A Conversation with Philip Rosenthal, MD

Issue: September 2015

Philip Rosenthal, MD, trained at Downstate Medical Center and the Albert Einstein Medical Center in New York, going before cross-country for a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.

As a fourth year medical student, a young Rosenthal spent a summer elective in hepatology at UCSF. He remembers it as “one of the most interesting electives I encountered during medical school” and that summer inspired his pursuit of hepatology.

Since that time, Rosenthal has become a top name in pediatric hepatology, offering his expertise to the general public via media interviews to educate the community on viral hepatitis and liver transplantation. He consults for the American Liver Foundation, Parents of Kids with Infectious Disease, the CDC and the NIH.

Philip Rosenthal

He is currently pursuing further research on the latest treatments for hepatitis B and C in the pediatric population as well as genetics and immunology of biliary disease and that use of bioartificial liver support utilizing porcine hepatocytes for patients with fulminant liver failure. Additionally, with liver transplantation becoming a viable option for children in end-stage liver disease, Rosenthal is researching the quality of life following liver transplantation in children. With so many patients now able to return to normal life, providers are left with new questions about long-term care that were not of concern in previous patient populations.

What area of research in hepatology most interests you right now, and why?

As a pediatric hepatologist I have seen the full extent of pediatric liver disease during my career. I have been honored to participate in several of the pediatric NIH sponsored clinical trials and many industry sponsored trials. Currently, I am awed by the success of the new all-oral antiviral therapies for HCV, though as you can see in the recent cover story, none are approved as of yet for the treatment of children.

I hope to continue to help discover new and effective therapies for children suffering from liver disorders.

What advice would you offer a student in medical school today?

I would advise a current medical student to choose an area of medicine that stimulates them, that makes them passionate about their work, and makes them want to dedicate their life to helping people afflicted with a disorder. It is important to make medicine their career and not just a job.

Have you ever been fortunate enough to witness or to have been part of medical history in the making? If so, please explain.

I have seen the discovery of HCV; the poor early therapies that were developed; and now the highly effective and safe therapies approved in adults and being studied in children. It has been very gratifying to me personally to be able to tell a child and his/her family that they are cured of their disease.

What are your hobbies outside of practicing medicine?

I love professional baseball and football. I like the competition, teamwork and individual efforts these sports demand. I love spending time with my family and friends hiking and exploring what nature has to offer in the beautiful surroundings of Northern California and beyond around the globe.

Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

M. Michael Thaler, MD, MA, who accepted me into the NIH funded Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship training program at UCSF and has remained my mentor and friend these many years. His support and encouragement have aided me in my pursuit of helping my patients in need. And I must acknowledge my wife and family who have remained my biggest cheerleaders throughout my journey in pediatric hepatology.