosal damage after bone marrow transplantation.
2. Norell Rizkalla Reilly – Clinical presentation of celiac disease in North American Children
3. Nadia Ovchinsky, MD, MBA – Fellowship Research Project: The use of ethanol to clear line infections in pediatric patients dependent on TPN.
4. Adebowale Adeyemi, MD – Fellowship Research Projects: Role of Epiregulin in liver injury and fibrosis
5. Anthony Porto, MD -- Fellowship Research Project: Coenzyme Q as a genetic modifier of Niemann Pick C disease.
6. Ali Mencin, MD -- Fellowship Research Project: Characterization of liver injury in a murine model of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
7. Mercedes Martinez, MD -- Fellowship Research Project: Role of duodenal T cell receptors in Celiac disease
8. Peri Millman, MD -- Fellowship Research Project: n3 fatty acids in a mouse model of fatty liver disease.
9. Diana Volpert, MD – Fellowship Research Project: Niemann Pick C mutation as modifier of cardiovascular disease.
10. Yuliya Rehktman – Characterization of Cholestasis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11. Aaron Turkish, MD – Fellowship Research Project: Identification and characterization of members of the DGAT2 gene superfamily.
12. Mimi Ton, MD –Fellowship Research Project: In vivo and in vitro properties of intravenous lipid emulsions containing only medium chain and fish oil triglycerides.