Faculty spotlight: Anne Larson
Dr. Anne Larson is nationally recognized for her expertise in hepatology, liver transplantation, and liver cancer and has made significant contributions to medical education, clinical practice, and research.
Larson's academic journey started at the University of Washington (UW), where she completed her bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1987 and earned her medical degree with honors in 1991. Following her residency at UW, she completed a clinical fellowship in gastroenterology at UCSD before returning to the UW for a senior fellowship in transplant hepatology. She joined the UW faculty as an acting instructor in 1997.
She also held leadership positions at the University of Texas Southwestern (Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at the University of Texas Southwestern) and Swedish Health Services in Seattle (Medical Director of the Liver Transplant and Liver Center.)
Since 2016, she has served as a clinical professor and director of the Northwest Hospital Hepatology Clinic at the UW Medical Center.
"She is simply a wonderful colleague," said Division Head Dr. Rotonya Carr. "She is so passionate about the medical mission and sets the bar high for what medical care should look like. She works incredibly hard to ensure our practices thrive and is selfless in all that she does. She rarely talks about her own accomplishments despite her notable career and journey. She is also such fun to be around. Her dry humor is unmatched! We are all already missing her."
Researcher
A prolific researcher and lecturer, Larson has contributed numerous peer-reviewed publications to the field of hepatology. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (FAASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGAF), and the American College of Physicians (FACP), and a member of the American Society of Transplantation, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American Society of Transplantation.
She has been involved in numerous NIH-funded studies and has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Her work on acute liver failure, hepatitis C, and liver transplantation is widely recognized. She has also contributed to several textbooks and clinical guidelines, including the American College of Gastroenterology's guidelines for acute liver failure.
Her excellence has been acknowledged through various awards, including membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and recognition in Marquis Who’s Who of American Women. She has received multiple Certificates of Appreciation for her service excellence.
Patient care
Perhaps above all, she is deeply committed to patient care and highly collaborative in her approach to managing patients. She believes in building long-term relationships with her patients to enhance their health outcomes.
Colleague testimonials:
Anne is the UW pioneer establishing the Hepatology Clinic and paving the way for subsequent expansion of all GI services...She dedicated her career to providing the highest quality of care to patients with liver disease. She has built up transplant programs and outreach clinics from the ground up; she is so humble despite her achievements...I have not met a single patient she cared for who did not miss her...Her patients still sing her praises more than a decade after she took care of them, because her dedication to them is so appreciated."
From one of her patients:
"Dr. Larson has always been fantastic at listening to any concerns or complaints and has always gone to the ends of the earth to provide me with the best answers and the most practical solutions to any problems. Her care and concern are absolutely irreplaceable and I couldn’t ask for a better doctor given her credentials, understanding, and ability to make any information or suggestions about my care relatable to me and something anyone can understand in moments. Hands down the best doctor I’ve ever seen, period."
Educator
Complementing her clinical acumen is her incredible ability to educate and mentor trainees and colleagues in hepatology. She has taught numerous courses at UW and other institutions, and has mentored many medical students, residents, fellows, and APPs-- guiding them all in their careers and research endeavors.
Some testimonials from her colleagues:
"Anne has always been approachable, kind, and a clinical role model throughout my training years as a fellow and now as a junior faculty member. She has had a big, positive impact on my UW experience and is one reason why I chose to stay.
There wasn't an attending who was more patient than Anne, and more willing to spend so much time providing formal and informal teaching...I and so many others have learned so much from her, and now we get to use her slides sets to teach future generations...While on call, I will frequently have outside providers inquire about whether Anne is still practicing and then comment on the impact she had on their training while at UW."
Legacy
Larson's legacy in hepatology and medical education will continue to inspire future generations. Her dedication, leadership, and contributions to the field have left an indelible mark on the medical community.
Her career is a testament to her commitment to advancing medical knowledge, improving patient care, and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her retirement marks the end of an era but also the beginning of a lasting legacy.
More colleague testimonials:
"The impact of her dedication to not just the field of hepatology, but to those who surround her, is evident. Her legacy will carry on not only within UW NW hepatology, but within the long list of physicians who have had the privilege to train under her...We are very lucky to have had such a strong and supportive female role model in hepatology."