Maria Duarte, MD

Dr. Maria Duarte is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist who cares for patients with conditions involving the digestive system and liver. In addition to providing general gastroenterology, she specializes in the care of patients with steatotic liver disease (formerly called fatty liver disease). To diagnose and treat digestive conditions, she performs endoscopic procedures (minimally invasive techniques that use a thin, flexible tube conveying a tiny camera and light).

Duarte's research interests lie in exploring the connection between the gut microbiome and the development of steatotic liver disease in people living with HIV. Her lab has found that HIV infection increases the movement of microbes from the gut into the rest of the body, a change that's associated with fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver. She is evaluating whether gut bacteria patterns can be used to predict development of steatotic liver disease and how these patterns differ in HIV-positive people who have steatotic liver disease. In 2024, she received a multiyear grant called the Clinical, Translational and Outcomes Research Award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Duarte earned her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. She completed both a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at UCSF. During her fellowship at UCSF, she also earned a master of advanced studies degree in clinical research and epidemiology.

Duarte is originally from Miami. A native Spanish speaker, she is committed to providing high-quality care to Spanish-speaking patients.