Program Faculty and Administration
Julia Liu, MD
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology
Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship
jjliu@msm.edu
Julia J. Liu, M.D. MSc. is Professor of Medicine, Chief of Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, and Director of the Agile Clinical Trial (ACT) Training Program. She joined Morehouse in 2020 to lead the expansion of the division and creation of the GI fellowship program. She graduated from University of Toronto Medical School, received her internal medicine training at Mayo Clinic Rochester and gastroenterology fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She completed a research fellowship at the Harvard Center of Minimally Invasive Surgery, and stayed on faculty at Brigham to study the mechanism of anti-reflux treatment procedures. She is passionate about improving patient outcomes through research and education. She created the GI fellowship program at Morehouse to increase future gastroenterologists who will serve patient populations in need. Her research program at Morehouse School of Medicine has focused on improving outcomes in IBD patients. Her laboratory research aims to mitigate the injuries from caustic ingestions.
Jessica Briscoe, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Morehouse School of Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2025 as Associate Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program.
Dr. Briscoe earned her M.D. from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She completed her fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Temple University Hospital, where she served as Chief Fellow in her final year of fellowship.
Before joining Morehouse, Dr. Briscoe was a faculty member in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, where she also served as Associate Program Director of the GI Fellowship Program and Assistant Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency. In addition, she was an Academic Coach for medical students and faculty advisor to the local chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA).
Dr. Briscoe’s clinical and academic interests focus on colorectal cancer disparities, obesity medicine, gastrointestinal manifestations of nutritional diseases, and the impact of systemic inequities on nutrition and health in underserved communities. She is deeply committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity in gastroenterology training and practice.
Dr. Thuy-Van (Tina) Hang is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she clinically focuses on general hepatology. She originally grew up in Duluth, GA and left for Stanford University for undergrad, where she majored in Asian American Studies with Honors and Biology before returning to Georgia for medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, Athens Campus. She then completed her internal medicine residency and GI fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine before joining Emory faculty. Dr. Hang is the Morehouse GI Fellowship VA Site Director, Director of Hepatology at the Atlanta VA, as well as the Director of the Atlanta VA Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Board. She is interested in health equity, medical education, quality improvement, portal hypertension, alcohol-associated liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Valerie Jagiella, M.D. is a board-certified gastroenterologist with a passion for advancing digestive health. She brings extensive training and clinical expertise to the evaluation and management of digestive system disorders. Trained across two continents, she completed her fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical College of Georgia, residency at the University of Louisville, and earned her MD from the University of Montpellier in France. Her clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening, upper GI endoscopy, and general gastroenterology, with a focus on conditions such as bloating, heartburn, IBS, colon polyps, and diverticulosis. Fluent in English and French, Dr. Jagiella brings a global perspective and compassionate care to her patient encounters.
Jesús M. Luévano, M.D. is a gastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal malignancies, including colorectal cancer. His research program aims to understand outcomes of early-onset colorectal cancer in local populations to improve clinical screening success for earlier diagnoses, while establishing microbiome-related biorepositories to study the unique human and microbial interactions that drive disease. He is part of the core faculty for the Gastroenterology fellowship program, directly supervising and mentoring trainees.
Dr. Luévano earned his B.A. with honors in Molecular & Cellular Biology from Harvard University and his M.D. with honors from Harvard Medical School (HMS), where he was a part of the joint HMS-MIT Health Sciences & Technology program. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, his Gastroenterology fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and his M.S. in Patient Oriented Research with a focus on biostatistics, epidemiology, and data science from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.
Ralph Lyons, M.D. is a board-certified gastroenterologist with a wealth of clinical experience and over 35 years of endoscopic experience to the Gastroenterology division. He is deeply committed to the training and education of the next generation of gastroenterologists. He completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University and medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, he came to Atlanta to complete his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Emory. After completing his GI fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia in 1989 he returned to Atlanta to private practice. Always fond of teaching, he has mentored medical students, taught nurses and given grand rounds at the hospital. With pride, he now returns to Grady Memorial Hospital in a teaching capacity for the GI Division.
Amarachi Odu, PA-C joined the Department of Medicine Gastroenterology in 2022, after receiving her Master of Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies at Morehouse School of Medicine. Prior to PA school, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology at the Indian University of Pennsylvania. She then worked for her additional training and education at University of Findlay for a certification in Nuclear Medicine Technology. While in PA school, organized programs to pair students to help alleviate stress for PA School, mentored pre-PA students for starting their paths to PA school, paired with programs to outreach students in underserved community about the medical profession.
Ada Spahija, PA-C is a physician assistant specializing in gastroenterology. She earned her physician assistant degree from Emory University. Prior to PA school, she spent six years working in clinical research. Ada is committed to providing thoughtful, patient-centered care and values building strong, trusting relationships with her patients.
Outside of medicine, enjoys baking, attending live music events, and exploring new cultures through international travel. She also enjoys reading current medical literature and following global health developments.
Piedmont Hospital
Naveen Anand, MD
Naveen Anand, MD, is a board-certified advanced gastroenterologist, with subspecialty
training in interventional advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy. He graduated medical
school from the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, where
he also completed his internal medicine residency, served as Chief Medical Resident
of Kings County Hospital, one of the largest municipal hospitals in the City of New
York, and also completed a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology. He then
completed a second subspecialty fellowship in advanced therapeutic endoscopy at the
University Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, where he also served as
a general gastroenterology and hepatology attending. After completing his advanced
therapeutic endoscopy fellowship, he went on to serve as the Director of Advanced
Endoscopy at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, a Yale affiliate. He was also
the Assistant Program Director of the fellowship program in gastroenterology and hepatology
at Norwalk Hospital, and had faculty appointment at Yale Medical School. In addition
to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting at national meetings, he also
was the editor of a book focusing on the multidisciplinary management of pancreatic
cancer. He is the Director of Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at Piedmont Atlanta
Hospital.
