Buildings alone don’t make for academic excellence. That’s why we’re pleased to have a gastroenterology faculty who possess a full spectrum of clinical expertise and consider education a priority. 

Our division chief, Lanla Conteh, MD,  has distinguished herself as a leader in clinical care, education, and academic hepatology. She is recognized nationally for her expertise in endoscopy, hepatology, and transplantation with a clinical focus on liver cancer. Alla Grigorian, MD, PhD, gastroenterology program director, has a busy research and clinical practice in hepatology and transplantation. She was recognized in 2022 for the UK College of Medicine Program Director Excellence Award for outstanding leadership qualities including advocacy, mentorship, and professionalism. Christina Leyson, MD is the transplant hepatology fellowship director. She also serves as the medical director for the Liver Transplant program at UK HealthCare. Our program director for the Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship program, Ingrid Schwartz, MD, is very active in research in advanced endoscopic techniques and interventional endoscopy. 

All of our faculty consistently receive top marks from fellows for their educational skills and enthusiasm. 

Lanla F Conteh, MD


Positions Held:
  • Professor
  • Chief, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition

Alla Yurievna Grigorian, MD, PhD


Positions Held:
  • Professor
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Director

Anna Delacruz Leyson, MD


Positions Held:
  • Professor
  • Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Director

Ingrid Beyruth Schwartz, MD


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program Director

Joseph E Auer, MD


Positions Held:
  • Associate Professor

Terrence A. Barrett, MD


Positions Held:
  • Professor

Donald R Campbell, MD


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Director of Advanced Endoscopy

Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG


Positions Held:
  • Chairman, Internal Medicine
  • Professor
  • Digestive Diseases and Nutrition

Deborah R. Flomenhoft, MD


Positions Held:
  • Professor
  • Director of Endoscopy

Bahaaeldeen Ismail, MD, MSc


Positions Held:
  • Associate Professor
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Associate Director

Venkata Rajesh Konjeti, MBBS


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor

Marijeta Pekez, MD


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Assistant Director

Courtney Perry, DO


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor

Ruben R Plentz, MD, FEBGH


Positions Held:
  • Associate Professor

Jens Rosenau, MD


Positions Held:
  • Associate Professor

Kshitij Thakur, MD, MSc, FACP


Positions Held:
  • Assistant Professor