I joined the staff of Fox Chase Cancer Center in 2002 after several years of practice in Center City. As one of just a few female gastroenterologists practicing in the area, I have extensive clinical experience with gastroenterology-oriented women's health issues, in addition to general gastroenterology consultative services, which include cancer screening, inflammatory bowel disease and nutritional disorders. I have a special interest in the treatment of patients with a variety of liver diseases, especially viral hepatitis B and C. I manage one of the largest hepatitis B clinics in the region. I believe in accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of patients with active viral hepatitis in order to prevent the progression to end-stage liver disease and the development of liver cancer.

To help patients follow their treatment plans, I emphasize patient education. I believe that the more my patients know about their illnesses, the more likely they are to stay with the prescribed course of treatment. I also try to learn as much as possible about my patients' backgrounds, beliefs and values in order to help guide them in choosing the approach that works best in their daily lives. In daily patient care, I have learned that this is exactly where the science and the art of medicine meet. I also believe that clear communication between patients and my office staff is crucial. I encourage my patients to participate in their care and to not be afraid to ask questions in person or by phone. My staff is trained to respond to patients as if they are part of our families. Besides patient care, I maintain an active role in clinical and translational ("bench-to-bedside") research, participating in several multi-center research projects.