Therese Bittermann, MD, MSCE is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and holds a secondary appointment as Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bittermann’s research focuses on three main themes: the practice of heterogeneity in the care of patients with end-stage liver disease and of those who have undergone liver transplantation, the impact of non-patient factors on treatment decision-making and patient outcomes, and measuring changes in transplant center behaviors in the context of organ allocation policies. She has contributed to the growing evidence base that seeks to improve the U.S. organ allocation system and reduce inequities in patient access to liver transplantation. She has conducted studies that have identified areas of inefficiency in current organ allocation policies, recognized instances of insufficient adherence to policy guidelines, and evaluated the significance of health care resource utilization pre- and post-transplant nationally. She also receives funding to study practice heterogeneity in immunosuppression decision-making in adult and pediatric liver transplant recipients.
Dr. Bittermann received her medical degree from Drexel University. She completed her Internal Medicine residency, and fellowships in Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her primary and secondary faculty appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Bittermann holds research appointments at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
