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Emily R. Perito

MD MAS

Liver specialist
Pancreas specialist
Gastroenterologist
Physician-scientist, child health advocate, mother of two

Dr. Emily R. Perito is a pediatric gastroenterologist and specialist in liver and pancreatic disorders. Her expertise includes liver transplantation, and she serves as associate medical director of UCSF's multidisciplinary pediatric liver transplant team. She also co-directs the UCSF Pancreas Program for children.

Perito's research focuses on children awaiting liver transplant, looking at how to improve access to transplant, organ allocation and waiting list outcomes. She works with the Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation on making post-transplant immunosuppression more efficient and less difficult for children. She leads UCSF's work in multicenter trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, including an international study on pancreatitis in children and adolescents. Her work on chronic pancreatitis includes research on pain management, opioid use and outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (an innovative procedure in which a patient's ability to produce insulin can be preserved despite removal of the pancreas).

Perito also advocates for children nationally. She is a regional representative on the pediatric transplantation committee of the United Network for Organ Sharing, vice chair of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation's advocacy committee, and a steering committee member of the pediatric special interest group of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Perito earned her medical degree at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she completed a residency in pediatrics. She completed fellowships in pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric transplant hepatology at UCSF, where she also earned a master of advanced study degree in clinical research.

Perito is a member of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and American Gastroenterological Association.

  • Education

    Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2006

  • Residencies

    Columbia University, Pediatrics, 2009

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Pediatric Gastroenterology, 2012

    UCSF, Pediatric Transplant Hepatology, 2013

  • Board Certifications

    Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

    Pediatric Gastroenterology, American Board of Pediatrics

    Pediatric Transplant Hepatology, American Board of Pediatrics

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

  • Languages

    Spanish

In all of my work, my goal is to optimize long-term outcomes and quality of life for children with liver or pancreatic disease.

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.4

    Overall Experience
    40 Ratings
    About our process
    Apr 17, 2023
    Doctor refusing to answer direct questions regarding frequency of appointments, and test locations being an issue. Unwilling to work with us to establish more local testing locations. Unwilling to explain why other locations were unfit. This issue has been going on for a year now, with social worker involved and no end in sight.
    Sep 06, 2022
    All good for now.
    Sep 06, 2022
    Excellent work team.
    Sep 06, 2022
    Docs and nurses were great, but given the technology of today, I'm astounded that medical history isn't transmitted more efficiently to increase the rate of decisions concerning the correct path of treatment versus having parents attempt to recall every minute detail.
    Jan 11, 2022
    Really wish it was easier to make appointments

    Selected research

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