My research interest is mechanisms of progression in chronic liver disease. I find the genetic and modifiable risk factors for liver disease fascinating, particularly because of the potential for clinical intervention before cirrhosis or HCC are established. I first became interested in hepatology while doing research with Ray Chung during medical school. Since coming to Duke, I have worked with the NAFLD research team under the mentorship of Cindy Moylan and Anna Mae Diehl examining predictors of clinical progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Using the Duke NAFLD clinical database and biorepository, we examined gene expression, DNA methylation, and metabolomics in a cohort of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, some of whom experienced clinical decompensation.  I have also investigated RNA splicing as it relates to liver injury and regeneration, specifically race-related differences in alternative splicing in hepatocellular carcinoma, for the past several years.

I grew up in Minnesota and was on the cross-country ski team in high school. I studied Political Science at Stanford and then went to Harvard Medical School. I have been at Duke since internship and am currently a Medical Instructor in Gastroenterology.