Sonal Kumar, MD MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine @WeillCornell / Director of Clinical Hepatology / @WUSTL, @WUSTLmed, and @HarvardChanSPH Alum /Views are my own

[Weill Cornell Medicine GI & Hepatology @WCM_GI]

Big congrats! 🎉

@CastleConnolly has named six of our gastroenterologists as 2026 Top Doctors--top 7% of physicians nationwide!

👏 Dr. @FeliceSchnoll, Dr. Ellen Scherl, Dr. Ravi Sharaf, @drbobbybrown, @SonalKumarMD, & Dr. Susan Lucak

https://t.co/Rl3SaXxsPz

@WCMDeptofMed

[Beverly G. Tchang, MD @BevTchangMD]

@NEJM just dropped a concise but comprehensive review of #MASLD 👉 https://t.co/z5IwyONpU1

❤️ Fig 3 flowchart that uses FIB-4 screening with a second step that can be diagnostic OR "theranostic" (#GLP1) before GI referral @SonalKumarMD

Also ❤️ a very nicely composed Fig 4 of the evidence based #NuSH agents for #obesity and #MASH

⭐️ I'm looking forward to semaglutide to be the first of its class to have a MASH indication https://t.co/BNLfxJwvop @betelm

#livertwitter

[Medscape Gastro @MedscapeGastro]

PBC patients are highly informed, and @SonalKumarMD credits their active participation in their own care! They don't like one size fits all, and have embraced more tailored risk assessments, treatments goals, and management.

Learn the latest for PBC! ➡️ https://t.co/VvLYfZLsRb

[Beverly G. Tchang, MD @BevTchangMD]

Key learning point from @SonalKumarMD @WeillCornell #hepatology #livertwitter at #CCOM2025
👉Liver enzymes do not matter
👉Normal enzyme levels could have cirrhosis
👉Elevated enzyme levels could have no fibrosis

[Sonal Kumar, MD MPH @SonalKumarMD]

We are so excited to have you!

[Melina Manolas, MD, MPH @melina_manolas]

Thrilled to share that I’ve officially accepted a position to join endocrinology faculty at @WeillCornell!

Also very excited to join @SonalKumarMD & her amazing ICHANGE clinic team in advancing care for metabolic liver disease...truly a dream job come true for this #MASLD nerd!

[Naim Alkhouri @AlkhouriNaim]

Proud of my friend @AlinaAllenMD for presenting the MASLD debrief. Exciting data on genetics/ phenotyping/ GLP1 RAs/ and of course new therapeutics:)) @LuisAntonioDiaz @ebtapper @NoureddinMD @SonalKumarMD @MadrigalPharma @akerotx @LiverArizona @FattyLiverA

[Sonal Kumar, MD MPH @SonalKumarMD]

@melina_manolas @NoureddinMD @JVLazarus @scottisaacsmd @AASLDtweets Agree with @NoureddinMD - so happy to have you here!

[Sumeet Asrani @AsraniSumeet]

@BrettEFortuneMD @SonalKumarMD @serperm first successful meeting of the ILS consortium in the books! Thanks for the great input.

[Violeta Popov, MD PhD @PopovVioleta]

#DDW2024 💡 Join us in room 202B to hear about #multidisciplinary management of #MASLD #obesity @SonalKumarMD with an excellent talk on new #GLP-1 #ozempic in MASLD. I am next: #Endobariatrics!

[FattyLiverAlliance @FattyLiverA]

Thank you to @SonalKumarMD, @NoureddinMD, @supriyajoshiMD, @JonathanStineMD, Nadege Gunn, @Mayo_liverdoc, @AlkhouriNaim, @marurinella, @schattenbergJ , @SagiZelber and @JVLazarus for generously spending time with @betelm and @FattyLiverA creating this series of 10 patient focused videos about MASLD and MASH.

To healthcare professionals and industry: Please share these valuable resources with patients so they can benefit.

To patients and their families: These videos were made for you and include the latest fatty liver disease (MASLD/MASH) updates from international experts.

Thank you @MadrigalPharma and @Regeneron for helping to make this video series a reality.

Link to all 10 videos: https://t.co/1suu6ahlWu

@CDCgov @WHO @CIHR_IRSC @CASLupdates @CanNASHNetwork @GiadaSebastiani @livernp1 @MarkDonnison @PG59 #liverX #livertwitter @surfing_MASH @Echosens @MedscapeCME @Medscape @novonordisk @LiverScanDirect @LiverArizona @Summit

[Sonal Kumar, MD MPH @SonalKumarMD]

“It’s not what you do, it’s how you make people feel”

So lucky to have @MarkPochapin speak at @WCM_GI Grand Rounds during colon cancer awareness month

[Sonal Kumar, MD MPH @SonalKumarMD]

Thanks for a great discussion @FattyLiverA

[FattyLiverAlliance @FattyLiverA]

Thank you @SonalKumarMD, for the great presentation and discussion today at the @AASLDtweets (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) Brief Recap: "Targeting the Metabolic Mechanisms of MASLD and MASH".

Here are a few key take-aways:

1. Progression and Management of MASLD/MASH: About 20% of individuals with MASLD progress to MASH, and of those, 20% may advance to cirrhosis within 10 years. Early intervention can significantly impact long-term outcomes by focusing on weight loss, managing cardiovascular risk factors (like hypertension, dyslipidemia), and employing liver-directed treatments to potentially reverse fibrosis stages before they advance to cirrhosis.

2. Importance of Weight Loss: Significant weight loss (ideally 10% or more) can lead to improvements in steatosis, inflammation, MASH resolution, and fibrosis regression. Lifestyle modifications, although challenging to maintain, are crucial, and pharmacotherapy may aid in achieving desired weight loss goals.

