The 20 Best Ascites Doctors in The United States

Sumeet Asrani, MD, MSc is the Chief of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation at the Baylor Simmons Transplant Institute in Dallas. He has served as the Medical Director of the Center for Advanced Liver Disease since 2016. He provides clinical care at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) and Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Waxahachie. Recently, Dr. Asrani has restructured the research enterprise of the Simmons Transplant Institute and has been instrumental in elevating the name of the Institute and Baylor Scott & White as a recognized presence in the national and international academic world. Dr. Asrani received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He did his internship and residency at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He went on to complete fellowships in gastroenterology, hepatology and transplant hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota before joining the transplant hepatology team at Baylor University Medical Center in 2013. Dr. Asrani has published 140 peer review publications, 300 abstracts and given over 125 national and international presentations. In addition, he has mentored more than 30 trainees to help advance their medical careers. Dr. Asrani previously served as an associate editor for the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT) and as an associate editor for Liver Transplantation (LT). He is actively involved in national and international collaborations to improve care for patients with liver disease. Dr. Asrani specializes in the management of patients with end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation candidates and recipients. His other clinical interests include liver cancer, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and alcohol associated liver disease. His research interests focus on early identification of patients with cirrhosis, improving quality of patients with liver disease especially in the rural setting, improving kidney function in patients with liver disease and organ allocation. In his free time, Dr, Asrani enjoys various fitness endeavors, playing the drums, and traveling with his wife and four children. Dr. Asrani was recognized by D Magazine as a Best Doctor for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Dr. Asrani is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Liver Failure, Ascites, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy.

Scott Biggins, MD, specializes in hepatology and transplant hepatology and is board-certified in transplant hepatology and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He practices at UPMC Center for Liver Care and is affiliated with UPMC Horizon, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Shadyside, and UPMC Presbyterian. Dr. Biggins received his medical degree from the University of Southern California and completed his residency at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, followed by a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Biggins is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Liver Failure, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, Hepatorenal Syndrome, and Liver Transplant.

. Dr. Khanna is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Gastrostomy.

. Dr. Stark is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Lymphofollicular Hyperplasia, Peripheral Artery Disease, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Liver Embolization.

Rogelio Silva is a Gastroenterologist in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Silva is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Chronic Erosive Gastritis, Angiodysplasia of the Colon, Gastrectomy, and Gastrostomy.

. Dr. Ferra is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Pleural Effusion, Pleurisy, Liver Embolization, and Gastrostomy.

. Dr. Leontiev is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Lung Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Hernia Surgery.

. Dr. Jasti is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 2, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 3, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 1, and Ascites.

. Dr. Lee is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Bile Duct Stricture, Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Gastrostomy, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

. Dr. Davis is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. Her top areas of expertise are Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, Ascites, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Liver Embolization.

. Dr. Fedele is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Liver Embolization.

. Dr. Hou is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Thyroid Nodule, Ascites, Lung Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, and Gastrostomy.

. Dr. Van Der Westhuizen is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Pleurisy, Pleural Effusion, and Lung Nodules.

Dr Sammy is a Transplant Surgeon in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Sammy is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Hepatitis C, Hepatitis, Ascites, Liver Transplant, and Liver Embolization.

Elliot B. Tapper MD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is Academic Chief of Hepatology. His primary goal is to empower patients to enjoy a high quality of life. He is an expert in the management of chronic liver disease, performance of clinical trials, and big data for the study of liver disease. He has developed strategies that reduce symptoms and improve quality of life and invented tools that have helped keep patients with cirrhosis at home and away from the hospital. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Hepatology Communications. Dr. Tapper is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Liver Failure, Cirrhosis, Liver Transplant, and Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Dr. Jennifer C. Lai is a general and transplant hepatologist who specializes in caring for patients with chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune disorders or cirrhosis, particularly those awaiting liver transplantation. Lai is active in patient-oriented research in three major areas: integrating core geriatric issues – such as frailty, disability, need for palliative care and multimorbidity (having more than one disease) – to patients with cirrhosis, investigating disparities in organ allocation and distribution, and assessing the impact of liver donor quality on outcomes. As principal investigator for the Functional Assessment in Liver Transplantation (FrAILT) Study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Lai applies measures of frailty and functional status to patients with end-stage liver disease awaiting transplantation. Her research lays the groundwork for preparing these patients with therapeutic interventions that may improve their outcomes and quality of life. She is director of hepatology research at UCSF. Lai earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and combined medical and master of business administration degrees from Tufts University. She completed her residency at New York–Presbyterian Hospital and fellowships in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology at UCSF. Lai is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Lai is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. Her top areas of expertise are Liver Failure, Ascites, Cirrhosis, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant.

Timothy Mccashland is a Gastroenterologist and a Transplant Surgeon in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Mccashland has been practicing medicine for over 39 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Liver Failure, Sclerosing Cholangitis, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy.

Joseph Mcbride is a Radiologist and an Interventional Radiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Mcbride has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Pancreatic Cancer, Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Gastrostomy, and Liver Embolization.

. Dr. Francisco is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Barrett Esophagus, Hepatitis, Collagenous Colitis, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Hareth Raddawi is a Gastroenterologist in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Raddawi is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ascites. His top areas of expertise are Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Bile Duct Obstruction, Cholestasis, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy.