The 20 Best Liver Transplant Doctors near Houston, TX

Abbas Rana, MD, is dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to Houston and nearby communities. Abbas Rana specializes in Surgery and works at BCM Surgery - Transplant. To make an appointment, please call (832) 355-1400. To review all accepted insurance carriers, please visit: https://www.stlukeshealth.org/patients-visitors/patients/billing-insurance/insurances-accepted. Dr. Rana is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 13 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Hepatoblastoma, Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Rana is currently accepting new patients.

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 Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Ascites, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy. Dr. Asrani is board certified in Gastroenterology- American Board Of Internal Med/Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology- American Board Of Internal Med/Transplant Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology- American Board Of Internal Medicine, and Gastroenterology- American Board Of Internal Medicine.

Lisa Vanwagner is an Internal Medicine specialist and a Gastroenterologist practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Vanwagner is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. She is also highly rated in 13 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), Liver Failure, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant.

Dr. Testa is a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas. He is Chief of Abdominal Transplant at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health and Chairman of the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute. He specializes in living donor liver transplantation and is the principal investigator of the Uterine Transplant Clinical Trial that resulted in the first U.S. birth of a baby following uterine transplant. Dr. Testa was honored in 2018 as one of TIME Magazine's Top 100 for leading the medical team that performed the first successful uterus transplants in the nation. Dr. Testa is a graduate of t he University of Padova Medical School in Italy. After graduating cum laude, he completed a residency in general surgery at the same university. He went on to complete a general surgery residency at the University of Chicago and then a fellowship in abdominal organ transplant at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Later at the University of Essen in Germany, he was instrumental in starting the first adult living donor liver transplant program in Europe. Dr. Testa returned to the U.S. in 2001, where he served as Director of Liver Transplant at the University of Illinois. In 2005, he moved to the University of Chicago where he rose to the rank of Professor of Surgery and served as Director of Liver Transplant and Hepatobilliary Surgery. Read more about Dr. Testa's publications on PubMed.gov and the Baylor Health Sciences Library. Dr. Testa returned to Baylor University Medical Center in 2011 to lead the Living Donor Liver Program. He became Chief of Abdominal Transplant for the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute in 2017. Dr. Testa is author or co-author of more than 160 publications and several book chapters. He is a recognized authority in Uterus Transplantation and Living Donor Liver Transplantation. His other interests include complex liver surgery of benign and malignant diseases. Read more about Dr. Testa Dr. Testa has been named one of Texas Monthly's Texas Super Doctors for over 10 years earning him a place on Texas Monthly's Hall of Fame list. Dr. Testa is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Hepatitis, Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, Liver Transplant, and Hysterectomy. Dr. Testa is board certified in Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery and Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery.

Ashish Saharia is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Saharia is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), Liver Failure, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Hepatectomy. Dr. Saharia is currently accepting new patients.

Dr Goran is a Transplant Surgeon practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Goran is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hepatitis C, Hepatitis, Liver Cancer, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant.

George Cholankeril is a Gastroenterologist practicing medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Cholankeril is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Hepatitis C, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery.

Steven Hanish is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Hanish is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Hepatectomy.

Dr Rafik is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Rafik is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer), Liver Failure, Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, Liver Transplant, and Hepatectomy.

Dr. Wall is a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas. She is board-certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Medicine with fellowship training in abdominal transplant surgery. She has clinical interests in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation, as well as living liver and kidney donation. Her medical training began at Saint Louis University School of Medicine where she also received a PhD in Health Care Ethics. She completed her general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and her abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Wall’s extensive research focuses on clinical ethical issues in surgical practice in general and transplantation, in particular, including how listing decisions are made and how organs are allocated. Dr. Wall has published a book entitled Ethics for International Medicine. Read more about Dr. Wall's publications on PubMed.gov and the Baylor Health Sciences Library . Dr. Wall is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. She is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Hepatitis, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Wall is board certified in Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery and Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery.

A native Houstonian, Dr. Ronald Cotton graduated valedictorian from the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions in 1998. Upon graduation, he entered the Houston Premedical Academy, an 8-year BS/MD program housed at the University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Cotton completed a bachelor's of science in biology summa cum laude in 2002 and medical doctorate in 2006. After finishing medical school, he entered his general surgery residency at Baylor. During his residency, Dr. Cotton completed a two-year research fellowship at the Liver, Kidney and Pancreas Center and the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor. There, his research interest centered on developing a high-quality tissue repository, and using these samples to detect genomic differences between Hepatitis B-, Hepatitis C-, and non-viral associated hepatocellular carcinoma. His research has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publication as well as local, national and international presentations. Dr. Cotton has received numerous clinical accolades during his residency, including being named a 2012 Raleigh Ross Scholar by the Texas Surgical Society. Dr. Cotton is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hepatoblastoma, Liver Failure, Hepatic Cystic Hamartoma, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Cotton is currently accepting new patients.

"Dr. Rahimi is board certified in transplant hepatatology, gastroenterology and internal medicine. His clinical interests include chronic liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure, metabolic and autoimmune diseases of the liver, viral hepatitis, complications of cirrhosis and liver transplantation. Dr. Rahimi has authored several research articles on improving the outcomes of patients with advanced liver disease. Dr. Rahimi holds a Master of Science in Applied Physiology from Finch University of Health Sciences in North Chicago and medical degree from Chicago Medical School. While completing his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, he concurrently obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research in the Department of Public Health. Upon relocating to Dallas, Dr. Rahimi completed two fellowships, the first in Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center followed by a fellowship in Transplant Hepatology at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, in Dallas. Read more about Dr. Rahimi’s publications on PubMed.gov and the Baylor Health Sciences Library . Read Dr. Rahimi's article, ""5 things you need to know about fatty liver disease (and how to reverse it)"" . Dr. Rahimi is involved in a study around the use of statins in patients with advanced liver failure and cirrhosis. Read more here . Dr. Rahimi was recognized by D Magazine as a Best Doctor for 2024 and 2025. Read Dr. Rahimi's article, ""Can fatty liver be reversed? 5 common questions, answered.""". Dr. Rahimi is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Esophageal Varices, Ascites, Liver Transplant, and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. Dr. Rahimi is board certified in Gastroenterology- American Board Of Internal Med/Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology- American Board Of Internal Med/Transplant Hepatology, Gastroenterology- American Board Of Internal Medicine, and Transplant Hepatology- American Board Of Internal Medicine.

Constance Mobley is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Mobley is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. She is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Liver Failure, Hepatitis, Enlarged Liver, Liver Transplant, and Hernia Surgery.

Alejandro Mejia is a Transplant Surgeon practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Mejia is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 13 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Hepatitis, Pancreatic Cancer, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, and Hepatectomy. Dr. Mejia is board certified in General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery and General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery.

Dr. Volk joined BSWH in 2023 as Chair of Medicine.  He is nationally recognized as an expert in Cirrhosis and Liver Transplantation and has frequently been selected among the Best Doctors in Hepatology.  His research focuses on improving healthcare delivery, with extensive grant funding and >150 publications. Dr. Volk's areas of expertise include liver transplant evaluation, post-transplant management, cirrhosis, liver failure, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, esophageal and gastric varices, portal hypertension, hepatocellular carcinoma, other benign, malignant, and undiagnosed liver Masses, viral hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol-related liver disease, hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and Wilsons Disease. Connect with Dr. Volk: Michael Volk, MD, MSc, FAASLD | LinkedIn. Dr. Volk is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 19 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Liver Failure, Ascites, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy. Dr. Volk is board certified in Gastroenterology- American Board Of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine- American Board Of Internal Medicine, and Transplant Hepatology- American Board Of Internal Medicine.

Richard Ruiz, MD, FACS is a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas. He is the Surgical Director of Transplantation and Chief of Surgery at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth. He is a multi-organ transplant surgeon, performing liver, kidney and pancreas transplants. Dr. Ruiz received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, one of the premier academic teaching hospitals in the nation. He went on to complete an Abdominal Transplant Fellowship at the Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center Before joining the transplant team at the Annette C. And Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute in Dallas in 2006. His clinical interests include renal failure before and after liver transplant, and supporting living donor kidney transplantation in the Hispanic community. Dr. Ruiz currently serves on the UNOS/OPTN Minority Affairs Committee and the ASTS Membership & Workforce Committee. In his free time, Dr. Ruiz enjoys time with his family and friends. He is fluent in Spanish and is an avid cyclist. Read more about Dr. Ruiz's publications on PubMed.gov and the Baylor Health Sciences Library . Dr. Ruiz is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection, Liver Failure, Hernia, Liver Transplant, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Ruiz is board certified in Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery, Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery, and General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery.

Joseph Galati is a Hepatologist practicing medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Galati is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hepatitis, Liver Failure, Hepatitis C, Liver Transplant, and Endoscopy. Dr. Galati is board certified in Hepatology and Gastroenterology.

Prasun K. Jalal, M.D is Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery and in the Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Jalal is board certified in gastroenterology, internal medicine and transplant hepatology. Dr. Jalal earned his medical degree from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. His extensive training includes training in gastroenterology and hepatology at St. James Hospital in Leeds, England. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and in transplant hepatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. Dr. Jalal's clinical interests include viral hepatitis, liver transplant, liver cancer and autoimmune hepatitis. Dr. Jalal is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hepatitis, Esophageal Varices, Hepatitis A, Liver Transplant, and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. Dr. Jalal is currently accepting new patients.

Robert Goldstein, MD, FACS is a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas. He is Medical Director of the Liver and Pancreas Disease Center at the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute. He is also Chief of Hebatobilliary Surgery and Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health. Dr. Goldstein's clinical interests include liver cancer, bile duct cancer and bile duct injuries. He provides immediate evaluation and medical management of patients with newly diagnosed benign and cancerous liver lesions. He and a team of transplant and oncologic surgery specialists work together to offer aggressive advanced treatments. With 30 years of experience in a high-volume transplant center, Dr. Goldstein is one of the most practiced hepatobilliary surgeons in the nation. Dr. Goldstein received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He completed his residency at West Virginia University School of Medicine. He went on to start a transplant fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh and completed the transplant fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas where he has dedicated his entire medical career to the care and treatment of liver cancer patients and liver transplant patients. Read more about Dr. Goldstein's publications on PubMed.gov and the Baylor Health Sciences Library. Read more about Dr. Goldstein's publications. Dr. Goldstein has been named one of D Magazine’s Best Docs at least 15 times earning him a place on D Magazine’s Hall of Fame list. Dr. Goldstein has been named one of Texas Monthly's Texas Super Doctors for the past 15 years earning him a place on Texas Monthly's Legacy list. Dr. Goldstein is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 2, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 1, Liver Transplant, and Splenectomy. Dr. Goldstein is board certified in Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery, - American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery, General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery/General Surgery, Transplant Surgery- American Board Of Surgery, and General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery.

Gagan K. Sood, M.D is Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery and in the Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Sood is board certified in gastroenterology, internal medicine and transplant hepatology. Dr. Sood earned his medical degree from Himachal Pradesh Medical University in Himachal Pradesh, India. His extensive training includes an internship in internal medicine at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology and advanced liver transplant fellowship at University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Sood's clinical interests include hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Dr. Sood is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Liver Transplant. He is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hepatitis, Visceromegaly, Enlarged Liver, Liver Transplant, and Hepatectomy. Dr. Sood is currently accepting new patients.