BIO

Sarah Dawkins, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner specializing in general and transplant hepatology at Duke University Medical Center, where she has practiced since 2017. She holds a BS in Biology and a BA in Romance Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Duke University and worked in the Neuroscience ICU at Duke while earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She became a certified family nurse practitioner in 2015 and initially worked in a private gastroenterology practice before joining Duke Gastroenterology.

Her clinical interests include autoimmune liver disease, transplant hepatology and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Sarah currently serves as the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Team Lead for the GI Division at Duke.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, attending fitness classes, cheering on the UNC Tar Heels, and spending time with her three young children and their orange cat, Zeus.

MASLD-MASH Content Featuring Sarah

Related Content

Serological Workup: A Step-by-Step Guide

July 2025

In this comprehensive video, Sherona Bau, NP from UCLA, breaks down the essential hepatology workup for patients with MASLD (formerly NAFLD) and MASH, offering guidance for both primary care providers and GI/hepatology specialists. Drawing from her extensive clinical experience, she outlines a systematic approach to evaluating abnormal liver ultrasound findings—starting with critical labs to rule out chronic liver conditions like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, PBC, and hereditary hemochromatosis. Sherona discusses the importance of ordering ANA, AMA, ferritin, serologies, and even specialized labs like the phosphatidylethanol (PEth) test to uncover alcohol-related liver disease that may be overlooked. She emphasizes the need to screen for cardiometabolic risk factors including type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia and highlights non-invasive tests such as FibroScan and FIB-4 to help identify patients at risk of advanced fibrosis who may benefit from specialist referral. Most importantly, Sherona addresses the fears many patients face around liver disease progression and life expectancy, encouraging early intervention and coordinated care to improve long-term outcomes. This video is a must-watch for any clinician managing steatotic liver disease.

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MASH/MASLD in Type 2 Diabetes: Concurrent Medication Management

July 2025

In this informative episode, Whitney Steinmetz, NP from Presbyterian Medical Group in Albuquerque, NM, explores how to optimize medication strategies for patients with type 2 diabetes who are also living with MASLD and MASH. She discusses why individuals with type 2 diabetes are at significantly higher risk for developing advanced liver fibrosis—highlighting the overlapping metabolic, inflammatory, and insulin-resistant pathways that accelerate liver damage. Whitney breaks down how commonly prescribed diabetes medications—like GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, TZDs, and dual/triple incretins—impact liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis progression. She offers practical guidance on selecting therapies that balance glycemic control with hepatic benefits while minimizing polypharmacy. Learn which medications may offer dual cardiometabolic and hepatic advantages, and which should be avoided or used with caution in patients with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis. Tune in for real-world insights into how advanced practice providers can take ownership of MASH management in diabetes care.

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