Michelle A. Buff
( out of 24 reviews )

Michelle A. Buff, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Primary Children's Hospital

Pediatric Surgery
100 N Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City , UT 84113
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University of Utah Hospital

50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City , UT 84132
801-581-2121
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Michelle Buff, MD, MS, is a board-certified transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon specializing in liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation. Her interests include outcomes in solid organ abdominal transplant, care of the pre- and post-transplant patient advancing the use of the robot within transplant, and advanced hepatobiliary surgery.

Dr. Buff received her MD degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed her general surgery residency at University of Arizona, College of Medicine Tuscon. Dr. Buff then completed the Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Fellowship at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute in Washington D.C.

She currently serves as an assistant professor of surgery in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant & Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery at University of Utah Health.

Dr. Buff's goal is to help her patients feel comfortable and supported during the time of their transplant and to achieve the best possible outcome. She is working in collaboration with her partners to innovate within the field of abdominal transplantation.

In her spare time, Dr. Buff enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband. She especially likes cooking, hiking, traveling, and jogging. After growing up on the East Coast, she is delighted to be so close to the beautiful Utah Wasatch Mountains.

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Surgery

Patient Rating

Patients consistently describe the physician as personable, attentive, and easy to talk to, noting that she listens and involves them in decisions. Commenters praise clear explanations, use of visuals, patience with caregivers, and a reassuring presence before and after procedures. Many also highlight her surgical skill and professionalism, expressing strong confidence and trust in her care.

Generated via Patient Reviews

5.0 /5
( out of 24 reviews )

The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Nov 05, 2024
UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Dr. Buff brought consummate skill and authentic enthusiasm to my care and after-care. Her surgical work was top-shelf and her presence was consistently comforting.

Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Michelle Buff, MD, MS, is a board-certified transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon specializing in liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation. Her interests include outcomes in solid organ abdominal transplant, care of the pre- and post-transplant patient advancing the use of the robot within transplant, and advanced hepatobiliary surgery.

Dr. Buff received her MD degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed her general surgery residency at University of Arizona, College of Medicine Tuscon. Dr. Buff then completed the Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Fellowship at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute in Washington D.C.

She currently serves as an assistant professor of surgery in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant & Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery at University of Utah Health.

Dr. Buff's goal is to help her patients feel comfortable and supported during the time of their transplant and to achieve the best possible outcome. She is working in collaboration with her partners to innovate within the field of abdominal transplantation.

In her spare time, Dr. Buff enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband. She especially likes cooking, hiking, traveling, and jogging. After growing up on the East Coast, she is delighted to be so close to the beautiful Utah Wasatch Mountains.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Surgery -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions Transplant & Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery
Board Certification
American Board of Surgery

Education history

Fellowship Abdominal Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery - MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Fellow
Residency General Surgery - University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Resident
Professional Medical Medicine - Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine M.D.
Graduate Training Physiology - North Carolina State University MOP
Other Training Study Abroad Medical Spanish - Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
Undergraduate Major: Biology; Minor: Chemistry and Spanish - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill B.S.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Yamauchi J, Fornadi K, Raghavan D, Jweehan D, Oygen S, Marineci S, Buff M, Fenlon M, Selim M, Zimmerman M, Molnar MZ (2025). Development of BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy risk prediction in kidney transplant recipients. Ren Fail, 47(1), 2509785.
  2. Nwaduru C, Olsen A, Ovalle LA, Selim M, Buff M, Fenlon M, Zimmerman MA (2025). Challenging the Distance-Morbidity Paradigm Following Liver Transplantation: A Single Center Experience. J Surg Res, 315, 829-838.
  3. Yamauchi J, Cizik AM, Fornadi K, Thomas D, Raghavan D, Jweehan D, Oygen S, Marineci S, Buff M, Selim M, Zimmerman M, Mucsi I, Molnar MZ (2025). Associations of Pretransplant Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Score With Kidney Transplant Outcomes. Transpl Int, 38, 13884.
  4. Nwaduru C, Baker E, Buff M, Selim M, Ovalle LA, Baker TB, Zimmerman MA (2024). Assessing Liver Viability: Insights From Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Transplant Proc, 56(1), 228-235.

Review

  1. Nwaduru C, Anyagwa OE, Fenlon M, Buff M, Selim M, Botha J, Kastenberg Z, Zimmerman M (2026). Purinergic signaling and cholangiocyte regeneration: a new frontier in ischemic liver injury. [Review]. Front Transplant, 4, 1731982.
  2. Nwaduru C, Ovalle LA, Hoareau GL, Baker E, Buff M, Selim M, Baker TB, Zimmerman MA (2024). Ectonucleotidases in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Unravelling the Interplay With Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Liver Transplantation. [Review]. Transplant Proc, 56(7), 1598-1606.
  3. Andacoglu OM, Wiser G, Zimmerman M, Buff M, Selim M, Baker T (2024). A perspective and review on nondirected liver donation. [Review]. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken), 23(1), e0235.