Top 15 MASH Liver Specialists in the United States

Patients searching for expert care for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) face a rapidly evolving landscape where newly approved therapies, expanding clinical trial networks, and specialized multidisciplinary programs are reshaping how the disease is managed. MASH, formerly called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), affects an estimated 9 to 15 million adults in the United States, with prevalence projected to increase by 63% by 2030. 1 The specialists profiled below represent a cross-section of academic researchers, transplant hepatologists, and clinical program directors whose work is directly shaping how MASH is diagnosed and treated nationwide.

Understanding MASH and Why Specialist Selection Matters

MASH is the more severe and inflammatory form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). It is characterized by fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver and can progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. 2 Critically, MASH often presents with few or no early symptoms, meaning patients are frequently diagnosed only after significant liver damage has already occurred. 3 MASH is currently a leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States, accounting for 19.6% of adult liver transplants, and is expected to become the leading cause in coming years. 4

The complexity of MASH management means that specialist selection carries substantial clinical weight. Leading experts in the field argue that simply targeting liver pathology is insufficient. Optimal care requires a holistic approach that addresses liver health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes control, and weight management simultaneously. 5 Fellowship-trained hepatologists with a specific focus on fatty liver disease, fibrosis staging, and access to clinical trials represent the standard of care for moderate-to-advanced disease. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) maintains a directory of board-certified hepatologists to assist patients in locating qualified specialists. 6

Profiles 1 Through 5: Research Leaders and Clinical Innovators

1. Zobair M. Younossi, MD, MPH (Georgetown University School of Medicine / Global NASH-MASH Council): Dr. Younossi is widely regarded as the most highly cited researcher in liver disease and MASH globally, holding an H-index of 156 with more than 164,000 citations. 7 He has authored approximately 900 peer-reviewed publications, serves as Chairman of the Global NASH/MASH Council, and was named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in 2025. His research emphasis covers MASLD disease burden, patient-reported outcomes, and biomarkers. 2. Rohit Loomba, MD (University of California, San Diego): Dr. Loomba is a globally recognized authority in non-invasive assessment and clinical trials for MASH, with UCSD's academic profile confirming his leadership in NAFLD and MASH therapeutic development. 8 3. Arun J. Sanyal, MD (Virginia Commonwealth University): Dr. Sanyal is a pioneer in developing diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies for MASH, with extensive research on the pathogenesis and treatment of the condition. 9 4. Naim Alkhouri, MD, FAASLD (Arizona Liver Health): Serving as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Steatotic Liver Program at Arizona Liver Health, Dr. Alkhouri contributed to the Phase 3 trial of resmetirom (Rezdiffra), the first drug the FDA approved for MASH with fibrosis, and to earlier Phase 2 studies on the same medication. 10 5. James Hamilton, MD (Johns Hopkins Medicine): Dr. Hamilton serves as interim director of gastroenterology and hepatology and director of hepatology at Johns Hopkins. His research focuses on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and he leads a laboratory studying molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis and early detection biomarkers for liver cancer. Johns Hopkins Hospital received a score of 88.1 out of 100 in U.S. News and World Report's 2025-26 GI hospital rankings. 11

Profiles 6 Through 10: Transplant Hepatologists and Program Directors

6. Richard Manch, MD, FAASLD (Arizona Liver Health / University of Arizona): Named a 2026 Top Doctor in Hepatology by Phoenix Magazine, Dr. Manch has spent 31 years specializing in liver disease, including fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and liver cancer. He is a co-founder of Arizona Liver Health and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona, with more than 18 years dedicated to building liver transplant programs across the state. 12 7. Jeffrey A. Kahn, MD (Keck Medicine of USC): Recognized among LA's Top Doctors 2026, Dr. Kahn is Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program at Keck Medicine of USC, which received a U.S. News score of 78.8 for GI surgery. His program serves a socioeconomically diverse population, and he is a founding member of the LGBTQ taskforce for AASLD. 13 8. Sammy Saab, MD (University of California, Los Angeles): Dr. Saab is a UCLA-affiliated hepatologist and corresponding author on recent 2026 peer-reviewed research on pharmacologic interventions for MASH, including the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists and thyroid hormone receptor modulators. UCLA Medical Center holds a U.S. News GI score of 86.9. 14 9. Julio Gutierrez, MD (Scripps Clinic): A co-author on recent published MASH pharmacology research with an H-index of 37 and 3,695 citations, Dr. Gutierrez represents the Scripps clinical research tradition in metabolic liver disease. 15 10. Timothy R. Morgan, MD (VA Long Beach Healthcare System / UC Irvine): Dr. Morgan has contributed to federally published research on identifying and treating MASLD among at-risk veteran populations, reflecting the growing public health scale of MASH in diverse patient cohorts. 16

