Our Mission

Our mission is to improve the liver health of the community we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do.

Our Core Values

  • We are dedicated to providing quality patient care. Our patients always come first.

  • We provide patient-centered service by caring for the whole person, considering their history, relationships, culture, and needs.

  • We treat each of our patients with respect and attentiveness.

  • We are compassionate listeners.

  • We use a team approach to providing health care and involve the patient in our team decision-making process. We organize and coordinate health care services to meet the needs of our patients, especially those with complex medical needs.

  • We are here to fight for your medical care.

Meet Dr. Edward Mena

Education

Fellowship, Hepatology, University of Southern California Liver Unit, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center Residency, Internal Medicine, White Memorial Medical Center- Chief resident at White Memorial Medical Center Medical Degree, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Post-Baccalaureate Program, University of California, San Diego Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles.

Research Interests

Hepatitis B and C, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis treatment response to interferon-based therapies in chronic hepatitis C, hepatitis C in the Latino community, hepatitis C epidemiology in Egyptian patients in southern California.

Awards

Hispanic Health Leadership Award 2019 Health Care Visionary Award - American Liver Foundation 2020

Affiliations

USC Transplant Center Cedars-Sinai Transplant Center AASLD – American Association For The Study Of Liver Diseases EASL – European Association For The Study Of The Liver Huntington Memorial Medical Center.

Languages

English and Spanish

Hepatologist and Medical Director of the Pasadena Liver Center
President and CEO of California Liver Research Institute (CLRI)

Dr. Mena’s interests include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adult and pediatric patients, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in response to chronic Hepatitis C and Liver Cancer, and coordinating outreach programs in the Latino, Armenian, and Egyptian communities to understand better the role of Hepatitis B and C and cirrhosis within these populations. Dr. Mena also focuses on managing and curing patients with primary liver cancer.

Meet the Team

  • Iman Jomaa

    PA-C

    Iman Jomaa earned her degree as a Physician Assistant and has worked over nine years in hepatology and four years in primary care and internal medicine. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, with a firm grasp of Spanish. She has worked alongside Dr. Mena at the Pasadena Liver Center, specializing in the treatment of complex liver conditions, including liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis B and C. Her dedication to patient education and advocacy drives her mission to provide high-quality, personalized care that empowers individuals to take charge of their health. Outside of her professional life, Iman cherishes time with her two young sons and her husband, her greatest support and inspiration.

  • Catherine Hill

    Nurse Practitioner

    Catherine McCoy-Hill, DNP, APRN, CCRN, CNS, ANP-C, is an experienced Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice with a career spanning critical care, hepatology, and adult health. She has held key roles in clinical practice and education, including serving as an Assistant Professor at Azusa Pacific University for over 30 years. Catherine has made significant contributions to research and has been published in the fields of hepatology and critical care. Known for her leadership, she mentors new nurses and is dedicated to improving patient care through evidence-based practices and nursing education.

  • Melissa Real

    PA-C

    Melissa Real is a dedicated physician assistant holding a Master of Physician Assistant Practice from USC with a strong foundation in family medicine and addiction medicine. With 3 years of experience, she has successfully managed chronic conditions and alcohol abuse. As a Hispanic healthcare provider fluent in Spanish, she is passionate about providing culturally sensitive care to diverse patient populations. She is deeply committed to patient education and advocacy, ensuring that her patients are well-informed and empowered to make the best decisions for their health.

  • Nour Shahab

    PA-C

    Nour Shahab, PA-C is a devoted Physician Assistant with a masters degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has over six years of experience including a background in both primary care and oncology. She has extensive experience with helping patients navigate their cancer journey from diagnosis to treatment to active surveillance. Nour is passionate about improving health literacy and values patient education. She has a working knowledge of conversational Urdu and Spanish. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her 3 year old son and checking out local coffee shops.