Research Spotlight: Comparing the GI Side Effects of Four Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
Researchers found that injectable naltrexone had the fewest reported GI and liver-related side effects compared to the other drugs.
About Wei Zhang, MD, PhD
Wei Zhang, MD, PhD, is a transplant hepatologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He directs MGH's Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD) Clinic and leads the LIFT clinic, one of the first dedicated post-transplant ALD programs. By integrating hepatology, psychiatry, and social work, he ensures that patients receive comprehensive, compassionate care to support their recovery and long-term health.
Originally trained in transplant surgery in China, Dr. Zhang transitioned to internal medicine in the U.S., completing his residency at Saint Louis University, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Florida and a transplant hepatology fellowship at Columbia University. Learning from leaders in hepatology helped shape his patient-centered approach to care. His career is driven by a deep commitment to improving care for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and ALD, both before and after liver transplant.
His research focuses on optimizing care delivery and reducing stigma in liver disease, including his impactful work on stigmatizing language in transplant communications, which has influenced patient-centered care practices. Dr. Zhang has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers in top journals, including NEJM, Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the MGH Gastroenterology Innovation Award, AASLD Emerging Liver Scholar Award, and AASLD Early Career Investigator Award.
At the heart of Dr. Zhang's work is his philosophy: "I don't just treat liver disease - I treat the whole person. My mission isn't simply to extend life, but to ensure every moment is lived with dignity, purpose, and the highest quality possible." This belief shapes his approach to care, ensuring that patients receive not only the best medical treatment but also the mental health and social support they need to live full and meaningful lives.
Treats:
- Adult
Languages:
- Mandarin Chinese
Medical Education
- MD, Nanjing Medical University
- Residency, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- Fellowship, New York Presbyterian Columbia Campus
- Fellowship, University of Florida - Shands Hospital
American Board Certifications
- Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
- Transplant Hepatology, American Board of Internal Medicine
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Dr. Zhang is an exceptional provider.
Provider was extremely caring and professional. Will be my top provider for this specialty. Very impressive.
Excellent service, excellent explanations, a lot of patience and attention to my questions through the interpreter, and assistance all the way to the office with the secretary, who, by the way, if not the best, is certainly one of the best secretaries who attended to me until my last appointment.
Dr. Zhang is THE BEST in every way!!! He's honest, tells you like it is, & listens to everything I say. He understands my down faults & never makes me feel bad about them. He encourages me by talking to me about change in thinking, & making baby steps to improve. Not just lay everything on me at once. I wouldn't succeed like that.
Dr. Wei Zhang is always very thorough with his explanations and care updates. I truly credit him with helping me achieve a level of recovery that affords me a wonderful quality of life. I will forever be grateful to him for the skilled and quality of his care. He is a champion for his patients and truly wants the best for them. His expertise in ... Read More
Hello, Dr. Wei is super professional, very caring, incredible, one of the best doctor that I ever had. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything that you do and how much you care.
Hi, my experience with Dr. Wei and anybody else I saw at that appointment, everything was excellent. I absolutely will come back and always use this doctor, always use this facility. Really perfect for me. Thank you very much.
Dr. Zhang listened to me, and explained my condition in a way I could understand. It was great. He is very knowledgeable.
Yes, I was very happy with my visit with the doctor and the nurse practitioner. It went very well, explained everything very well. And the team down there is excellent. I would recommend it to anybody.
Excellent