Profiles 11 Through 15: Academic Centers and Emerging Program Leaders

11. Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD (Virginia Commonwealth University / Central Virginia VA Health Care System): Dr. Bajaj contributed to National Institutes of Health-supported research on MASLD identification and treatment in at-risk groups, with dual academic and VA hospital affiliations. 17 12. Shari S. Rogal, MD (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center / VA Pittsburgh): Dr. Rogal's research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology addresses systemic identification and treatment of MASLD across veterans health networks. 18 13. Darrell Pardi, MD (Mayo Clinic, Rochester): As Division Chair of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic Rochester, which earned a perfect score of 100 in U.S. News 2025-26 GI hospital rankings and ranked first in Newsweek's 2026 specialized care assessment, Dr. Pardi oversees the nation's highest-rated GI and hepatology program. 19 14. Michelle Kang Kim, MD, PhD (Cleveland Clinic): Chair of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Cleveland Clinic since 2022, Dr. Kim leads a program that scored 90.4 in U.S. News GI rankings. Cleveland Clinic is one of the Midwest's busiest centers for fatty liver disease clinical trials and management. 20 15. M. Raashid Sheikh, MD, MHA, FACS (Keck Medicine of USC): Recognized in LA's Top Doctors 2026, Dr. Sheikh serves as Section Chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at USC, directing one of Southern California's busiest HPB services with a focus on minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques for liver conditions. 21

Key Credentials and Qualifications to Evaluate

When assessing any hepatologist for MASH care, several credential markers carry clinical significance. Board certification in transplant hepatology, which became a formal ABIM-recognized specialty only in 2006, indicates completion of structured fellowship training in liver disease management beyond general gastroenterology. 22 Fellowship membership in AASLD (denoted by FAASLD) signals active participation in the national liver disease research community. Patients with moderate to advanced fibrosis should specifically inquire whether a prospective specialist has access to active clinical trials, as 16 Phase 3 MASH trials were actively recruiting as of mid-2026. 23

• ABIM certification in transplant hepatology: indicates subspecialty-level liver training
• FAASLD designation: reflects active membership in the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
• Institutional affiliation with a UNOS-designated transplant center: required for managing MASH cirrhosis patients on transplant waitlists
• Access to Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials: critical for patients with fibrosis stage F2 or higher
• Multidisciplinary clinic infrastructure: endocrinology, dietetics, and cardiology coordination for comorbidity management

The Evolving MASH Treatment Landscape

MASH had no approved pharmacologic treatments until March 2024, when the FDA granted accelerated approval to resmetirom (Rezdiffra, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals) for noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis. Fourteen months later, in August 2025, semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) received a second FDA approval for the same indication based on the ESSENCE Phase 3 trial. 24 Both approvals are accelerated, meaning confirmatory trials are still required. As of mid-2026, a total of 1,885 MASH clinical trials were registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, with 267 actively recruiting. 25 The treatment pipeline also includes FGF21 analog programs and GLP-1-based combination therapies, with projections that patients with MASH cirrhosis could have a first approved treatment option by the end of the decade. 26

Thyroid hormone receptor-beta modulators represent a third approved mechanism class, and combinations pairing liver-targeted drugs with lifestyle interventions and metabolic therapies are under active investigation. Noninvasive fibrosis assessment tools, including the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and FibroScan elastography, are increasingly used in clinical practice to reduce reliance on invasive liver biopsy for staging, though the FIB-4 score has documented accuracy limitations in patients older than 65 or younger than 35. 27 AI-based phenotyping models analyzing more than 14,000 real-world MASH patients have identified cardiovascular disease and kidney disease as the characteristics most consistently linked to rapid fibrosis progression and higher healthcare costs. 28

Institutional Benchmarks and What Hospital Rankings Indicate

U.S. News and World Report's 2025-26 GI hospital rankings provide one data point for evaluating institutional MASH care infrastructure. The top five ranked institutions were Mayo Clinic Rochester (score: 100), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (92.5), Cleveland Clinic (90.4), NYU Langone Hospitals (90.1), and Mount Sinai Hospital (89.5). 29 Newsweek's 2026 specialized care assessment ranked Mayo Clinic Rochester first for gastrointestinal care, with Massachusetts General Hospital second and Johns Hopkins third. 30 These rankings are based on factors including survival rates for serious cases, patient experience scores, and clinical performance measures, and they reflect the depth of hepatology subspecialty infrastructure at each institution rather than individual physician performance alone. Patients should treat institutional rankings as a contextual starting point rather than a definitive guide, since specialist-level expertise in MASH specifically may exist at institutions not appearing in top-tier overall GI rankings.

MASH-specific program quality is also reflected in transplant volume data. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), 11,458 liver transplants were performed in the United States in 2024, with MASH cirrhosis representing the second most common adult transplant indication. 31 Research has demonstrated that living donor liver transplant allows MASH patients access to transplantation at an earlier, less decompensated disease stage and is associated with improved recipient survival compared with deceased donor transplant in this population. 32 The complexity of these decisions underscores the importance of consulting specialists embedded in high-volume transplant programs with documented experience managing MASH-specific complications including portal hypertension, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.

Sources

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