Alumnus Dr. Edward Mena, M.D., ’94, Medical Director of the Pasadena Liver Center—a multi-disciplinary treatment facility—and founder of the California Liver Research Institute (CLRI), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing liver disease treatments and cures, has been named the recipient of the Leadership Visionary Award by the Liver Health Foundation.
A global leader in hepatology, Mena manages 50% of all liver-related medical cases in California and has built a reputation for providing world-class care to both inpatient and outpatient populations since 2003. He is also recognized for his significant contributions to minority groups.
Mena will be honored on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the “Salute to Excellence in Liver Care” celebration at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood.
This spring, Mena returned to UCLA to give an inspiring talk at the department’s Careers in Chemistry & Biochemistry class.
Mena earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from UCLA in 1994, and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine. After completing his residency at White Memorial Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident, he pursued a fellowship at USC Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Inspired by two pioneering physicians at USC’s world-renowned liver unit, Mena developed a passion for liver disease and committed himself to this vital field. He later returned to USC to complete his Master of Business Administration, which blended his entrepreneurial spirit with essential financial and interpersonal skills to secure effective partnerships with his team, patients, and potential investors.
Building on his commitment to patient care, Mena spearheaded the establishment of the California Liver Research Institute (CLRI) in 2016. This nonprofit focuses on advancing the treatment and management of liver diseases, conducting clinical studies to enhance understanding and develop novel interventions, with over 80 clinical trials completed to date. CLRI welcomes volunteers to participate in expanding knowledge about liver diseases, treatments, and the efficacy of new medications.
Mena has established a professional network with prominent liver disease specialists in the Los Angeles area, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and USC Keck Medicine, to establish evolutionary outpatient treatment centers to manage liver cancer and liver transplant cases.
“We are immensely proud of Dr. Edward Mena and his visionary leadership in hepatology and unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare,” said UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Chair Professor Alex Spokoyny. “His dedication to underserved communities and groundbreaking research continues to inspire us all.”
Mena actively conducts outreach to promote liver disease education worldwide. In the U.S., he leverages the influence of Latino leaders and celebrities to engage audiences at health fairs and as a keynote speaker on topics such as fatty liver disease and liver cancer. In the Los Angeles area, he leads efforts to educate underserved Latino communities, offering on-site Transient Elastography screenings—an innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tool that has replaced painful biopsies and provides immediate results. He also plans to resume annual missions to Nicaragua, which were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with the region’s only liver surgeon to enhance liver disease awareness and patient care. As part of this initiative, Mena will donate a Transient Elastography device to ensure effective diagnostic procedures in Nicaragua.
With a deep connection to the Latino community—a traditionally underserved group in healthcare—Mena comes from a proud immigrant family. His grandmother’s medical struggles in Nicaragua inspired him to pursue a medical career focused on patient-centered care.
A tireless advocate for advancements in the treatment and cure of liver diseases, Mena is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, which are critical for reaching underserved global populations and improving access to care and representation in clinical trials.
Through his years of practice and dedication, Mena has made significant contributions to his field. He received the Hispanic Health Leadership Award from the National Hispanic Health Foundation in 2019, was honored with the Healthcare Visionary Award from the American Liver Foundation in 2020, and was appointed as a Fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) that same year.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penny@chem.ucla.edu.
