Arnold Silverman, MD Lectureship 2025

BinitaM.Kamath,MBBChir,MRCP,MTR ProfessorandChief DivisionofGastroenterology,HepatologyandNutrition DepartmentofPediatrics

PerelmanSchoolofMedicine

UniversityofPennsylvania

Children’sHospitalofPhiladelphia

BinitaM.Kamath,MBBChir,MRCP,MTR,isaninternational leaderandworld-renownedexpertinpediatrichepatology,with aspecialfocusoncholestaticandinheritedliverdisordersin children.Shehaslecturedextensivelyabouttopicsincluding Alagillesyndrome,biliaryatresia,primarysclerosingcholangitis andotherrareliverdiseases,aswellastreatmentsforliver diseasesincludinglivertransplantation.

HerprimaryinterestisAlagillesyndrome–aninheritedliver disorderthataffectsthebody’sabilitytoproperlyprocessbile andcancausedistinctivefacialfeaturesandproblemsthat affecttheheart,eyes,bones,kidney,vasculatureandother organs.Kamath’sresearchseekstounderstandthephenotypic manifestations,genotype-phenotyperelationships,andnatural historyofthiscondition.

In2018,Kamathestablishedaglobalinternationalresearch databaseofAlagillesyndromepatients,referredtoastheGALA study,thatnowhousesinformationonmorethan1,700patients from90centersin35countries–thelargestdatasetforthis condition. Sherunsabasicsciencelaboratorywhichfocuseson differentiatingbileductcells(cholangiocytes)fromstemcellsas amodeltounderstandthemolecularbasisforliverdiseases.An additionalareaofresearchKamathhasfocusedoninvolvesthe studyoffrailtyandsarcopenia(musclewasting)inchildrenwith liverdisease,atopicthatisrelativelyunderstudied.

Kamathhasheldmajorleadershiprolesinseveralnationaland internationalprofessionalsocietiesincludingtheNorthAmerican SocietyforPediatricGastroenterology,HepatologyandNutrition (NASPGHAN),theAmericanAssociationfortheStudyofLiver Diseases,theCanadianAssociationfortheStudyofLiverDiseases, andtheChildhoodLiverDiseaseResearchNetwork(ChiLDReN).

Kamathhaspublishedmorethan130peer-reviewedarticlesand morethan50editorials,reviews,chaptersandmedia presentations.Shecurrentlyservesasassociateeditorof Hepatology, thepremierliverjournalinNorthAmerica.

Inadditiontoherclinicalandresearchresponsibilities,Kamath hasalsosupportednewphysicians,residentsandfellowsfor morethan20yearsasamentor,preceptor,lecturer,grand roundspresenter,researchsupervisorandOSCEexaminer.While inCanada,Kamathservedascoursedirectorforseveralpatient familyeducationdaysfocusedonbetterunderstandingAlagille syndrome,biliaryatresiaandWilsondisease.

Overthepastthreedecades,Kamathhaswonnumerousawards foracademicexcellence,fellowship,teaching/mentorshipand research.Mostrecently,sheearnedboththeAlagilleSyndrome ChampionAwardfromtheAlagilleSyndromeAllianceandthe JanetRossantResearchInnovationPrizeforherteam’swork withinducedpluripotentstemcell(iPSC)technology.

ArnoldSilverman,MD

ArnoldSilverman,MD,nowprofessoremeritusofpediatricsatthe UniversityofColoradoSchoolofMedicineandChildren’sHospital Colorado,wasoneofthefirstpediatricgastroenterologistsinNorth America.Heco-authored–withDrs.FrankCozettoandClaudeRoy–the firstpediatricGItextbookin1971,publishedforfoureditions,which,in essence,createdthespecialty.

Silvermancompletedhisundergraduate,graduateandmedicalschool educationattheUniversityofColorado.Aftercompletinghispediatric internshipatCU,hecontinuedhispediatrictrainingasresidentandchief residentattheUniversityofMinnesota.Hethentrainedin gastroenterologyunderCozettoandDr.FredKernattheCUMedical CenterinDenver.Forthenext10years,Silvermanwasdirectorof graduateeducationandpracticedGIatChildren’swhilesharingahalftimeprivategeneralpediatricspractice.In1975,Silvermanbecamethe directorofpediatricservicesatDenverGeneralHospital(nowDenver Health)andvicechairofpediatricsatCUMedicalCenter,positionshe heldfor17years.ThroughouttheseyearsSilvermanmaintainedabusy pediatricGIpractice,initiatedafellowshiptrainingprogramandwasthe firstchiefoftheSectionofPediatricGastroenterology,Hepatologyand NutritionintheDepartmentofPediatrics.Heretiredfromhispositionat DenverHealthin1992,butcontinuestothisdaytoteachpediatric residentsandmedicalstudentsatbothChildren’sandDenverHealth. Silverman’suniqueabilitytoassimilatenewdevelopmentsandresearch findingsintoclinicalpracticewerekeytohisbedsidestyleofeducating, trainingandinspiringtwogenerationsofstudents,pediatriciansand pediatricgastroenterologists.Hepublishedmanylandmarkpapers, describingforthefirsttimetheclinicalaspects,complicationsand treatmentofchronicGIandliverdisordersinchildren.Silverman remainsarolemodelforallclinicians,educatorsandstudents.

Amonghismanyawards,SilvermanreceivedtheprestigiousHarry ShwachmanAwardin1988foroutstandingcontributionstothefieldof pediatricgastroenterologyfromtheNorthAmericanSocietyforPediatric GastroenterologyandNutrition,theMurrayDavidsonAwardin1994from theAmericanAcademyofPediatricsrecognizinghisclinicaland educationalcontributions,theGaryWayAwardtwiceandCareer TeachingAwardfromtheDepartmentofPediatricsandtheprestigious SilverandGoldAwardoftheUniversityofColoradoin2000,thehighest honorgiventoamedicalschoolalumnus.

ThislectureshiphonorsSilvermanandhisnationalandinternational influencebybringinganationally-renownedphysician-educatorresearcherinthefieldofpediatricGI,hepatologyandnutritionforatwodayvisittoChildren’sHospitalColoradoandUniversityColoradoDenver tointeractwithstudents,housestaff,fellows,facultyandcaregivers fromthecommunity.