Dr. Anand performs therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), spyglass cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy, endoscopic
mucosal resection (EMR), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of large polyps
and premalignant masses throughout the GI tract, enteral stenting, endoscopic closure
of perforations, fistulas and leaks, Endohepatology, management of Barrett's esophagus,
including radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation.
His clinical interests include pancreato-biliary diseases, gastrointestinal oncology,
resection of large polyps and masses throughout the GI tract, and the developing field
of Endo hepatology, which focuses on using interventional procedures to help in the
management of complex liver diseases.
In his spare time, Dr. Anand enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hiking,
and enjoying the cultural and culinary diversity that Atlanta has to offer.
Dr. Anand welcomes new patients and accepts most major insurance plans.
Devina Bhasin, MD | Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Devina Bhasin is a Transplant Hepatologist at Piedmont Transplant Institute. Her focus is general liver disease and care of the cirrhotic patient and she has a special interest in the treatment of viral hepatitis.
During her residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Dr. Bhasin was involved with a clinical research project evaluating co-morbid disease and life expectancy among older colorectal cancer patients and implications for screening. She has worked on several other research projects on liver disease, viral hepatitis and hepatitis treatment throughout her career and has been published for her work in clinical research.
Prior to joining Piedmont, Dr. Bhasin was a Medical ICU Hospitalist at Yale New-Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. She has an interest in public and global health issues and was a Yale/Johnson & Johnson Physician-Scholar in International Health in Cape Town, South Africa, where she performed health work in under-served areas with particular focuses on HIV, Tuberculosis and preventative care. She has also spent time teaching and caring for patients on the gastrointestinal and liver disease unit at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Fellowship (Gastroenterology): University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Fellowship (Transplant Hepatology): Mount Sinai Medical Center
Aamir Naim Dam, MD
In his spare time, Dr. Dam enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing pickleball.
Dr. Dam welcomes new patients and accepts most major insurance plans.
Alexander Lemmer, MD | Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Alexander Lemmer is a Transplant Hepatologist and Piedmont Transplant Institute. Dr. Lemmer cares for pre and post liver transplant recipients, as well as general hepatology patients, and has a special interest in PSC, cholangiocarcinoma and pre and post liver transplant biliary complications as he is certified in ERCP and cholangioscopy (SpyGlass). He also has an interest in alcohol related liver disease and alcohol use disorder management.
Dr. Lemmer is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Society of Transplantation (AST), and the American Liver Foundation (ALF).
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern
Fellowship (Gastroenterology/Hepatology): McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
Fellowship (Transplant Hepatology): McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
Post-Graduation ERCP/Spyglass Training: Piedmont Transplant Institute
Rahul Maheshwari, MD | Director of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Rahul Maheshwari is a Transplant Hepatologist and Director of Piedmont’s Hepatocellular Carcinoma Program. His special interests include HCC and cholangiocarcinoma, cholestatic liver disease including PSC/PBC, alcoholic liver disease, and MASH.
Dr. Maheshwari has been widely published in leading journals including The American
Journal of Gastroenterology and has co-authored several textbook chapters. He is
a member of several professional organizations, including the American Gastroenterological
Association, American Society of Transplantation, American College of Physicians,
America College of Gastroenterology, and the American Association for the Study of
Liver Diseases.
Board Certification
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
Fellowship (Gastroenterology): Emory University School of Medicine
Fellowship (Transplant Hepatology): Emory University School of Medicine
Parita Patel, MD | Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Parita Patel is a Transplant Hepatologist at Piedmont Transplant Institute. She cares for pre and post liver transplant recipients, as well as general hepatology patients, and has a special interest in alcohol related liver disease.
Dr. Patel is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Association
for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and
American Society of Transplantation.
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Internship: University of Chicago
Residency: University of Chicago
Fellowship (Gastroenterology): University of Chicago
Fellowship (Transplant Hepatology): Northwestern University Medical School
Raymond Rubin, MD | Chief Scientific Officer Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Raymond Rubin is a Transplant Hepatologist and Chief Scientific Officer at
Piedmont Transplant Institute. His special interests include hepatitis C, portal hypertension, hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney insufficiency, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and autoimmune liver diseases.
Dr. Rubin co-founded and served as the first medical director of Piedmont's liver transplant program in 2004. From 2011 until 2014, he went to Boston to become a Medical Director at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he conducted research and evaluated new treatments for hepatitis C, other liver diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease. He returned to Piedmont in 2014 as the Chief Scientific Officer of the transplant institute’s research program and as an integral member of the transplant clinical team.
Dr. Rubin is a fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and of the American Gastroenterological Association.
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY
Internship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship (Gastroenterology/Hepatology): Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA
Lance Stein, MD | Medical Director Transplant Hepatology
Dr. Lance Stein is a Transplant Hepatologist and Medical Director of Piedmont’s Hepatology and Liver Transplant Program. His special interests include viral hepatitis, alcohol related liver disease, acute on chronic liver failure, metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASH/MAFLD), and autoimmune liver diseases (including but not limited to autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis). He is also an expert in the management of complications related to liver cirrhosis including portal hypertension and liver cancers.
Dr. Stein also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine. He is a fellow for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Gastroenterology Association, and the American College of Physicians. He has served on national committees for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association and the American Society of Transplantation.
Board Certifications
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology
Education and Training
Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine
Internship: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
Fellowship: Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of California, San Diego
Fellowship: Advanced/Transplant Hepatology at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia
University
Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7740-1097