Meet Our Team
Shahid Habib MD
Transplant Hepatologist
Dr. Shahid Habib is a Hepatologist in Tucson, Arizona and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System and St Joseph’s Hospital. He also has Interstate medical licensure to practice outside of Arizona. His practice emphasis is comprehensive liver disease care. He attended Quaid-e-Azam Medical College and completed residency and fellowship (Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology) training at Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute and King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. He subsequently has further advanced training at Western General Infirmary, University of Glasgow UK, Banks town Hospital, University of New South Wales (NSW) Sydney. Australia (Gastroenterology) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Hepatology and Liver Transplantation). His special interests include liver failure, liver transplantation and NASH (fatty liver disease). His goal of practice is cure and prevention of liver disease.
Board certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
MRCP Internal Medicine UK
MRCP Gastroenterology & Hepatology UK
EUROPEAN Specialty Certification in Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Transplant Hepatology UPMC trained
FCPS Pakistan
Ruwani Alwis MD
Transitional Trainee Doctor
Dr. Ruwani Alwis, MD, is a distinguished medical professional who earned her degree from Tianjin Medical University in China. She possesses certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and is presently serving as a transitional trainee physician under the guidance of Dr. Shahid Habib. In this capacity, she is actively engaged in clinical care under the supervision of Dr. Habib. She is a sub-clinical investigator for clinical trials conducted at the Liver Institute. Dr. Alwis received her training at Puttalam Base Hospital in Sri Lanka and Tucson Medical Center. She completed clinical rotations at Larkin Community Hospital Florida and Asclepion Family Medical Group California. Furthermore, she has commenced her position as a clinical research assistant, specifically within the Gastroenterology department at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Cancer Network, and Arizona Liver Health
MD: Tianjin Medical University,Tianjin, China 2012
Ashwinikumar Shandilya MD
Transitional Trainee Doctor
Ashwinikumar Shandilya, MD is a medical doctor graduated from Rural Medical College in India, He is an ECFMG certified physician working as a transitional trainee physician under the supervision of Dr. Shahid Habib. He actively participates in clinical care under the supervision of Dr. Habib and works as a sub-clinical Investigator in clinical trials conducted at the Liver Institute. Currently Dr. Shandilya is also affiliated with the University of Edinburgh getting a Masters in stem cell and regenerative medicine. He is also a part of various research teams across the United States participating in a variety of research projects. He is also an AHA certified BLS instructor.
MD: Rural Medical College, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences India. (2019)
MSc: Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine (2030)
Our Exceptional Students
Mona Sheikh MD
Dr. Sheikh was a medical doctor trained at the Liver Institute. She graduated in 2011 from Egypt and completed her initial training there. She became Arizona board-certified to work as a training doctor in 2022. She is pursuing her master's in public health at the University of North Texas while training full-time at the Liver Institute. Dr. Sheikh was part of the research team at the Liver Institute until June 2024. She completed two years of transitional medical doctor training at the Liver Institute and was offered a residency after her training.
DEGREE
- MD: University Faculty of Medicine Egypt, 2011
- MPH: University of North Texas, expected 2023
LISA ARRETT NP
Lisa Arrett earned her Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis on Adult-Gerontology from Grand Canyon University in 2018. Lisa has over 9 years of nursing experience, with a background in cardiology and the ER as an RN. She was affiliated with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, and the American Red Cross Disaster Health Services Team. In April 2019, she joined the Liver Institute as a nurse practitioner NP where she was trained to care for chronic liver patients as a provider. She worked under the direct supervision of the primary hepatologist for two years.
DEGREES
· MSN (Master of Science in Nursing): Grand Canyon University, 2018
· BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing): North Dakota State University, 2013
· ADN (Associate’s in Nursing): Kirkwood Community College, 2010
Lindsey M Schader PHD
Lindsey Schader was the first undergraduate student at Liver Institute from November 2017 to July 2018. Her work in Investigator Initiated Research Studies at the Liver Institute was significant. Her research was published. She was accepted at Emory University for a Biostatistics PhD program in 2018.
Janay Hall
Janay Hall joined the Liver Institute after completing her undergraduate studies in August 2020. She worked as a medical scribe until March 2023. Her dedication and precision toward her work were noteworthy. She was accepted into the Forensic Pathology program in 2024.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson joined the Liver Institute after completing his undergraduate degree in Aug 2022. He started as a medical scribe but was transferred to the Research department due to his thoroughness within a few months. Since then, he has participated in pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials as a junior research coordinator. He successfully ran and closed a study at this time. He is assisting in three clinical research studies and aiding the principal investigator in writing and publishing the studies. Andrew has successfully secured his position at medical school in Arizona to start his journey in 2025.