Dr. Anna Lok is a preeminent hepatologist and internationally recognized leader in the field of liver diseases with a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades at the University of Michigan. She currently serves as the Alice Lohrman Andrews Research Professor of Hepatology and Director of the Hepatology Program at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she also holds the position of Assistant Dean for Clinical Research. Dr. Lok graduated from the University of Hong Kong Medical School and completed her specialized hepatology training under Dame Sheila Sherlock at the Royal Free Hospital in London, establishing a robust foundation for her expertise in liver disorders. She served on the faculty at the University of Hong Kong before relocating to the United States in 1992, joining the University of Michigan in 1995 where she has since developed one of the nation's most respected hepatology research and clinical programs.
Dr. Lok's seminal research has profoundly advanced the understanding and management of hepatitis B and C, with her work encompassing natural history studies, therapeutic innovations, and prevention strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma. She has authored more than 600 scholarly publications that have shaped clinical practice globally, including every edition of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidelines on hepatitis B and the inaugural World Health Organization guidelines on hepatitis B and C. Her systematic investigations into non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression have provided critical insights for risk stratification and management of this increasingly prevalent condition. The widespread clinical impact of her research is evidenced by improved patient outcomes worldwide, with her evidence-based approaches becoming the standard of care for millions of patients with viral hepatitis and liver disease.
Beyond her research achievements, Dr. Lok has been instrumental in advancing hepatology through leadership positions including serving as President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in 2017 and holding editorial roles at premier journals such as HEPATOLOGY and GASTROENTEROLOGY. She has mentored more than 50 fellows and junior faculty from around the world, many of whom have become leaders in hepatology and directors of liver programs at major institutions. Her numerous prestigious accolades including the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Distinguished Service Award from the AASLD, and the William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology reflect the profound impact of her contributions to medicine. Dr. Lok continues to lead innovative research initiatives focused on optimizing hepatitis treatment strategies and improving early detection methods for liver cancer, ensuring her enduring influence on the future of hepatology and global liver health.
