Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation
Personalized, Multidisciplinary Care for All Aspects of Pediatric Liver Cancer, Disease, and Transplantation. Call (212) 305-3000.

Conditions  |  Treatments  |  Our Team  |  Resources  |  Contact Us

Our Pediatric Liver Program specializes in caring for children with all forms of liver disease. With a nationally recognized team of doctors in multiple specialties, families everywhere come to us for diagnosis, treatments, surgery and transplantations, and long-term care. Our program offers:

  • Multidisciplinary Treatment: We work across disciplines to give your child the care they need. Our team includes pediatric liver specialists, specialized nurses, dieticians, psychologists, and social workers. When needed, we’ll also collaborate with specialists in other fields, such as cardiology, urology, nephrology, infectious disease, and more.
  • High-Quality Surgical Care: Whether your child requires liver surgery or a transplant, our surgical team is among the most experienced and skilled in the nation. We also have more pediatric gastrointestinal transplant specialists than any other program in the U.S., ensuring your child will get the care and attention they deserve.
  • Excellent Results: Our high transplantation rates allow us to move more patients off of the national waiting list than most other hospitals in the country. In addition, our pediatric transplantation survival rates are higher than the national average for both deceased and living donor surgeries. 

We are dedicated to helping your child lead a full and healthy life. To get more information, meet our staff, or schedule an appointment, call us at (212) 305-3000 or fill out our request an appointment form.

Conditions We Cover

We have extensive experience diagnosing and treating all forms of liver disease and cancer in children. Our specialists will work closely with you and your family to develop a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs. Some of the most common pediatric liver conditions we treat are:

See a comprehensive list on the Conditions & Treatments page.

Treatments We Offer

Our team’s first priority is to make an accurate diagnosis of your child’s condition. From there, our pediatric specialists develop a safe and effective treatment plan.

The diagnostic process may include:

  • Blood and Liver Tests: Measures the functioning of the liver to determine its health.
  • Liver Biopsy: Removes a sample of liver tissue to be examined under a microscope. 
  • Diagnostic Imaging Tests: Ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to create a detailed picture of your child’s liver.

Possible treatments may include:

  • Lifestyle Changes: Excessive weight can lead to liver damage. Our dieticians can work with you and your child to develop food and eating habits that help the liver.
  • Medication: Whether on its own or with other treatment plans, we will work closely with local physicians and pharmacies to treat your child’s condition with the right medication.
  • Liver Surgery: Using minimally invasive techniques, our surgeons can remove or repair damaged liver tissue, blood vessels, and other vital organs.
  • Liver Transplant: When liver damage is severe, we can perform both deceased donor transplants and living donor transplants.

More About Pediatric Liver Transplants
Our specialists sat down to provide in-depth information on this treatment.

 

Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplants
Living donor transplants offer a unique opportunity for treatment. Watch for a deeper understanding of this surgery.
 

Learn more on the Conditions & Treatments page.

Our Team

We pair experienced pediatric doctors with a multidisciplinary team of nurses, care workers, and other medical specialists so that we can provide you and your child with comprehensive care. 

Surgical Team

Jean C. Emond, MD
Vice Chair, Department of Surgery
Chief of Transplantation

Tomoaki Kato, MD
Chief, Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant

 

Medical Team

Steven J. Lobritto, MD
Medical Director, Pediatric Liver Transplantation
 

Mercedes Martinez, MD
Medical Director, Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation
 

Dana Goldner, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
 

Pooja K. Reddy, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

 

Resources and Guides

Learn more about liver transplantations and our support services:

Columbia, in cooperation with other pediatric transplant centers, is participating in the Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Liver Transplant. The Starzl Network has created educational resources for patients at various stages of the transplant journey. Learn more at the Starzl Network.

Contact Us

Get in touch to schedule an appointment, ask a question, or just meet the team.

622 W. 168th St., 14th floor
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-3000 | Request an Appointment

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