Our Team
Our dedicated team comprises a dynamic blend of diverse individuals united in their commitment to combat liver disease. Their collaborative efforts are instrumental in shaping a future where liver health is at the forefront of medical dialogue, ensuring a lasting impact on communities and individuals alike. Together, they form the backbone of our relentless pursuit of wellness and education in liver disease management.
Gina Villiotti Madison, with two decades in business, has led in marketing, public relations, and more, earning Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2015. Formerly at PNC, she's now Executive Director of Liver Education Advocates and a Penn State graduate.
Villiotti founded NASH kNOWledge (now Liver Education Advocates) after his experience with liver disease and a liver transplant, aiming to guide others through similar challenges. Tony is a retired financial executive. He currently serves as a Patient Ambassador for the Foundation for the Institutes of Health, is a member of the Southern California Center for Latino Health's Community Advisory Board and serves on the External Advisory Board on certain projects for the University of Pittsburgh's Drug Discovery Institute.
Betsy Villiotti, Vice President at NASH kNOWledge, manages the Liver Support Group and offers caregiver insights from her experience. A retired teacher, she still substitutes and volunteers with CORE, holding a degree from Slippery Rock University.
Maria, a marketing and strategy specialist from Latin America, is dedicated to empowering the Latino community through health education and advocacy. Now focused on community-driven initiatives, she collaborates with local and national organizations to raise awareness about fatty liver disease, ensuring culturally relevant outreach that drives meaningful change.
Susan is a certified health coach, patient advocate and liver patient who has harnessed her personal experience into a passionate mission to advocate for liver health. As our Director of Ambassador Engagement and Lifestyle Management, she shares her expertise and unwavering dedication to empower others in optimizing their liver wellness and to increase awareness about the importance of liver care.
In addition to serving as a Medical Advisor to NASH kNOWledge, Dr. Sanchez is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic where he works on liver-related research.
Dr. Ayers, a pediatric hepatologist at UPMC's Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh and Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, is actively involved with NASPGHAN and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Shawn Bannon, Senior VP at Truist Financial, founded Bannon Leadership Consulting and Communications. Formerly, he was Senior VP at PNC Financial Services and held communications roles at Allegheny Conference and Mellon Financial.
Albert Garcia is the Director of Development and Corporate Sponsorships of the Neighborhood Learning Alliance. He is also President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America and Vice President of the Chronic Disease Health Alliance.
Dr. Garcia, an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona. He is the founder and Director of "Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud," a public health program which fosters community-engaged research collaborations, service, and education to advance health equity in Southern Arizona.
Dr. Jerome-Zapadka is board-certified in gastroenterology and obesity medicine and is certified as a Metabolic Health Practitioner. Her clinical practice at Trajectory Health Partners focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and metabolic diseases, particularly MASLD, with the goal of early detection and disease reversal. She co-chairs the Metabolic Task Force at Heritage Valley Health System and is involved with metabolic initiatives at the national level.
Dr. Kardambikis is a dedicated educator and health advocate with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Health Education. Currently serving as the Department Head of Education at Robert Morris University, she brings experience in curriculum development, educational leadership, and health education to her role.
Dr. Martinez is an Associate Professor in the University of Buffalo’s Jacob School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He is the Medical Director – Hepatology at the Erie County Medical Center. He is active in the AASLD and the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation.
Dr. Saab is a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and an adjunct professor of nursing at the UCLA School of Nursing. He is currently the medical director of the UCLA Adult Liver Transplant Program, medical director of the Pfleger Liver Institute, and the chief of Transplant Hepatology. Dr. Saab is also the head of Outcomes Research in Hepatology. He is on board of directors for several liver-oriented foundations.
Sarah Spiegel serves as Director of Development for Riverlife, where she leads fundraising efforts, special events, and strategic initiatives. She has a BA in Communications and an MPPM in Nonprofit Management from the University of Pittsburgh. Sarah brings extensive experience from roles at the University of Pittsburgh, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and various nonprofit boards.
Kam Taitt is the Group Director, US Pharmaceutical Media Partnerships and Content Strategy at Alpha Precision Media in New York. Previously, he was Client Services Director at Revhealth and Senior Vice President at Peregrine Market Access. Kam previously served on our Board in 2019 and 2020.
David Villiotti, founder of Good Steward Accounting, is an alumnus of Carnegie Mellon, University of Pittsburgh, and Penn State. His background spans accounting roles in non-profit, healthcare, oil, gas, sports, and entertainment, with previous positions at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, CONSOL Energy, and Allegheny Health Network.
Receive Our Newsletter
Get helpful information on what’s important to you when choosing your kids pediatrician.