Welcome to the Research page for the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Highland Hospital. Our Division is involved in several projects in both luminal and hepatology related research. The diverse patient population we serve in Oakland provides a robust community to better understand the natural history of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, with a focus on better identifying disparities in disease outcomes, so that targeted education and resources can improve the care we provide to our patients.
Our current research team includes providers and trainees across levels of training. Our team participates in national and international conferences with poster and oral presentations at Digestive Disease Week, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Liver Meeting, European Association for the Study of the Liver International Liver Conference, and American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meetings. Our work has also been published in JAMA, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Journal of Hepatology.
Year 2014
Publications and Presentations
6 peer-reviewed publications
2 presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2014: 1 poster presentation
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2014: 1 oral presentation, 6 poster presentations
Year 2015
Publications and Presentations
18 peer-reviewed publications
24 presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2015: 3 oral presentations, 7 poster presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2015: 2 poster presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2015: 2 poster presentations
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2015: 4 oral presentations, 6 poster presentations
Notable Other Achievements
Dr. Robert Wong was awarded the AASLD Young Investigator Travel Award
Year 2016Â
Publications and Presentations
17 peer-reviewed publications
26 presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2016: 3 oral presentations, 3 poster presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2016: 1 oral presentations, 3 poster presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2016: 1 oral presentation, 5 poster presentations
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2016: 1 oral presentation, 9 poster presentations
Notable Other Achievements
Dr. Robert Wong was awarded a 2-year AASLD Clinical and Translational Research Career Development Award
Dr. Robert Wong was awarded the EASL Young Investigator Bursary Award
The HCV/HBV Focus Grant has been renewed for year 2
Year 2017
Publications and Presentations
20 peer-reviewed publications
24 presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2017: 1 poster presentation
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2017: 3 oral presentations, 3 poster presentations
Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) 2017: 1 poster presentation
International Network on Hepatitis in Substance Abusers (INHSU) 2017: 1 poster presentation
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2017: 1 poster presentation
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2017: 3 oral presentations, 11 poster presentations
Year 2018
Publications and Presentations
20 peer-reviewed publications
55 presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2018: 5 oral presentations, 17 poster presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2018: 8 poster presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2018: 1 oral presentation, 6 poster presentations
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2018: 3 oral presentations, 15 poster presentations
Year 2019
Publications and Presentations
20 peer-reviewed publications
44 presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2019: 8 poster presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019: 3 oral presentations, 13 poster presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2019: 1 oral presentation, 9 poster presentations
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2019: 1 oral presentations, 8 poster presentations
Hep DART 2019: 1 poster presentation
Year 2020
Publications and Presentations
16 peer-reviewed publications
6 presentations
Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) 2020: 2 poster presentations
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2020: 2 poster presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2020: 2 poster presentations
Year 2021
Publications and Presentations
1 presentation
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2021: 1 poster presentation, Outstanding Poster Presentor Award
Year 2022
Publications and Presentations
1 peer-reviewed publication
1 book chapter
7 presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2022: 3 poster presentations, 1 Outstanding Poster Presentor Award
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2022: 1 poster presentation
Northern California Society of Clinical Gastroenterology (NCSCG): 3 poster presentations
Year 2023
Publications and Presentations
3 presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2023: 2 poster presentations
Northern California Society of Clinical Gastroenterology (NCSCG): 1 poster presentation
Year 2024
Publications and Presentations
3 presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024: 2 poster presentations
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024: 1 poster presentation
Year 2025
Publications and Presentations
10 presentations
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025: 1 poster presentation
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025: 5 poster presentations, 2 Posters of Distinction
Northern California Society of Clinical Gastroenterology (NCSCG): 2 poster presentations, 2 Young Investigator Awards
Sutter Graduate Medical Education (GME) Bay Area Reseach Day 2025: 1 poster presentation, Best Quality Improvement Abstract Award
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2025: 1 poster presentation
Notable Other Achievements
2025 American College of Gastroenterology SCOPY (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence) Award: Improving bowel preparation quality through language-specific video education at a safety-net county hospital
Garland Castaneda, MD (Highland) - IBD outcomes and disparities
Ann Robinson, MD and Hesam Tavakoli, MD (Highland) - HCC Outcomes and HCC screening disparities
Mona Rezapour, MD (CPMC) - IBD disparities and preventative care
Jennifer Wang, MD (CPMC) - SEER HCC outcomes
Kellie Young, MD (SCVMC) - UNOS LT outcomes
Joseph Ahn, MD (Cedars) - UNOS LT outcomes
HCV Access study - MTPPI, Parkland, Oschner, Liver Institute of Virginia
Krystal Sood - Cirrhosis readmissions
Aristeo Lopez, MD (Highland) - Biomarkers for HCC
Ann Robinson, MD (former research menteed and graduate of the Highland IM Residency Program) had been selected to receive a 2017 Young Investigator Travel Award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD). Ann presented her abstract "Less Than Half of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Among the 1945-1965 Birth Cohort in the U.S. Were Within Milan Criteria at Time of Diagnosis" at the 2017 annual AASLD meeting. She joined the CPMC GI Fellowship program in 2019.
