Avash Kalra, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine-Gastroenterology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (2012)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, Cornell University (NY) (2005)
Internship
  • University of Colorado (2013)
Residency
  • University of Colorado, Chief Resident, Internal Medicine (2015)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado, Gastroenterology (2018)
  • University of Colorado, Transplant Hepatology (2019)
Languages
English
Department
Medicine-Gastroenterology

Professional Titles

  • Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Director of Liver Transplant Outreach and Strategic Development, Colorado Center for Transplantation, Care, Research and Education

Recognitions

  • Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, Gold Foundation (2015)

Publications

  • Baur JA, Pearson KJ, Price NL, Jamieson HA, Lerin C, Kalra A, Prabhu VV, Allard JS, Lopez-Lluch G, Lewis K, Pistell PJ, Poosala S, Becker KG, Boss O, Gwinn D, Wang M, Ramaswamy S, Fishbein KW, Spencer RG, Lakatta EG, Le Couteur D, Shaw RJ, Navas P, Puigserver P, Ingram DK, de Cabo R, Sinclair DA. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006 Nov 16;444(7117):337-42. PubMed PMID: 17086191
  • Zou S, Sinclair J, Wilson MA, Carey JR, Liedo P, Oropeza A, Kalra A, de Cabo R, Ingram DK, Longo DL, Wolkow CA. Comparative approaches to facilitate the discovery of prolongevity interventions: effects of tocopherols on lifespan of three invertebrate species. Mech Ageing Dev. 2007 Feb;128(2):222-6. PubMed PMID: 17169403
  • Kersh AE, Hartzler LK, Havlin K, Hubbell BB, Nanagas V, Kalra A, Chua J, Whitesell R, Ritucci NA, Dean JB, Putnam RW. pH regulating transporters in neurons from various chemosensitive brainstem regions in neonatal rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009 Nov;297(5):R1409-20. PubMed PMID: 19710385
  • Blackstone MM, Wiebe DJ, Mollen CJ, Kalra A, Fein JA. Feasibility of an interactive voice response tool for adolescent assault victims. Acad Emerg Med. 2009 Oct;16(10):956-62. PubMed PMID: 19799571
  • Merrill SP, Reynolds P, Kalra A, Biehl J, Vandivier RW, Mueller SW. Early administration of infliximab for severe ipilimumab-related diarrhea in a critically ill patient. Ann Pharmacother. 2014 Jun;48(6):806-10. PubMed PMID: 24651165
  • Kalra A, Wedd JP, Biggins SW. Changing prioritization for transplantation: MELD-Na, hepatocellular carcinoma exceptions, and more. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2016 Apr;21(2):120-6. PubMed PMID: 26825358
  • Kalra A, Wedd JP, Bambha KM, Gralla J, Golden-Mason L, Collins C, Rosen HR, Biggins SW. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio correlates with proinflammatory neutrophils and predicts death in low model for end-stage liver disease patients with cirrhosis. Liver Transpl. 2017 Feb;23(2):155-165. PubMed PMID: 28006875
  • Kalra A, Burton JR Jr, Forman LM. Pro: Steroids Can Be Withdrawn After Transplant in Recipients With Autoimmune Hepatitis. Liver Transpl. 2018 Aug;24(8):1109-1112. PubMed PMID: 29923302
  • Kalra A, Biggins SW. New paradigms for organ allocation and distribution in liver transplantation. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2018 May;34(3):123-131. PubMed PMID: 29465430
  • Kalra A, Kriss M, Francis P, Norvell JP. CON: Patients of Advanced Age Should Not Routinely Undergo Liver Transplantation. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2019 Aug;14(2):70-73. PubMed PMID: 31508224
  • Bryant A, Kalra A, Truesdale A, Pyle L, Martinez-Camacho A. Favorable Sustained Virologic Response Rates Using Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapies at a Large Safety-Net Hospital. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2020;31(3):1213-1227. PubMed PMID: 33416690
  • Kalra A, Norvell JP. Cause for Confusion: Noncirrhotic Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2020 Jun;15(6):223-227. PubMed PMID: 32617154
  • Mohan R, Kalra A. Nutrition, frailty assessment, and interventions for the liver transplant candidate. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2023 Jul;22(1):23-28. PubMed PMID: 37521183
  • Sugawara T, Franco SR, Ishida J, Kalra A, Saben JL, Gálvez KN, Kirsch MJ, Al-Musawi MH, Kaplan B, Pomfret EA, Schulick RD, Del Chiaro M. Prevalence and progression of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review. Am J Transplant. 2023 Mar;23(3):429-436. PubMed PMID: 36695699

Professional Memberships

  • American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Hepatology Clinic - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
7th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2280

UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

UCHealth Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Transplant Hepatology, Board Certification (2020)
  • Gastroenterology, Board Certification (2019)
  • Internal Medicine, Board Certification (2015)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Organ Transplant - Liver transplant
  • Organ Transplant
Clinical Interests
My clinical interests include liver transplantation, hepatocellular carcinoma, living donor liver transplantation, and management of acute and chronic liver diseases (including viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, cholestatic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).

Care Philosophy
I am a transplant hepatologist, and I strive to care for patients with liver disease in a compassionate and detail-oriented manner. Furthermore, I believe in multidisciplinary care, and I work closely with primary care physicians, radiologists, surgeons, and others to optimize patient care. I hold active medical licenses in Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming.

Public Speaking
Yes