BIO

Michelle Barnett is a highly experienced physician assistant specializing in patient-focused and evidence-based hepatology at Peak Gastroenterology Associates in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The most rewarding part of her position includes educating patients and collaborating with other GI advanced practice providers to enhance care for the growing MASLD/MASH population. She is now a subinvestigtor for hepatology clinical trials with Peak in Colorado Springs. With over 30 years in the GI and liver communities, she has held leadership roles, including serving as President of the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA) and receiving CAPA's Physician Assistant of the Year award. She is a national speaker and has given lectures for the AAPA, GHAPP and AANP.

A graduate of Wichita State University and the University of Nebraska, Michelle has been recognized with the DFAAPA distinction and honors such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation's IBD internship and the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders Ally Award. Passionate about holistic care, she incorporates lifestyle strategies like nutrition, yoga, and meditation into her practice.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys hiking, travel, musical theater, and supporting her favorite Colorado sports teams.

MASLD-MASH Content Featuring Michelle

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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