Liver Program

Tse-Ling Fong, MD

<p>Tse-Ling Fong, M.D., is Program Director of Hoag’s Liver Program. He has been practicing Hepatology for 30 years and is one of only a few board-certified hepatologists in all of Orange County.</p> <p>For over 10 years, Dr. Fong served as Medical Director of Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Liver Transplant Program, and as a mentor for numerous physicians-in-training who went on to academic careers. He was previously Associate Medical Director of the Liver Transplantation Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.</p> <p>Dr. Fong has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including being honored as one of the “Best Doctors in America” for over 10 years consecutively. He has contributed to more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and conducted many grant-supported clinical research studies in chronic liver diseases and liver transplantation.</p> <p>Dr. Fong completed medical school at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, followed by a residency at LAC/USC Medical Center. He did a fellowship in Hepatology at the USC Liver Unit at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, California and another fellowship in Gastroenterology at LAC/USC Medical Center. He was also a Clinical Associate at the Liver Diseases Section at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Fong is dual board certified in Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology.</p> <p>Dr. Fong is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and member of the American Society of Transplant Physicians.</p>

Brian Lee, MD

<p>Dr. Lee is board certified in transplant hepatology and gastroenterology at Hoag Digestive Institute. He practices in Newport Beach and Irvine with a focus on patient care in the diagnosis and treatment of complex liver diseases. His clinical interests include liver cancer, autoimmune liver diseases and alloimmune complications after liver transplantation.</p> <p>In addition to evidence-based medicine, Dr. Lee believes in understanding the stories of each patient and providing individualized care, valuing each patient as distinct rather than generalized by one’s condition.</p> <p>Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Ill. and completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Southern California/LAC+USC in Los Angeles. While there, he was awarded Intern of the Year and the USC Choi Family Excellence in Patient-Centered Care Award as a fellow. He then went on to complete his fellowship in transplant hepatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. His undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Science in both biology and chemistry from University of California, Irvine.</p> <p>Dr. Lee is a member of professional organizations including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and American Society of Transplantation, allowing him to contribute to the medical community as a member and peer reviewer. Additionally, he has participated in several educational presentations on topics such as immunosuppression after liver transplantation, acute liver failure, liver disease and hepatitis. He is well-published in numerous medical journals, research abstracts and book chapters. He served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine for the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Loma Linda University prior to his arrival at Hoag.

Patrick Lee, MD

<div> <p dir="ltr"><span>From an early age, Dr. Lee was drawn to medicine by a strong desire to help others both in moments of need and throughout their recovery. The opportunity to combine science with compassion in a meaningful way inspires him every day. A formative experience came during high school when Dr. Lee was shadowing Dr. Dai, a pediatric dermatologist in Taiwan. Her clinical expertise and deep compassion for her patients left a lasting impression that solidified his decision to pursue a career in medicine.&nbsp;</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>As a transplant hepatologist, Dr. Lee is dedicated to the multifaceted care of patients with liver disease. He chose this field because of its clinical complexity and the need for thoughtful, multidisciplinary collaboration. His background in gastroenterology further allows him to perform endoscopic procedures and provide a broader scope of care.&nbsp;</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Dr. Lee values developing long term relationships with his patients and finds meaning in those connections. He emphasizes patient education and shared decision making, making it a priority that each patient understands their diagnosis and treatment plan. His goal is for his patients to feel informed, involved, and supported.&nbsp;</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Keck Hospital of USC and Los Angeles General Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He then completed additional fellowship training in transplant hepatology at Keck Hospital of USC. &nbsp;</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>Outside of medicine, Dr. Lee enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He also loves playing basketball, cheering for USC football, and is currently learning Spanish.&nbsp;</span></p> </div>

