William F. Balistreri, MD
- Dorothy M. M. Kersten Professor of Pediatrics
- Director Emeritus, Pediatric Liver Care Center
- Medical Director Emeritus, Liver Transplantation
- Program Director Emeritus, Fellowship in Transplant Hepatology
- Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
- william.balistreri@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
I have worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for more than forty years to better understand liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, chronic cholestasis, metabolic liver disease and the outcomes of liver transplant in children. Initially driven by curiosity, I work to find a cure for these types of diseases, so children can live better, more fulfilling lives.
I served as the director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition for 25 years. My research publications (over 580 to date) have helped broaden our understanding of many aspects of liver disease in children.
In 2000, I became the first pediatrician to serve as president of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. I have also received numerous awards and honors, including:
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Murray Davidson Award
- American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Distinguished Service Award
- American Gastroenterological Association, Distinguished Educator Award
- Canadian Liver Foundation and the Canadian Association for the Study of Liver, Andrew Sass-Kortsak Memorial Award
- Cincinnati Pediatric Society, Founder’s Award
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Distinguished Leadership Award
- Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Outstanding Pediatrician Award
- North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Shwachman Award
- University of Buffalo, Distinguished Alumnus Award
- University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine Daniel Drake Medal
I have also been listed among the Best Doctors in America numerous times in a variety of publications. I thank all the volunteers who continue to help us better understand liver disease.
BA: State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, 1966.
MD: University of Buffalo School of Medicine, NY, 1970.
Internship: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (University of Cincinnati School of Medicine), Cincinnati, OH, 1970 to 1972.
Residency: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (University of Cincinnati School of Medicine), Cincinnati, OH, 1971 to 1972.
Fellowship: Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1973 to 1974.
Research Fellowship: Gastroenterology, Mayo Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 1973 to 1975.
Certification: Pediatrics, 1975 (renewed 1992); Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 1990 (certificate #2; renewed 1997, 2004, and 2014).
Subspecialty Certification: 2006, American Board of Pediatrics (certificate #004 Pediatric Transplant Hepatology).
Interests
Liver disease (cholestasis, viral hepatitis, metabolic liver disease; liver transplantation); celiac disease.
Services and Specialties
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
THU-319 Sebepliase alfa improves lipid metabolism and liver outcomes in pediatric patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency. Journal of Hepatology. 2025; 82:s326.
Long-term efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral regimens in paediatric patients with hepatitis C virus infection: an international registry study. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. 2025; 9:248-254.
The enduring legacy of Dr. Emanuel Lebenthal. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2024; 79:193-194.
Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir in children 3-17 years old with hepatitis C virus infection. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2024; 78:1342-1354.
OS-082 Sustained improvement of alanine aminotransferase levels in patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency treated with sebelipase alfa enzyme replacement therapy: longitudinal data from the international lysosomal acid lipase deficiency registry. Journal of Hepatology. 2024; 80:s54.
What Conditions Commonly Cause Elevated Bilirubin and Aminotransferase Levels in School-Aged Children?. Curbside Consultation in Pediatric GI. : Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis; 2024.
Red cell abnormalities characterized by ektacytometry in children with cholestasis. Pediatric Research. 2024; 95:1035-1040.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics: Volume 1-2. 2024.
Evaluation of Patients with Possible Liver Dysfunction. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics: Volume 1-2. 2024.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics: Volume 1-2. 2024.
From the Blog
Cincinnati Children’s Launches Research Center for Rare Liver Diseases
William F. Balistreri, MD, Chunyue Yin, PhD ...12/6/2021
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