Johns Hopkins Pediatric Liver Center

About the Center

The Pediatric Liver Center in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center has treated more than 1,000 young patients with a variety of acute and chronic liver diseases, including biliary atresia. Severe liver disease is often life threatening and may necessitate liver transplantation, which can be both life-saving and problematic. By offering a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and management of pediatric liver disease, the physicians at the Pediatric Liver Center have two major research goals: preventing the need for transplant by developing treatments for hepatitis and biliary atresia; and maximizing the success of transplants for liver failure of all causes. Our expert group of specialists, including pediatric hepatologists, pediatric liver transplant surgeons, advanced practice nurses, a nutritionists, a social worker, and a parent support group, specializes in the treatment and family centric care of children. The team at the Pediatric Liver Center is committed to offering a comprehensive and compassionate approach to the diagnosis and management of pediatric liver disease, helping children and their families lead better lives.

The Colleen Mitchel Memorial Fund, a component fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, was established to fund biliary atresia research at the Pediatric Liver Center at Johns Hopkins and to raise awareness of the need for organ donors. Colleen’s BA 5K has donated over $165,000 throughout the race’s history to aid in the advancement of biliary atresia research at Hopkins. With these funds, the Liver Center has been able to pursue research to determine the root causes of biliary atresia and develop a cure, develop digital tools to help families of children with liver disease, and investigate barriers towards liver transplantation.

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

As the pediatric hospital at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center brings the collaborative multidisciplinary might and expertise of this venerable institution to bear in treating every child that crosses its threshold. Founded in 1912 as the Children’s Hospital at Johns Hopkins, the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offers one of the most comprehensive pediatric medical programs in the country, with more than 100,000 patient visits and nearly 12,000 admissions each year. It is Maryland’s largest children’s hospital and the only state-designated Trauma Service and Burn Unit for pediatric patients. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is proud to once again rank nationally in all 10 pediatric specialties surveyed by U.S. News & World Report, with seven specialties among the top 20. Some of these specialties include oncology, cardiology, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, pulmonary and lung surgery, and urology. For more information, visit www.hopkinschildrens.org.