Helen Te,MD, Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of American Society of Transplantation’s (AST) Physician of Distinction Award. This award is designed to recognize outstanding transplant physicians whose careers are focused on clinical care and also have a reputation as an outstanding clinician and innovator. Dr. Te is a recognized leader in the field of liver transplantation, a tremendous patient advocate, and an admired and respected role model. S
Dr. Te’s name is synonymous with the University of Chicago Medicine’s Liver Transplant program, which she has led as the Medical Director of the Adult Liver Transplant Program for 15 years. Through her sustained efforts, at times as the sole transplant hepatologist of the program, she maintained UNOS accreditation, led a loyal staff of coordinators and nurses, and eventually helped to re-invigorate the program to its status today as a leader in liver transplantation. She has also led efforts in various treatment protocols including co-authoring the AST IDCOP guidelines on viral hepatitis. She has over 80 peer-reviewed publications, the vast majority of them related to topics in chronic liver disease and liver transplantation, multi-organ transplantation and immunosuppression. Dr. Te has dedicated the latter part of her career to policy making, guideline development, and program planning of national conferences.
As an AST member for over 20 years, Dr. Te has held numerous leadership roles within the AST since 2013. She served on the Executive Committees of both the Women’s Health COP and the Liver and Intestinal COP, and later served as LICOP Executive Committee Chair. She has also Co-Chaired the Public Policy Subcommittee of LICOP since 2016. She has been actively involved in all aspects of the American Transplant Congress (ATC) since 2009, culminating in her position as Chair of the ATC program planning committee this past year and her leadership of one of the earliest and most successful virtual national conferences since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is the embodiment of a successful, highly-productive, and well respected clinician.
Originally reported by AST on June 8, 2021.