
Sara Hassan, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Languages Spoken:
- English

Biography
Sara Hassan, M.D., is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Transplant Hepatologist at Children’s Health℠ and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is the Clinical Director for our Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Clinic. She provides care for children with a wide variety of gastroenterological and liver conditions with a special interest in MASLD, autoimmune liver disease, biliary atresia, genetic and metabolic liver disease and long-term care after liver transplant.
I am driven by the opportunity to navigate complex medical challenges, help children overcome life-altering conditions and support their growth and development.
“I am passionate about caring for children and adolescents with chronic liver disease and liver transplantation because it allows me to make a meaningful impact on children and their families,” she says. “I am driven by the opportunity to navigate complex medical challenges, help children overcome life-altering conditions and support their growth and development.”
Dr. Hassan earned her medical degree at the American University of Beirut. She then completed her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She also completed a fellowship in advanced hepatology and liver transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine.
“This field inspires me to pursue research opportunities and contribute to advancing knowledge and treatment options, ensuring we are making lives better for children,” she says.
Dr. Hassan’s research focuses include steatosis in the liver, genetic liver disease, liver transplantation and autoimmune diseases that impact the liver.
Outside of work, Dr. Hassan enjoys spending time with her family, reading books and traveling. She is a massive Harry Potter fan. Go Gryffindor!
Education and Training
- Medical School
- American Univ of Beirut Faculty of Medicine (2012)
- Residency
- UT Southwestern - Children's Medical Center (2016), Pediatrics
- Fellowship
- Baylor College of Medicine - Texas Children's Hosp (2020), Pediatric Transplant Hepatology
UT Southwestern - Children's Medical Center (2019), Pediatric Gastroenterology - Board Certification
- American Board of Pediatrics/Gastroenterology
Departments and Programs
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Research Interests
- Autoimmune diseases that impact the liver
- Genetic liver disease
- Liver transplantation
- Steatosis in the liver
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Publications
- Abou Jaoudeh RAR, Hartmann P, Olson O, Gupta O, Kumar S, Ibrahim SH, Fawaz R, Aqul A, Hassan S. Pharmacological management of pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Nov 11. doi: 10.1002/jpn3.12402. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39526564.
- Liver transplantation for pediatric genetic and metabolic disorders. Hassan S, Anouti A, Tan QK, Wangensteen K, Aqul A. Liver Transpl. 2024 Aug 23. doi: 10.1097/LVT.0000000000000454. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39171972
- Khan MQ, Hassan S, Lizaola-Mayo BC, Bhat M, Watt KD. Navigating the "specific etiology" steatohepatitis category: Evaluation and management of nonalcoholic/nonmetabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2023 Nov 7 Epub 2023 Nov 07 PMID: 37939197 DOI: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000674
- Cardenas MC, Hamel B, Weckwerth J, Potter D, Bofill-Garcia AM, Schwartz J, Hassan S, Gonzalez M, Storm AC. An Unusual Presentation of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2023 Nov 1; 77 (5):e69 Epub 2023 July 12 PMID: 37434284 DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003888
- Hassan S, Hertel P. Overview of Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis. Clin Liver Dis. 2022 Aug; 26 (3):371-390 PMID: 35868680 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2022.03.003
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Professional Activities
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Member (2015 - Present)
- American Academy of Pediatrics Member (2013 - Present)
- GI Subspecialty Representative (2018 - 2020) Fellow
- American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Member (2017 - Present)
- North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Hepatology Committee Member (2022 - Present)
- North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Member (2015 - Present)
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Awards and Honors
- Minnesota Top Doctor - Minnesota Monthly Magazine (2022 - 2024)
- SPLIT Travel Grant Award - Society of Pediatric Liver Transplant (2019)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Dallas, Texas (2015)
- President of Lebanese Medical Students’ International Committee LeMSIC (2011 - 2012)
- Academic Scholarship - American University of Beirut (2008 - 2012)
- Dean's Honor List - American University of Beirut (2005 - 2008)