Mary Rinella

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Mary E. Rinella, MD

Professor of Medicine Director, Metabolic and Fatty Liver Disease

25 Insurance Plans Accepted
Mary Rinella, MD, is a board-certified transplant hepatolgist with 20 years of experience treating patients with complex liver disease. Dr. Rinella is an expert in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States. In some people, fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure, but if caught early, can be preventable. As part of our metabolic and fatty liver diseases program, Dr. Rinella provides comprehensive liver disease assessment and treatment, including nutritional intervention, the use of medications, endoscopy and clinical trials to deliver the most advanced treatment options. 

While she has experience in treating all types of liver disease, in addition to NAFLD, Dr. Rinella also has extensive interest and experience in the treatment of autoimmune and biliary liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

As part of her approach to care for liver disease patients, Dr. Rinella is passionate about using research to advance medicine. She has investigated a broad range of topics within NAFLD, including the use of non-invasive measures to minimize the use of liver biopsy, NAFLD before and after liver transplantation and the study of new therapies to treat NAFLD, since there is still no FDA approved treatment. Dr. Rinella has published nearly 150 peer-review articles in prestigious journals, such as Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The Lancet and more.

Along with her clinical expertise and research accolades, Dr. Rinella is also dedicated to teaching residents and fellows, providing guidance and mentorship throughout their medical careers.

Specialties

Areas of Expertise

Board Certifications

  • Transplant Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • Mexican Hepatology Association
  • American Gastroenterological Association
  • International Liver Transplantation Society
  • American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • American College of Gastroenterology

Practicing Since

  • 2002

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish
  • French

Medical Education

  • University of Illinois College of Medicine

Internship

  • University of Chicago Medicine

Residency

  • University of Chicago Medicine

Fellowship

  • Northwestern University Hospital

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

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