Ronald F. Wolf, MD

Ronald Wolf, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified surgical oncologist who specializes in treating liver, bile duct and pancreatic cancer at Hoag Family Cancer Institute. His clinical interests include pancreatic adenocarcinoma, colon and rectal cancers that have metastasized to the liver, surgical treatment for bile duct tumors and cysts and surgery for soft tissue sarcoma. Previously, Dr. Wolf served as Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery/Islet Cell Transplantation at UC Irvine School of Medicine and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Prior to that, he served as Medical Director of Hepatic and Pancreatic Surgery at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, and as the Medical Director of Liver and Pancreas Surgery at Providence Cancer Center, also in Portland. Dr. Wolf received his medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, followed by an internship and two residencies in general surgery at UC Davis. He then completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where he also served as a clinical research fellow. Later, he helped direct surgical resident and fellowship-level postgraduate training programs in Portland. Dr. Wolf has co-authored more than 80 clinical presentations throughout his career and is a committee member of several national organizations including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology and the AHPBA Americas Hepatopancreatobiliary Association.

Tanzila S. Razzaki, MD

Dr. Razzaki is an endocrinologist specializing in providing treatment for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic and endocrine disorders. She is triple board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism; Obesity Medicine; and Internal Medicine. After completing her Internal Medicine residency and Endocrinology fellowship at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Razzaki expanded upon her specialty areas by completing a second fellowship in Obesity Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Razzaki is a leading expert in Obesity Medicine, Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome. She has been a key contributor to research studies related to obesity and diabetes mellitus and has published her work in peer-reviewed journals.

Kenneth J. Chang, MD

Executive Medical Director, Hoag Digestive Health Institute

Jennifer Phan, MD

Medical Director, Hoag Irvine Advanced Endoscopy, Director of Bariatric Endoscopy, Gastroenterologist

Ravi J. Kankotia, MD

Dr. Kankotia is a board-certified gastroenterologist at the Hoag Digestive Health Institute. His focus is in advanced endoscopic procedures, and his clinical interests include pancreaticobiliary disease, tissue resection, Barrett’s esophagus, and bariatrics. Other services offered include luminal stenting, radiofrequency ablation, endoscopic mucosal resection, esophageal pH monitoring (Bravo), liver biopsy, portal pressure measurement, and endoscopic suturing. He strives to provide his patients and their families with personalized care plans that help each patient reach their health goals. At the Hoag Digestive Health Institute, Dr. Kankotia works with a team of digestive health experts to provide a comprehensive approach to wellness. Dr. Kankotia earned his medical degree at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He completed internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center. He then completed an additional fellowship in advanced endoscopy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he developed expertise in ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), diagnostic and therapeutic EUS (endoscopic ultrasound), and other techniques while garnering experience managing complex cases. Dr. Kankotia is a current member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Additionally, he has contributed to several publications on topics such as gastric cancer, biliary disease, pancreatic cysts, and luminal strictures.

Paul J. Korc, MD

Paul J. Korc, M.D. serves as medical director of the Hoag GI Lab and is a board-certified gastroenterologist with fellowship training in advanced endoscopic procedures. After completing his residency and fellowship at USC, he went on to spend a year at Indiana University, one of the nation’s top programs for biliary and pancreatic disorders. There, he received training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), gaining extensive experience in the management of complex cases. Dr. Korc’s expertise also includes removal of large polyps and early stage cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). He spent time in Seoul, Korea learning ESD, a cutting-edge technique in which pre-cancerous lesions and superficial cancers are removed en bloc (in one piece), avoiding the need for surgery. Additionally, Dr. Korc performs peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a specialized procedure that restores the ability to eat and drink for people with achalasia, an esophageal motility disorder. Dr. Korc brings to Hoag his expertise in these procedures, some of which are available at only a handful of medical centers in Southern California. Dr. Korc offers patients compassionate, personalized care along with the very best advances in endoscopic treatment.

