Dr. Gina Choi specializes in general and transplant hepatology at UCLA Medical Center. She focuses on treating patients with the complications of cirrhosis, and manages their evaluation and care before and after liver transplant. She is well versed in the newest approaches to non-interferon based therapies for hepatitis C. Her research interests include hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma. She is part of a multi-disciplinary team employing the latest treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.

She was kind enough to sit down for an interview to provide some insight into the practice and treatment of hepatitis patients, considering May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.

MDCalc: It has been an exciting couple years in your field, with the discovery of a Hepatitis C cure, an area of your research (PMID: 27047770). What should docs know about these cures?

Gina Choi:  The new treatments for hepatitis C are very safe and effective with minimal side effects. Treatment duration is also short, ranging from 8-24 weeks, depending on the type of hepatitis C, or genotype, and the presence of cirrhosis.

MDC: Who should doctors screen and refer for Hepatitis C? What’s the best way for them to do so?

Continue reading “Dr. Gina Choi on Taking Care of Patients with Hepatitis” →