Robert John Fontana, MD

 fontana-robert
Professor of Internal Medicine
Program Director of Fellowship, Transplant Hepatology, Medical School
Email:
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Robert John Fontana, MD
fontana-robert
Professor
  • Qualifications
  • Recent Publications

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    • Qualifications
    • Fellow, Gastroenterology
      University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
      1992 - 1995
    • Chief Medical Resident
      St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
      1991 - 1992
    • Residency, Internal Medicine
      Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
      1988 - 1991
    • B.S. Chemistry
      Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
      1980 - 1984

    Recent Publications

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    • Journal Article
      Reply
      Fontana RJ, Likhitsup A. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2026 Oct 1; 24 (10): 2893 - 2894. DOI:10.1016/j.cgh.2026.01.003
      PMID: 41544835
    • Preprint
      Macrophage-CD8+ T Cell Spatial Coupling Defines an Innate-Adaptive Injury Niche in Human Checkpoint Inhibitor Hepatotoxicity.
      Bogdanov JM, Zhao N, Alavifard H, Kleiner DE, Fontana RJ, Stolz AA, Merchant A, Sexton JZ, Dara L. 2026 Sep 12; DOI:10.64898/2026.08.18.26360744
      PMID: 42818881
    • Journal Article
      Liver biopsy findings and clinical correlates in immune-mediated liver injury from checkpoint inhibitors
      Meunier L, Kleiner DE, Riviere B, Barnhart H, Kamusiime R, Chen VL, Larrey D, Fontana RJ. Hepatology Communications, 2026 Aug 1; 10 (8): DOI:10.1097/HC9.0000000000000988
      PMID: 42486793
    • Journal Article
      The contemporary epidemiology, causes, and management of drug-induced liver injury
      Swanson L, Fontana RJ. Hepatology Communications, 2026 Aug 1; 10 (8): DOI:10.1097/HC9.0000000000001011
      PMID: 42475234
    • Journal Article
      The DILI-Inpt Prognostic Score to Identify Hospitalized Idiosyncratic DILI Patients at Risk for Adverse Outcomes
      Likhitsup A, Su Z, Rule JA, Anouti A, Rao A, Rostami H, Durkalski-Mauldin V, Lee WM, Fontana RJ. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2026 Jul 1; 24 (7): 1867 - 1876. DOI:10.1016/j.cgh.2025.11.004
      PMID: 41270879
    • Journal Article
      Hepatic adenomatosis leading to liver failure and symptomatic extrinsic cardiac compression treated with liver transplantation: a case report and literature review
      Robert A, Bhave N, Christensen J, Sheetz K, Tomm N, Fontana RJ. Frontiers in Transplantation, 2026 Jun 1; 5: DOI:10.3389/frtra.2026.1810971
    • Journal Article
      AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Evaluation and Management of Metabolic Dysfunction– and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Expert Review
      Arab JP, Malhi H, Winder GS, Fontana RJ. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2026 Jan 1; DOI:10.1016/j.cgh.2026.07.027
      PMID: 42776095
    • Journal Article
      Clinical and HLA Associations of Fluoroquinolone-Induced Liver Injury: Results From the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network
      Ahmad J, Dellinger A, Nicoletti P, Barnhart HX, Ghabril M, Fontana RJ, Navarro V, Choi G, Hayashi PH, Gu J, Kleiner D. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2026 Jan 1; 121 (1): 151 - 158. DOI:10.14309/ajg.0000000000003457
      PMID: 40207808

    Featured News & Stories

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    Health Lab

    Evolving causes, diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury

    The causes of drug-induced liver injury have evolved over the last 20 years, according to a review in Hepatology Communications.
         see through human body in blue on black background with organ lit up red
    Health Lab

    What to know about a benign liver cyst on your imaging results

    Abdominal imaging may sometimes mark an alarming “benign-appearing cyst” on the liver, but a Michigan Medicine expert explains why many times you don't need to worry.
         pills in hand with pill bottles open
    Health Lab

    New metric better predicts which drug-induced liver injury patients require transplant

    Study finds the DILI-Inpt prognostic score outperformed existing systems in identifying which hospitalized patients with severe idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury were unlikely to recover on their own.
         liver
    Department News

    CME Event - 28th Annual Liver Disease Wrap-Up

    Join us for the 28th Annual Liver Disease Wrap-Up, taking place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 8:00am - 12:15 pm at the Detroit Marriott Livonia, Livonia, MI.
         27th Annual Liver Disease Wrap-Up
    Department News

    27th Annual Liver Disease Wrap-Up

    Join us for the 27th Annual Liver Disease Wrap-Up conference taking place on Saturday, December 7, 2024
         hands holding syringe white
    Health Lab

    How do GLP-1 weight loss drugs affect the liver?

    Glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, receptor agonists, that aid in weight loss, are now being investigated for their ability to help other patients, including those with liver disease. However, a research letter discusses the first known case of hepatitis and jaundice in a patient taking these drugs.