Phuong T. Nguyen, MD

Medical Director of Hoag Advanced Endoscopy Center, Gastroenterologist

Hali Pham, NP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

David R. Braxton, MD

Jinsoo Andrew Keyoung, MD

<p>Dr. Andrew Keyoung joined NHRA in 2008. Dr. Keyoung is the Chief of Radiology Service for Hoag Hospital Irvine and Medical Director of Radiology at Hoag Orthopedics Institute. He is also the Director of Body MRI at Hoag Hospitals. Dr. Keyoung oversees professional sports imaging program for Hoag Hospitals. This includes the local NFL teams: the Los Angeles Chargers during the regular season and the Los Angeles Rams during the summer training camp at UC Irvine, as well as the local professional MLS team, Orange County Soccer Club. Dr. Keyoung serves in the NHRA’s Executive Committee.</p> <p>His subspecialty imaging expertise includes oncologic imaging with multiparametric prostate MRI and PET/MR, advanced body MRI imaging of the liver, pancreas and intestines as well as dynamic pelvic floor imaging with MRI.</p> <p>Prior to Hoag Hospitas, Dr. Keyoung was a clinical instructor in Department of Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine.</p> <p>Dr. Keyoung was listed as one of America’s Top Radiologist by Consumers Research Council of America. He was also selected as 2018 Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association.</p>

Gerard K. Nguyen, MD

Radiology

Trushar Patel, MD

<p>Dr. Trushar Patel joined NHRA in 2014. He specializes in Vascular and Interventional Radiology with a focus in Interventional Oncology and Venous Disease. After finishing residency at Cornell Medical Center with additional training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Patel completed a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco.</p>

Thomas E. Velling, MD

<p>Dr. Thomas Velling joined NHRA in 2001. He currently serves as Director of the Interventional Radiology Service at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.</p>

Alexander S. Misono, MD

<p>Dr. Alexander Misono specializes in Vascular &amp; Interventional Radiology.</p> <p>Dr. Misono joined NHRA in 2018. He is a graduate of Harvard College (AB), Harvard Business School (MBA), and Harvard Medical School (MD). He completed internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. He then trained in the Diagnostic Radiology residency program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Following that, he completed training as a fellow in Vascular &amp; Interventional Radiology at the Miami Cardiac &amp; Vascular Institute, a world-renowned center for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of vascular disease.</p> <p>Dr. Misono has served on numerous committees and been an invited speaker at annual meetings of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and American College of Radiology (ACR). Dr. Misono is an active researcher in the fields of radiology and interventional radiology, having presented or published over 50 scientific presentations, abstracts, book chapters, and peer-reviewed publications in journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), Journal of Vascular &amp; Interventional Radiology (JVIR), and American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).</p>

Tust Techasith, MD

<p>Dr. Tust Techasith specializes in Vascular and Interventional Radiology, with particular emphasis on minimally invasive treatment of cancer and venous disease.</p> <p>Dr. Techasith graduated from Harvard Medical School in 2011. He completed his internship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where he was awarded Intern of the Year. He subsequently completed both his residency training in Diagnostic Radiology, serving as chief resident, and fellowship training in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Stanford University Medical Center.</p> <p>Dr. Techasith has authored or co-authored over 30 scientific abstracts, book chapters, and peer-reviewed publications in the field of diagnostic and interventional radiology. He has also been an invited lecturer at various residency training programs, universities, and national meetings.</p>

Tara E. Seery, MD

&lt;p&gt;Tara Seery, M.D., attended University College Dublin School of Medicine followed by an internship at Mater Misericordiae Hospital as well as an internship and residency at Caritas St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston. She then completed fellowships in hematology/oncology at both Caritas St. Elizabeth Medical Center and University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Seery is board certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Seery is particularly interested in GI oncology, including hepatobiliary cancers such as pancreatic, liver and bile duct cancers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;She has served as the primary investigator on several clinical research trials, co-authored numerous medical publications and abstracts, and edited multiple peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, she has given clinical presentations both across the U.S. and abroad.&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Seery&#8217;s teaching experience spans the areas of medical and graduate level courses including a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Annual Lecture Series on Pancreatic Cancer, Liver Cancer and the Management of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma at UC Irvine&#8217;s 5th Annual Gastroenterology and Hepatology Symposium. In addition, she oversaw a group of Hematology/Oncology Fellows at the University of California Irvine Outpatient Clinic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Seery is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.&lt;/p&gt;

Kim DeLiema, LCSW

Digestive Health Therapist

Chelsea Honrath, RDN

Registered Dietitian