Joseph Ahn, MD (former medical student, prior research mentee, current IM resident at Cedars-Sinai): Joseph was selected as an 2017 AASLD Emerging Liver Scholar and to be a Chief Medical Resident for the IM Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai.
Maria Aguilar, MD (former research mentee and graduate of the Highland IM Residency Program): Maria began her GI/Hepatology Fellowship at Mayo Scottsdale in June 2017.
Brendan Campbell (former research assistant/mentee and current medical student at George Washington University School of Medicine): Brandon is a winner of the GWU School of Medicine Abstract Award.
Sasan Mosadeghi, MD (former research mentee and graduate of the Highland IM Residency Program): Sasan joined the University of Arizona GI Fellowship Program in 2016.
Mona Rezapour, MD (former research mentee and graduate of the CPMC GI Fellowship Program): Mona had been selected to join the Advanced IBD Fellowship at the University of Miami beginning in 2018.
Student Researcher Chuck Chan presenting at DDW 2016
Young K, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2020 Nov-Dec;10(6):581-589. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2020.02.003. Epub 2020 Feb 21.
PMID: 33311895 Free PMC article.
Updated Assessment of Colorectal Cancer Incidence in the U.S. by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity.
Ohri A, Robinson A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong R.
Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Jun;65(6):1838-1849. doi: 10.1007/s10620-019-05913-y. Epub 2019 Nov 7.
PMID: 31701261
Kaswala DH, Zhang J, Liu A, Sundaram V, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 Mar;54(3):263-270. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001236.
PMID: 31169758
Yu JR, Wang J, Bhuket T, Liu B, Wong RJ.
J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2019 Mar-Apr;9(2):182-190. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2018.10.005. Epub 2018 Nov 12.
PMID: 31024200 Free PMC article.
Galoosian A, Rezapour M, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 Aug;54(7):e63-e72. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001204.
PMID: 31008866
Robinson A, Ohri A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
World J Hepatol. 2018 Dec 27;10(12):956-965. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i12.956.
PMID: 30631400 Free PMC article.
Assessing the safety of beta-blocker therapy in cirrhosis patients with ascites: A meta-analysis.
Wong RJ, Robinson A, Ginzberg D, Gomes C, Liu B, Bhuket T.
Liver Int. 2019 Jun;39(6):1080-1088. doi: 10.1111/liv.14040. Epub 2019 Apr 25.
PMID: 30614656
Young K, Liu B, Bhuket T, Gish RG, Wong RJ.
J Viral Hepat. 2019 Mar;26(3):350-361. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13039. Epub 2018 Dec 28.
PMID: 30412318
Tang E, Torres S, Liu B, Baden R, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2018 Sep;8(3):235-240. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2017.11.009. Epub 2017 Nov 27.
PMID: 30302039 Free PMC article.
Low Rates of Linkage and Retention Into Care Among Patients With Chronic HBV Infection.
Tang E, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Aug;17(9):1909-1911. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Oct 4.
PMID: 30292889
Robinson A, Tavakoli H, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Hepatol Commun. 2018 Aug 28;2(9):1147-1155. doi: 10.1002/hep4.1236. eCollection 2018 Sep.
PMID: 30202827 Free PMC article.
Rezapour M, Galoosian A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Sep;30(9):1041-1046. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001185.
PMID: 29894325
Robinson A, Tavakoli H, Cheung R, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019 Jan;53(1):65-70. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001024.