3. Utilization of Non-Invasive Assessments: The FIB-4 score is recommended for primary risk assessment of fatty liver disease, with additional non-invasive methods like transient elastography and MRI-based assessments, with alternative options now available, including FAST score, MAST score, MeFib score, and CT1, providing valuable information for further stratification and management decisions.

4. Pharmacotherapy and Treatment Approaches: While there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for MASH (hopefully approved very shortly), certain medications used for comorbid conditions (such as pioglitazone for type 2 diabetes and GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management) may offer benefits for MASH patients. Collaboration with Endocrinologists and other healthcare providers (Nutritionists and Cardiologists) is essential to optimize and coordinate treatment plans.

5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Effective management of MASH requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating care from Hepatologists, Endocrinologists, Dietitians, and possibly surgeons (for patients considering bariatric surgery). Sharing a cohesive management plan across different healthcare providers ensures comprehensive care addressing all facets of the patient's condition.

Today's recap and discussion emphasize the complexity of MASH management, the critical role of weight management, the value of non-invasive diagnostic tools, the potential benefits of certain pharmacotherapies, and the importance of a collaborative approach in patient care.

@AASLDtweets @CASLupdates @GlobalLiver @LiverNurseCA @ObesityMatters @EASLnews #liverTwitter #liverX

[Naim Alkhouri @AlkhouriNaim]

So happy for my dear friend @JVLazarus for winning this prestigious award from the @ALFMidAtlantic . @AASLDFoundation @AlinaAllenMD @AleksanderKrag @NoureddinMD @liver4kids @juanpabloarab @SonalKumarMD @EASLedu @LiverArizona

[FattyLiverAlliance @FattyLiverA]

Not all Apps are Created Equally! @AlkhouriNaim and Sonal Kumar lead a great discussion today at #tlm23 @AASLDtweets.

Dr. Alkouri shared: Three tiers:
- NOOM. Available online for patient support.
- Aspyre Rx. Through insurance. “The next frontier in digital therapeutics.” “About $750 for 90 days of access”. “Patients in late 40s and early 50s do the best.”
- Digital Platform. “How are we going to manage 90 million potential patients and 70 Hepatologists?” “Maybe we need to plainly more sophistaced AI algorithms and apply machine learning.” “Identify pts and link to care and arrange digital support, see it’s and assess and decide what therapy is needed.” Worked with ‘Liver Healthy’ in Dr. Alkhouri’s clinic.

Sonal Kumar shared: “I tell my patients to use My Fitness Pal or Lose It”, if they cannot afford the more intensive and expensive options.

[FattyLiverAlliance @FattyLiverA]

Targeting the Metabolic Mechanisms of Disease: Are We Getting Closer? @SonalKumarMD shares lots of insights tonight at #tlm23 @AASLDtweets

- projections 2015-2030 more prevalent in advanced liver disease group

MASLD and CVD are:
• Manifestations of end-organ damage in metabolic syndrome
• Associated through multiple
pathophysiological mechanisms including:
• Systemic inflammation
• Endothelial dysfunction
• Hepatic insulin resistance
• Oxidative stress
• Altered lipid metabolism

- only 1.85% are actually diagnosed with MASLD even though expected prevalence is 20%-30%

- once patients develop MASLD about 20% progress to MASH and progress to fibrosis in 3 years.

- why manage MASH? Control obesity, reduce CVD risk, target MASH/fibrosis.

Summary and Conclusions:

MASLD is a chronic, multisystem metabolic disease closely linked to obesity and T2D

There is a need for effective therapeutic strategies to halt or reverse MASLD progression

Targeting metabolic disease pathways has the potential to improve outcomes for people with MASLD/MASH

There are currently no pharmacotherapies specifically approved for MASLD/MASH; some agents are under FDA review

Multidisciplinary care is associated with improved outcomes

[Institute for Medical and Nursing Education (IMNE) @IMNEforCME]

Sign up for our interactive #CME symposium on #MASLD and #MASH: Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 7:30pm at Boston Marriott Copley Place. Including “What Would You Do?” Challenge yourself to make clinical decisions for the management of MASLD/MASH! #TLM23 https://t.co/vm6UYcKs6Q

[Carolyn Newberry MD @CNewberryMD]

What is the role of #IntermittentFasting in #MASLD

Tackled this❓in our review and meta-analysis @TatyanaKushner @sonalkumar29

👉🏻 14 studies, 840 pts
👉🏻 ➕in body wt, BMI, waist-to-hip
👉🏻 ➕in AST/ALT, liver steatosis/stiffness

@HepCommJournal

https://t.co/AWfsDihtZD

[Elliot Tapper @ebtapper]

Intermittent fasting and the liver

Open access: https://t.co/1BtiIlYS1o

@TatyanaKushner @SonalKumarMD in @HepCommJournal

[Daniel Huang @DrHuangDQ]

How does diabetes influence outcomes in NAFLD?

▶️>2000 participants with NAFLD characterized by MR elastography

DM a/w ⬆️risk of decompensation and #HCC

❗️Independent of baseline liver stiffness

New data @_NAFLDResearch @DrLoomba

@LancetGastroHep

https://t.co/ryC7nkRIjV

[Iridium Continuing Education @IridiumContEd]

🆓 #CME Broadcast w/@IridiumContEd & @GiJournal - 👋 @KowdleyMd @SonalKumarMD & @rajVuppaLanchi - 🗣️#PBC patho and s/sx - CME ℹ️: https://t.co/emToEmgCsN - Supported by an independent educational grant from @InterceptPharma https://t.co/XzmSKgVS5w