Simon Ling

Staff Physician
Division of Gatroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Project Investigator
SickKids Research Institute

Dr. Simon Ling graduated in medicine from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and trained in paediatric gastroenterology in Glasgow, Scotland and SickKids Toronto. He worked initially as Consultant at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow and was then appointed to SickKids and the University of Toronto in 2003.  Dr. Ling served as Head of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2015-2022) and previously as Director of the Paediatric Gastroenterology Training Program (2009 to 2014). He received the Department of Paediatrics’ Richard Rowe Award for Clinical Excellence in Paediatric Medical Care in 2013. 

Dr. Ling’s subspecialty interest is paediatric liver disease.  He also maintains a broad interest and experience in paediatric gastroenterology and endoscopy. 

Research

Dr. Ling’s clinical research activities aim to improve our ability to predict and manage the progression of chronic liver disease and its complications, focusing on children at risk of variceal bleeding, children with cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD), and children with chronic viral hepatitis. He collaborates in the CFLD Research Network and the Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN).

Achievements

• 2019: Canadian Liver Foundation 50th Anniversary Recognition Medal on behalf of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Liver Foundation 
• 2013: The Richard Rowe Award, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto.
  Awarded to a faculty member demonstrating excellence in the delivery of clinical care in its broadest sense over a sustained period of time. 

1. Ling SC, Lin HS, Murray KF, Rosenthal P, Mogul D, Rodriguez-Baez N, Schwarzenberg SJ, Teckman J, Schwarz KB; Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN). Chronic Hepatitis Is Common and Often Untreated Among Children with Hepatitis B Infection in the United States and Canada. J Pediatr. 2021 Oct;237:24-33. Principal author

2. Biggins SW, Angeli P, Garcia-Tsao G, Ginès P, Ling SC, Nadim MK, Wong F, Kim WR. Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of Ascites, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis and Hepatorenal Syndrome: 2021 Practice Guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 2021 Aug;74(2):1014-1048. Collaborator.

3. Greenaway E, Haines A, Ling SC, Krahn M. Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Young Children Reduces Adverse Outcomes and Is Cost-Effective Compared with Deferring Treatment to Adulthood. J Pediatr. 2021 Mar;230:38-45. Collaborator

4. Ling SC, Ye W, Leung DH, Navarro OM, Weymann A, Karnsakul W, Freeman AJ, Magee JC, Narkewicz MR. Liver Ultrasound Patterns in Children With Cystic Fibrosis Correlate With Noninvasive Tests of Liver Disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 Sep;69(3):351-357. Principal author.

5. Carneiro de Moura M, Chen S, Kamath BM, Ng VL, Ling SC. Acute Variceal Bleeding Causes Significant Morbidity. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018 Sep;67(3):371-376. Senior Responsible Investigator. 

See a full list of Simon Ling's publications