The History of Liver Diseases at Mount Sinai

The foundations of Mount Sinai's worldwide reputation in treating liver diseases began in the late 1950s with the establishment of the Division of Liver Disease. Soon after, Hepatology became recognized as a separate specialty in U.S. medicine, with Mount Sinai taking the lead.

Some of the Division's key research findings have included the identification of the causes, symptoms, and management of cholestasis; recognition that liver fibrosis leads to cirrhosis of the liver; understanding the nature of chronic viral infections of the liver, and the natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Historically, these landmark contributions have all been made by caring physicians with keen intellects, laboratory microscopes, and an unswerving dedication to relieving the suffering of patients with liver disease.

In the relatively early period in the history of hepatology, physicians at Mount Sinai developed and used special stains to enhance the diagnostic power of light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

As far back as the 1950s, the multi-departmental effort was already in place, involving hepatologists, surgeons, pathologists, anatomists, and clinical chemists. The driving force behind many of these developments for more than thirty years came from the joint efforts of Professor Hans Popper in Pathology and Professor Fenton Schaffner, his friend and colleague, who held joint Professorships in both Medicine and Pathology. Dr. Popper was also a founding member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. He is frequently referred to as the father of modern Hepatology.