Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Faculty

Bio

Dr. Pruett began his clinical career at the University of Virginia rising from Assistant Professor of Surgery (1987) to Professor of Surgery and Division Chief of Transplantation Surgery by 1996. He was appointed the Strickler Family Professor of Transplantation in 1997. He was the Program Director of the transplantation training program at University of Virginia. As an intensivist, he was co-director of the surgical ICU and established and was Program Director of the Critical Care Training program. In 2009, he moved to the University of Minnesota as Professor of Surgery and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Pruett is Past-President of American Society of Transplant Surgeons (2016-2017) and previously served as Treasurer of American Society of Transplant Surgeons’ Council (2012-2015). He has served on and chaired various committees within the ASTS and AST and has spoken broadly on legal and system issues that impact to organ transplantation within global healthcare systems. Dr. Pruett was President of United Network for Organ Sharing (2008-2009); Chair of the Membership and Professional Standards Committee (2007- 2008) and has represented UNOS in multiple international initiatives.

Research Summary

Dr. Pruett’s research interests have included organ transplantation in patients with chronic viral diseases, the ethics and practice of live kidney donation and allocation, transmissible diseases through organs and infections after organ transplantation. He also has education and infection interests as they pertain to the care of the critically ill.

Clinical Summary

Kidney Transplant, Liver Transplant, Living Donor Transplant

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-5620
Mail: 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Shmidt received her bachelor's degree at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and her medical degree from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She continued at Mayo Clinic where she completed residency in internal medicine. She then went on to complete a fellowship in gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.Dr. Shmidt specializes in inflammatory bowel disease with expertise in fertility, preconception and pregnancy care. She has published in multiple academic journals on various aspects of IBD, including sexual function.Dr. Shmidt serves as a member of the American Gastroenterology Association's national guideline committee for Drug Therapy for Crohn's disease. She also serves on the Women's Committee for the American College of Gastroenterology.At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Shmidt serves as the Co-Director of the IBD Program. She also co-leads the IBD Clinical Trials Program.In 2019, Dr. Shmidt was a recipient of the University of Minnesota's Biomedical Research Awards for Interdisciplinary New Science (BRAINS) to study the effect of the microbiome on fertility. Also, she is currently building a national registry to study the impact of pouch surgery on fertility in women with ulcerative colitis.At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Shmidt launched a multi-disciplinary clinic for women with IBD – the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Preconception and Pregnancy Planning (IPREPP) Clinic. The decision to become pregnant is difficult for women with IBD because of safety concerns related to the disease and the medications used for treatment. Oftentimes, women with IBD receive mixed messages from various specialists regarding pregnancy. The goal of the IPREPP clinic is to combine the expertise of IBD specialty care and maternal fetal medicine to offer comprehensive pre-conception and pregnancy counseling and care to women with IBD.In the IPREPP Clinic, women with IBD discuss pregnancy with two different specialists – Dr. Shmidt (an IBD specialist) and a maternal fetal medicine physician. The IPREPP Clinic is the only one of its kind in the Midwest and one of only a few in the world.

Research Summary

• Pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease
• Impact of inflammatory bowel disease surgery on female fertility
• Female and male sexual function in inflammatory bowel disease
• Safety and effectiveness of various biologic and non-biologic therapies in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Clinical Summary

Inflammatory bowel disease; female fertility and pregnancy; upper endoscopy; colonoscopy; chromoendoscopy

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu

Summary
Dr. Joshua Sloan completed his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. After completion of his general Gastroenterology fellowship under Dr. Philip O. Katz, former American College of Gastroenterology President and Esophagologist, he went on to complete an additional fellowship in Gastrointestinal Motility and Neurogastroenterology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then created a dedicated esophageal clinic and was the Director of the Dysphagia Clinic at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His clinical interests broadly include esophageal motility disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, radiation induced esophageal dysmotility, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Sloan's research aims are to better understand and characterize esophageal motility abnormalities as well as to improve our understanding and management of radiation induced esophageal dysmotility.

Research Summary

Esophageal Motility Radiation-Induced Esophageal Dysmotility Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Teaching Summary

Teaching esophageal disorders including motility abnormalities, esophageal function testing, and eosinophilic esophagitis to medical students, residents, and fellows.

