New program empowers the medical community at the point of care to improve patient outcomes and change the trajectory of liver disease.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recently launched the Liver Care for Frontline Clinicians program, advancing its mission to treat and cure liver disease by extending its scientific leadership and equipping point-of-care clinicians with tools to improve liver health outcomes.
With an estimated 41% of American adults projected to be affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by 2050, clinicians play a critical role in early liver disease detection and prevention. As the global burden of liver disease continues to rise, the need for earlier, more coordinated care is increasingly urgent.
AASLD is addressing this growing public health challenge by providing clinicians and healthcare professionals across primary care and other non-specialty healthcare with practical, evidence-based resources to improve liver disease outcomes. Designed for real-world application, AASLD’s Liver Care for Frontline Clinicians Program empowers attendees to prevent, detect, and manage liver disease across the continuum of care by integrating seamlessly into existing routine workflows without adding complexity to already full patient visits.
For patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and alcohol use disorder, frontline clinicians are uniquely positioned to identify liver disease earlier and intervene at a critical point in care.
"Early detection saves lives. Frontline clinicians are first responders for every aspect of patient care and essential partners in AASLD’s mission to treat and cure liver disease, which impacts at least 40% of the US population. This program gives them the skills to act with confidence and impact,” said Saul J. Karpen, MD, PhD, FAASLD, AASLD President. “By equipping frontline clinicians with trusted, actionable tools for detecting and addressing liver disease as part of routine care, clinicians have a critical opportunity to improve patient care and outcomes.”
Designed by frontline clinicians who work with patients every day, the program translates real-world hepatology expertise into practical guidance that empowers health care professionals across disciplines to recognize and respond to liver disease earlier.
"As the burden of liver disease continues to grow in the U.S. and globally, many patients are first seen and managed by clinicians outside of hepatology expertise," said program organizer, AASLD past president W. Ray Kim, MD, FAASLD. "This program was designed by frontline clinicians who navigate these challenges and understand where gaps in knowledge and care pathways exist.”
"Our goal is to deliver practical, evidence-based education that enables clinicians to recognize liver disease earlier, take timely and effective action, and connect patients with appropriate care at the right time,” said program organizer Elizabeth Aby, MD.
This program reflects AASLD’s broader commitment to strengthening the continuum of care and enabling earlier, more effective intervention across disciplines. As liver disease continues to impact a growing number of patients across the globe, AASLD is expanding its reach beyond the hepatology community to equip and empower the broader medical community with knowledge, resources, and confidence. By extending the expertise of hepatology to non-hepatologist clinicians on the front lines of patient care, AASLD is helping drive earlier identification, timely intervention, and improved outcomes for patients at every stage of care.
“We are extending AASLD’s scientific leadership beyond hepatology and into the point of care, where earlier intervention can make the greatest difference,” said Dr. Karpen. “By translating evidence-based science into practical tools for frontline clinicians, we are elevating discovery into real-world impact and helping to change the trajectory of liver disease.”
AASLD will host the inaugural one-day program this November during The Liver Meeting® (TLM) to expand engagement with the broader medical community and equip non-hepatology health care professionals with practical, evidence-based education to support earlier intervention and improved patient care. Referral incentives and discounted registration opportunities will further support participation and broaden the program’s reach.
For more information about the Frontline Clinicians Program, visit www.aasld.org/liver-care-frontline-clinicians-denver. For more information about AASLD, visit www.aasld.org.
For more information about TLM 2026, visit www.aasld.org/tlm-26/home.
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About AASLD
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), founded in 1950, is the leading global organization of scientists and health care professionals dedicated to advancing the science and practice of hepatology and improving liver health for all. Through cutting-edge research, professional education, practice guidance, advocacy, and collaboration, AASLD works to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure liver disease. The association supports a vibrant, multidisciplinary community committed to driving innovation and improving patient outcomes worldwide. Learn more at www.aasld.org.