Kali Zhou

Kali Zhou, MD MAS, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. Her expertise lies in transplant hepatology, with a focus on addressing disparities in liver disease outcomes through innovative approaches like geospatial analysis and pragmatic interventions. She completed her medical training at Northwestern University, residency at UCLA, and fellowship at UCSF, where she earned a Master's in Clinical Research. A Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015), she has published extensively on viral hepatitis, liver cancer disparities, and healthcare access.

• Education: MD from Feinberg School of Medicine (Northwestern University), MAS in Clinical Research (UCSF)
• Training: Internal Medicine Residency (UCLA), Gastroenterology & Transplant Hepatology Fellowship (UCSF)

Her research prioritizes equity in liver transplant access, including studies on immigration impact on HBV care and rideshare interventions to reduce waitlist mortality. Key areas include:

• Geospatial analysis of liver cancer hotspots
• Social determinants affecting transplant eligibility
• Health disparities among immigrant populations

In 2025, her work highlighted transportation barriers in liver transplant waitlist mortality and demonstrated disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma downstaging success. She leads NIH-funded projects exploring acculturation effects on HBV monitoring and evaluates novel interventions to bridge healthcare gaps.

• Awards: NIH K23 Award (2022-2026), American Cancer Society Impact Award (2022), AASLD Clinical Research Award (2021)

Her translational research bridges clinical practice and population health, with grants focusing on:

• Rural-urban disparities in liver transplantation
• Immigration's role in healthcare utilization
• Liver cancer prevention strategies in underserved communities

Leveraging multidisciplinary collaborations, Dr. Zhou's work aims to create scalable solutions for improving liver disease outcomes through evidence-based equity-focused interventions.