Experts on Liver Transplant

UCSF's liver transplant team consists of a core of surgeons and liver specialists (hepatologists) assisted by other physicians and nurse clinicians. In addition to performing the transplant, this group also provides the pre- and post-transplant care.

Our liver transplant program is operated as a separately organized unit within the medical center. The same transplant team treats adult and pediatric patients, but children are cared for in the Children's Hospital part of the medical center to assure that all patient care is provided by experienced personnel. An operating room "call team" provides liver transplant trained nurses and anesthesiologists on a 24-hour basis.

Claudia Praglin is an nurse practitioner for the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation and Liver Transplant programs at UCSF Medical Center. She specializes in the care of intestinal and liver transplant patients before and after their procedures. Before joining UCSF, Praglin worked as a nurse practitioner and transplant coordinator for Stanford University Medical Center's Liver Transplant program.

Praglin graduated with honors from University of San Francisco where she earned her undergraduate degree in nursing. She earned a master's degree, with specialty preparation as an adult nurse practitioner at UCSF. She is a member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau, North American Transplant Coordinators Organization and California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Eliana Agudelo is a physician assistant for the UCSF Liver Transplant Program. She manages the care of patients after liver transplant surgery, with attention to those receiving treatment for viral hepatitis C. Agudelos clinical research focuses on current and innovative viral hepatitis C and viral hepatitis B treatments available to liver transplant patients.

She earned her post graduate physician assistant degree with a concentration in general surgery from St. Johns University. She completed an American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Hepatology Fellowship with a special emphasis in liver transplantation and viral hepatitis. Agudelo is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Surgery and Liver Transplantation Committee, American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Professional Practice Committee for the UCSF Transplant Division and the Medical Advisory Board for the Latino Outreach Committee. She also is a fundraiser for the American Liver Foundation.

Wendy Kahn serves as the living donor social worker for liver and kidney patients, as well as the clinical social worker for adult and pediatric patients of the UCSF Intestinal Transplant and Rehabilitation Program. Kahn is particularly interested in the ethical, quality of life and psychosocial issues organ transplant patients and their families face, both before and after transplant.

Prior to working with organ transplant patients, Kahn has extensive experience as an oncology social worker, HIV social worker and hospice social worker. She received her graduate degree in social work at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois and completed a fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health. Kahn is a member of numerous professional organizations, such as the Society for Transplant Social Workers, North American Liver Transplant Social Workers Association and Bay Area Social Workers in Health Care. She is also a member of the UCSF Transplant Professional Practice Committee, Education Sub Committee.

Sherry Laemmermann is a social worker in the UCSF Liver Transplant Program who assists adults before and after transplant surgery. She provides support to patients during their transplant evaluation and waiting period and provides education regarding the transplant. After surgery, she works with patients during recovery, including a weekly support group.

Laemmermann is a graduate of Syracuse University in New York and the University of Tennessee. She is licensed as a clinical social worker by the Academy of Certified Social Workers and credentialed by the National Association of Social Workers. She also is a member of the North American Liver Transplant Social Worker Association and has worked with the National Kidney Foundation, American Kidney Fund and Georgia Transplant Foundation.

David Quan serves as a clinical pharmacist for the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant program, as well as the Liver Transplant program at UCSF Medical Center. In addition to caring for patients, he also holds the position of associate clinical professor of pharmacy at UCSF, where he provides didactic and experiential teaching for pharmacy students and residents in pharmacy practice.

Quan is the author of various publications regarding transplant immunosuppression, aspects of liver disease and pharmacotherapy. He also is the author of several textbook chapters and serves as a senior editor of the Textbook of Therapeutics: Drug and Disease Management. Quan received his doctor of pharmacy and completed a residency in clinical pharmacy at UCSF.

Pauline Rogers is a social worker in the UCSF Liver Transplant Program who assists adults before and after transplant surgery. She provides support to patients during their transplant evaluation and waiting period and provides education regarding the transplant. After surgery, she works with patients during recovery, including a weekly support group.

Rogers is a graduate of San Jose State University where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in social work and earned a master's degree of social work at San Francisco State University. She is a licensed as a clinical social worker by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and has more than 20 years of experience with liver and kidney transplant recipients and donors. She is a member and past president of the North American Liver Transplant social Workers Association,.