Clinical Summary

Achalasia; Barrett's Esophagus; Dysphagia; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Erosive Esophagitis; Esophageal Motility Disorders; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD); Hypercontractile (Jackhammer) Esophagus; Lichen Planus Esophagus; Lymphocytic Esophagitis; Non-Cardiac Chest Pain; Radiation Induced Esophageal Dysmotility

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Song's lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their immunotherapies.

1. The underlying mechanism by which NAFLD progresses to HCC
2. Roles of Kupffer cells in modulating the pathogenesis of NAFLD and HCC
3. MicroRNA-based immunotherapy for the treatment of NAFLD and HCC
4. Regulation of microRNA biogenesis in NAFLD and HCC

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Steer accepted a Hepatology Fellowship at the NIH in the Section on Diseases of the Liver in 1976 and remained on staff at the NIH as an Expert in his field for an additional 10 years. In 1989, Dr. Steer returned to the University of Minnesota as a Professor in the Departments of Medicine, and Genetics, Cell Biology and Development. During his time at the University, Dr. Steer has been active in mentorship of PhD students and post-doctoral fellows in his lab, is a member of multiple committees and has continued to be academically productive in his current area of research, which is regenerative medicine.

Research Summary

The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system in non-viral gene therapy Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a hydrophilic bile acid, as an anti-apoptotic agent Role of microRNAs in gene regulation for different target organs and stem cell populations Basic and translational applications to human disease Regenerative medicine using gene editing (CRISPR) and blastocyst complementation Steer's laboratory has been involved in three major areas of research during the last five years. The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system functions via a cut-and-paste mechanism catalyzed by the binding of SB transposase to inverted repeats/direct repeats (IR/DRs) of the mariner transposon. It excises the relevant transgene from the transposon at the IR/DRs and inserts the element into random TA dinucleotide sites within the genome. They are applying SB as a gene therapy vector to a variety of different animal disease models, including liver, bone marrow and brain disorders. Steer's laboratory is also interested in characterizing the effects of SB transposition on genomic methylation and histone acetylation.The second major area of research involves the use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a hydrophilic bile acid, as a potent antiapoptotic agent. They have used UDCA as a therapeutic agent to treat transgenic models of Huntington's disease and retinitis pigmentosa as well as acute stroke, spinal cord injury, myocardial infarction, and acute renal failure. Steer's laboratory continues to study basic mechanisms and translational applications of UDCA. Of note, the South Korean FDA has recently approved its use for the treatment of ALS.Steer's lab is actively characterizing the role of microRNAs in gene regulation for a number of different target organs and stem cell populations. In particular, they have identified specific microRNAs that may be involved in the progression of colon from polyp to cancer; as well as their role in the regenerating liver. The studies are both basic and translational in nature. They are also identifying specific microRNAs as biomarkers of disease that can be assayed in blood. Most notably, they have recently discovered a unique nuclear profile of mature microRNAs; and a subset of microRNAs in mitochondria that may act as a rheostat for the control of apoptosis.Over the past seven years, Steer's lab has also focused on regenerative medicine, and research to create human livers in pigs for transplantation. The approach utilizes a combination of gene editing and a technology referred to as blastocyst complementation. This involves the knockout (KO) of specific developmental genes in the blastocyst of the pig; and the intra-blastocyst injection of pluripotent stem cells from the human donor to generate offspring that carry organs/cell types derived from that donor. The ultimate goal is to create human livers in pigs that are immunology identical to the recipient, thereby not requiring the use of immunosuppression…a paradigm shift in organ transplantation.

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Shahnaz Sultan is an Professor of Medicine and the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She is a Core Investigator at the Center for Chronic Disease Research at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Her research interests are focused on reducing colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality by improving adherence and quality of colonoscopy. Nationally, Dr Sultan is a leader in guideline development. She is the Chair of the American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Guidelines Committee and a member of the GRADE Working Group and teaches evidence synthesis and guideline development.

