Acing the Hepatology Questions on the GI Board Exam

Brennan M.R. Spiegel, MD, MSHS, FACG is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA School of Medicine, and in the Division of Gastroenterology, VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System. He is the section chief for Health Services Research at the UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases, and Chief of Education and Training in the UCLA GI Fellowship Training Program, which is amongst the largest GI Training Programs in the country.

Dr. Spiegel attended Tufts University where he majored in Philosophy and Community Health, and obtained his medical degree from New York Medical College. He received training in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology at UCLA, and completed advanced studies in Health Services Research in the UCLA School of Public Health, where he received a master's degree in Health Services. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He currently teaches in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at UCLA.

Dr. Spiegel's research interests have focused on acid-peptic disorders, chronic liver disease, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia. He has performed research across a range of health services methodologies, including health-related quality of life measurement, survey design and administration, systematic review, meta-analysis, multivariable regression analysis, survival analysis, expert panel research, quality improvement, cost-effectiveness analysis, budget impact modeling, and use of clinical informatics to support decision making. He is a peer reviewer for numerous medical journals, and is on the editorial boards for the American Journal of Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He has contributed to the publication of more than 90 peer-reviewed papers, as well as numerous abstracts, book chapters, and monographs.

Hetal A. Karsan, MD, FACG, FACP is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Digestive Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, one of the largest gastroenterology groups in the country, at which he is a partner. He is also a practicing clinician at Emory University.

Dr. Karsan attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology. While an undergraduate, he taught a course on Evolution and Diversity to fellow college students and won awards for undergraduate biomedical research from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He obtained his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and went on to train in Internal Medicine at Boston University, where he completed his medical internship and residency. Dr. Karsan served as acting Chief Medical Resident while at Boston University. He completed fellowship at UCLA Medical Center, where he trained in gastroenterology, advanced interventional endoscopy, and transplant hepatology. While at UCLA, he won several awards and was nominated for the Teaching Fellow of the Year by the Department of Internal Medicine. He also sought formal training in clinical outcomes research at UCLA.

Dr. Karsan is active in numerous professional organizations and was elected as Fellow by both the American College of Gastroenterology and the American College of Physicians. In addition to contributions to various peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters, he also serves as a peer reviewer for medical journals and is on an editorial board. Dr. Karsan is board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology. He enjoys endoscopy and actively participates in clinical outcomes research. In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports, traveling, and spending time with his family.