My esteemed colleagues,
It’s truly an honor to represent all of you as president of our society this year. Much has changed over the last few years, but one thing that’s remained the same is our deep commitment to improving the lives of millions of people around the world who suffer from liver disease. At AASLD our number one goal is to provide all of you with the tools, resources, and knowledge sharing you need to help us realize that vision. You’ve likely noticed some changes in that regard, as AASLD moves towards being nimbler and more responsive. We’ve begun the hard work of evaluating the things we do to make sure what we’re delivering aligns with your needs.
I’m thrilled that beginning this year, AASLD will begin supporting for the first time a hepatology scholar as part of the Harold Amos Minority Medical Faculty Development Program. GI and Liver graduates from this extraordinary 4-year program are stars in our field. This effort was years in the making, and a special thanks to past presidents Laurie DeLeve, MD, PhD, FAASLD and Ray Chung, MD, FAASLD for all their hard work and leadership getting it across the finish line. This investment fortifies our commitment to improving diversity in our field by leaps and bounds and we’re excited to see its outcomes.
We have also now officially moved into a new publishing partnership with Wolters Kluwer Health – an esteemed publishing house that will help us elevate our journals to new heights and transform the author and reader experience. The new journal sites have already launched, so be sure to experience the transformation for yourself.
Last year marked the return to in-person meetings (something I know we were all relieved to see!) and we already have many on the books for 2023. We have two important events happening back-to-back in Los Angeles, March 24-26. The first meeting is near and dear to my heart – the North American Viral Hepatitis Elimination Summit, a program jointly conceived and developed with our counterparts in Canada and Mexico. This summit aims at moving the needle forward in our elimination efforts and raising awareness about treatment options for marginalized populations. The second is an emerging topic conference on NASH Cirrhosis: From Mechanisms to Management, brought to us through a joint effort by the Fibrosis and NAFLD SIGs. This ground-breaking meeting includes presentations from some of the top minds in the field and provides an excellent opportunity for collaboration on all levels. Registration for both events is open, and you can save by registering to attend both meetings.
Finally, mark your calendars for The Liver Meeting 2023, being held for the LAST TIME at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, November 10-14. It was wonderful to see so many of you in-person again last year and we’re already working on plans to make it more engaging than ever before.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to lead you this year and I look forward to all the year has in store.
Sincerely,
Norah Terrault, MD, MPH, FAASLD
AASLD President