Faculty
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.



Ingrid Beyruth Schwartz, MD
Positions Held:
- Assistant Professor
- Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program Director



Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG
Positions Held:
- Chairman, Internal Medicine
- Professor
- Digestive Diseases and Nutrition


Bahaaeldeen Ismail, MD, MSc
Positions Held:
- Associate Professor
- Gastroenterology Fellowship Associate Director

Marijeta Pekez, MD
Positions Held:
- Assistant Professor
- Gastroenterology Fellowship Assistant Director