PMID: 29629906
Campbell B, Lopez A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2018 Jan;63(1):242-247. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4870-x. Epub 2017 Dec 5.
PMID: 29209920
Robinson A, Tavakoli H, Liu B, Bhuket T, Cheung R, Wong RJ.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2018 Aug;5(4):860-866. doi: 10.1007/s40615-017-0432-3. Epub 2017 Oct 19.
PMID: 29052175
Pilot Study of Screening Patients for Hepatitis C Virus Infection During Outpatient Endoscopy.
Campbell B, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 May;16(5):778-780. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.09.047. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
PMID: 28988876 No abstract available.
Wong RJ, Liu B, Bhuket T.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Nov;46(10):974-980. doi: 10.1111/apt.14327. Epub 2017 Sep 15.
PMID: 28914448
Castaneda G, Liu B, Torres S, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2017 Oct;62(10):2876-2881. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4733-5. Epub 2017 Aug 30.
PMID: 28856475
Castaneda G, Bhuket T, Liu B, Wong RJ.
Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2018 Jan-Mar;12(1):5-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2017.08.002. Epub 2017 Aug 11.
PMID: 28826579
Wang J, Ha J, Lopez A, Bhuket T, Liu B, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2018 May/Jun;52(5):437-443. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000859.
PMID: 28723861
Wong RJ, Campbell B, Liu B, Baden R, Bhuket T.
J Community Health. 2018 Feb;43(1):65-69. doi: 10.1007/s10900-017-0388-6.
PMID: 28647860
Wong RJ, Nguyen MT, Trinh HN, Chan C, Huynh A, Ly MT, Nguyen HA, Nguyen KK, Torres S, Yang J, Liu B, Garcia RT, Bhuket T, Baden R, Levitt B, da Silveira E, Gish RG.
J Viral Hepat. 2017 Dec;24(12):1089-1097. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12736. Epub 2017 Jul 29.
PMID: 28581644
Tavakoli H, Robinson A, Liu B, Bhuket T, Younossi Z, Saab S, Ahmed A, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2017 Aug;62(8):2174-2181. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4595-x. Epub 2017 May 4.
PMID: 28474143
Young K, Liu B, Bhuket T, Younossi Z, Saab S, Ahmed A, Wong RJ.
J Viral Hepat. 2017 Sep;24(9):789-796. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12703. Epub 2017 May 5.
PMID: 28273387
Ahn J, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2017 Apr;62(4):1051-1057. doi: 10.1007/s10620-017-4469-2. Epub 2017 Feb 6.
PMID: 28168576
Chan C, Lopez A, Castaneda G, Bhuket T, Liu B, Yee S, Irwin D, Wong RJ.
J Community Health. 2017 Aug;42(4):724-729. doi: 10.1007/s10900-016-0309-0.
PMID: 28040840
Banks DE, Bogler Y, Bhuket T, Liu B, Wong RJ.
Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2017 Nov;11 Suppl 1:S153-S158. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2016.12.025. Epub 2016 Dec 13.
PMID: 27989517
Thamarasseril S, Bhuket T, Chan C, Liu B, Wong RJ.
J Community Health. 2017 Jun;42(3):551-557. doi: 10.1007/s10900-016-0287-2.
PMID: 27796633
Campbell B, Aguilar M, Bhuket T, Torres S, Liu B, Wong RJ.
Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2016 Oct-Dec;10(4):230-233. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2016.06.014. Epub 2016 Jun 16.
PMID: 27342003
Junus K, Aguilar M, Patel P, Irwin D, Yee S, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Cancer. 2017 Feb 15;123(4):650-656. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30381. Epub 2016 Oct 3.
PMID: 27696389
Yan M, Ha J, Aguilar M, Liu B, Frenette CT, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2017 Apr;51(4):378-383. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000590.
PMID: 27380460
Young K, Aguilar M, Gish R, Younossi Z, Saab S, Bhuket T, Liu B, Ahmed A, Wong RJ.
Liver Transpl. 2016 Oct;22(10):1356-66. doi: 10.1002/lt.24507.
PMID: 27348270
Ahn J, Bhuket T, Mosadeghi S, Frenette C, Liu B, Wong RJ.
Hepatol Int. 2016 Sep;10(5):838-46. doi: 10.1007/s12072-016-9735-4. Epub 2016 May 24.