Research Summary

• Colorectal Cancer Outcomes
• Health Services Research
• Guideline Development

Teaching Summary

Education; Evidence-Based Medicine; Guideline Methodology

Clinical Summary

General Gastroenterology; Cystic Fibrosis GI Clinic; Cancer Syndromes

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Julie A. Thompson is an Associate Professor of Medicine and has been a faculty member at the University of Minnesota since 2009. She leads the Adult Liver Transplant Program as its Medical Director. Dr. Thompson's clinical interests are in liver transplant medicine and assessment of quality of care. She serves on several Quality and Safety committees in the MHealth system. In addition, she is co-investigator on a number of clinical studies.

Research Summary

• Quality in delivery of medical care
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Liver Transplantation

Clinical Summary

Hepatology; Transplant; Liver Disease

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Thomson graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and completed all of her residency and fellowship training at the University of Michigan.Dr. Thomson's clinical interests include chronic care management in cirrhosis, including patient education, appropriate medication use, and complex care management. She received an AASLD Transplant Hepatology Grant to fund her clinical research efforts.

Research Summary

Chronic care management in cirrhosis Appropriate medication use

Teaching Summary

Chronic liver disease, decompensated cirrhosis, liver transplant

Clinical Summary

Chronic liver disease, decompensated cirrhosis, liver transplant

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
My overarching research interests lie in strategies towards the optimal management of acute pancreatitis and its complications, the most common cause for hospitalization among gastrointestinal diseases. My other main focus has been on exploring modalities for early diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, a debilitating condition that pose a major detriment to the quality of life of these patients. Other keen interests include pancreatic endo-therapy through endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography for management of complex pancreatic and biliary conditions. I have nearly 50 peer reviewed publications and serve at the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy' sTechnology committee.

Research Summary

• Management of necrotizing pancreatitis
• Early diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis
• Pancreatic Endotherapy
• Diagnostic and interventional EUS

Teaching Summary

Pancreatology; Therapeutic Endoscopy, Interventional endoscopic ultrasound

Clinical Summary

Endoscopic and multidisciplinary management of complex pancreatic and biliary diseases; Acute and recurrent pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Necrotizing Pancreatitis; Pancreatic and biliary cancer; Benign bile duct strictures and injuries

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Vaughn completed his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. There he developed both clinical and research interests in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He worked with the IBD Center at BIDMC to study the effect of therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome in Crohn's disease as well as optimizing the management of anti-TNF medications. In addition to his research interests he has worked closely with the medical school teaching students and mentoring physicians in training in clinical and quality improvement research. His main clinical interests include Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis as well as Microscopic colitis and Celiac disease. He also sees patients with recurrent C. difficile colitis. His active areas of research involve clinical trials for IBD.

Research Summary

Dr. Vaughn is actively involved in both clinical and translational research for patient with IBD. The intestinal microbiota has recently been identified as a critical component of many intestinal pathways including immune tolerance and inflammation. Dr. Vaughn is working in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Khoruts to continue to understand how the microbiota functions to induce inflammation or tolerance. Additionally, Dr. Vaughn has been a strong proponent for therapeutic drug monitoring. This includes monitoring drug levels for patient on anti-TNFs such as infliximab and adalimumab. His research demonstrates that by close monitoring of these medication and titration to a therapeutic window, patients have more effective disease control and less chance of developing anti-drug antibodies.He continues to study the effect of therapeutic drug monitoring on antibody development.

Clinical Summary

Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Clinical trials in IBD; Crohn's Disease; Ulcerative Colitis; Microscopic colitis

Bio

Administrator Info
Name: GI Division
Phone: 612-625-8999
Email: gidivision@umn.edu
Mail: 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 36, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Summary
Dr. Viskocil is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She is originally from Wisconsin and her undergraduate education was at the University of Iowa. She moved to the Twin Cities to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota. She completed her internal medicine residency training at the University of Minnesota and stayed on as a Chief Resident focusing on resident education. Her gastroenterology fellowship was done at the University of Minnesota as well.Dr. Viskocil has several areas of focus including educating future physicians and treating disorders of the gut-brain interaction, such as IBS. Chronic gastrointestinal illnesses, such as these, require a team-based approach to care. Our patient-centered care aims to meet the personal needs of each patient, assist in management of daily symptoms, and improve overall quality of life.

Teaching Summary

Course Director; Gastroenterology; Health and Human Diseases; Year 2 Medical School

Clinical Summary

Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)