PMID: 27221700
Ha J, Yan M, Aguilar M, Bhuket T, Tana MM, Liu B, Gish RG, Wong RJ.
Cancer. 2016 Aug 15;122(16):2512-23. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30103. Epub 2016 May 19.
PMID: 27195481
Mosadeghi S, Ren H, Catungal J, Yen I, Liu B, Wong RJ, Bhuket T.
J Postgrad Med. 2016 Apr-Jun;62(2):91-5. doi: 10.4103/0022-3859.180553.
PMID: 27089107 Free PMC article.
Aguilar M, Liu B, Holt EW, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Liver Int. 2016 Aug;36(8):1167-75. doi: 10.1111/liv.13091. Epub 2016 May 27.
PMID: 26858016
Dyal HK, Aguilar M, Bartos G, Holt EW, Bhuket T, Liu B, Cheung R, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2016 Feb;61(2):636-45. doi: 10.1007/s10620-015-3983-3. Epub 2015 Dec 24.
PMID: 26703125
Ha J, Yan M, Aguilar M, Tana M, Liu B, Frenette CT, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2016 May-Jun;50(5):423-30. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000448.
PMID: 26583267
Mosadeghi S, Liu B, Bhuket T, Wong RJ.
Hepatol Res. 2016 Jun;46(7):669-77. doi: 10.1111/hepr.12605. Epub 2015 Nov 12.
PMID: 26508039
Yan M, Ha J, Aguilar M, Bhuket T, Liu B, Gish RG, Cheung R, Wong RJ.
J Hepatol. 2016 Feb;64(2):326-332. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.09.006. Epub 2015 Sep 18.
PMID: 26386160
Dyal HK, Aguilar M, Bhuket T, Liu B, Holt EW, Torres S, Cheung R, Wong RJ.
Dig Dis Sci. 2015 Sep;60(9):2813-24. doi: 10.1007/s10620-015-3760-3. Epub 2015 Jul 3.
PMID: 26138651 Review.
Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the United States, 2003-2012.
Aguilar M, Bhuket T, Torres S, Liu B, Wong RJ.
JAMA. 2015 May 19;313(19):1973-4. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.4260.
PMID: 25988468 No abstract available.
Diverticular disease: evolving concepts in classification, presentation, and management.
Mosadeghi S, Bhuket T, Stollman N.
Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015 Jan;31(1):50-5. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000145.
PMID: 25426969 Review.
Challenges and possible solutions to colorectal cancer screening for the underserved.
Gupta S, Sussman DA, Doubeni CA, Anderson DS, Day L, Deshpande AR, Elmunzer BJ, Laiyemo AO, Mendez J, Somsouk M, Allison J, Bhuket T, Geng Z, Green BB, Itzkowitz SH, Martinez ME.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Apr;106(4):dju032. doi: 10.1093/jnci/dju032. Epub 2014 Mar 28.
PMID: 24681602 Free PMC article. Review.
Day LW, Bhuket T, Allison J.
Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2013 Nov;15(11):357. doi: 10.1007/s11894-013-0357-x.
PMID: 24218070 Review.
Day LW, Bhuket T, Inadomi JM, Yee HF.
BMC Res Notes. 2013 Jun 15;6:233. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-233.
PMID: 23767938 Free PMC article.
Higgins PD, Caoili E, Zimmermann M, Bhuket TP, Sonda LP, Manoogian B, Platt JF, Zimmermann EM.
Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007 Mar;13(3):262-8. doi: 10.1002/ibd.20013.
PMID: 17206719
Drug insight: statins and gastrointestinal cancer.
Bhuket TP, Higgins PD.
Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Oct;3(10):552-62. doi: 10.1038/ncpgasthep0603.
PMID: 17008925 Review.
The use of wireless capsule endoscopy in clinical diagnostic gastroenterology.
Bhuket T, Takami M, Fisher L.
Expert Rev Med Devices. 2005 May;2(3):259-66. doi: 10.1586/17434440.2.3.259.
PMID: 16288589 Review.
Meta-analysis of calcium bioavailability: a comparison of calcium citrate with calcium carbonate.
Sakhaee K, Bhuket T, Adams-Huet B, Rao DS.
Am J Ther. 1999 Nov;6(6):313-21. doi: 10.1097/00045391-199911000-00005.
PMID: 11329115