Jennifer Lai, MD, MBA, is a practicing hepatologist and board-certified physician nutrition specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, where she holds the Endowed Professorship of Liver Health and Transplantation.  Her clinical practice emphasizes a patient-centered approach to improving liver health, combining her training in nutrition and Integrative Medicine with advanced/transplant hepatology.  Dr. Lai's research program, which has been funded continuously by the National Institutes of Health since 2013, focuses on characterizing the lived experienced of patients with chronic liver diseases, offering patients a "voice" in the scientific literature.   

Dr. Lai is an effective and passionate mentor and currently holds a prestigious NIH K24 Mentoring Award in Patient-Oriented Research.  She has mentored numerous individuals in hepatology research, many of whom were supported by the AASLD Foundation through its Career Development, Fellowship, Emerging Scholar, and travel award mechanisms.  Her personal dedication to liver-focused research, along with her passion for supporting the next generation of liver researchers, underlies her deep commitment to serving on the AASLD Foundation Board of Trustees.

Janice Jou, MD, MHS, is a transplant hepatologist in Portland, OR. Dr. Jou is the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director, Professor of Medicine and Associate Vice-Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Jou has been active in leading educational initiatives and addressing workforce matters for the AASLD and served as the chair of the Training and Workforce (TWF) Committee from 2020-2022. During her tenure as chair of the TWF committee, she led the AASLD in establishing a standard application and match for the 4^th year transplant hepatology fellowship. Her clinical and research interests include outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma and processes of care in chronic liver disease.

Nancy Reau, MD,  the Richard B. Capps Chair of Hepatology, is currently Associate Director of Solid Organ Transplantation and Section Chief of Hepatology at Rush University Medical Center.

Dr Reau’s research interests are in viral hepatitis and drug development as well as utilization. She has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, invited reviews, editorials and online programs, as well as several book chapters, and two books. She was editor in chief for Clinical Liver Disease, the AASLD multimedia journal.  She served as the chair of the public policy committee for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and was a member of the AASLD practice guideline committee. She was one of the original authors of the AASLD/IDSA hepatitis C guidance document.  She has been a member of the national board of directors of the American Liver Foundation (ALF) and served as the president of the Illinois chapter of the ALF, a member of the board of directors and a member of the medical advisory committee (MAC). She is current chair of the World Gastroenterology Organization Hepatology committee and a member of the American College of Gastroenterology Practice Parameters Committee.  

On April 23^rd, 2024, we lost not just a giant in the field of Hepatology, but a loyal friend, steadfast leader, trusted collaborator, and dedicated mentor.  Col Stephen A. Harrison, MD meant a lot to many people.  His compassionate nature and genuine concern for others made him a cherished individual in both personal and professional circles. As an excellent doctor, Stephen demonstrated exceptional expertise and vision in Hepatology, providing extraordinary care to countless patients throughout his career. This included not only in his practice at home but also abroad during his deployment to Iraq where he cared for our service men and women and the people of the communities where he worked. 

Stephen had an enormous impact on the field of Hepatology, particularly in the areas of diagnosis and treatment of NASH/MASH. He has left an indelible mark on our professional community. The impact of his work is in part illustrated by over 55,000 citations to his published work and an h-index of 106, a level of achievement that very few reach at the end of a full career, let alone for someone who should have had so much more time to contribute.  He was a pioneer in the development of therapeutics to treat patients with MASH. He took part in the design of almost all therapeutic trials in advanced stages of development and was integral to the recent approval of the first drug to treat MASH, resmetirom (Rezdiffra). 

One of Stephen's most distinctive qualities was his tireless work ethic. He approached each day with an unmatched determination and a genuine passion for his work. His collaborative mindset fostered a culture of shared knowledge and expertise within the medical community.  His integrity was unwavering, and he upheld the highest ethical standards throughout his professional journey. For those of us who knew Stephen and worked with him, we always knew that his primary motivation was simply to do the right thing. 

Stephen A. Harrison was not only an incredible leader, researcher, mentor, and collaborator, but also a loyal friend to many. He will be remembered for his kindness and compassion. He had a genuine ability to connect with people on a personal level, offering support and comfort to those in need. Stephen's warmth and empathy created an environment of trust and understanding, making him a beloved figure among his patients, friends, and family. He was an immensely proud father.  We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Renee, daughter Anna-Lauren, and son Taylor, as well as to his many friends, colleagues, and patients during this difficult time. A testament to his dedication to his family is that he would go missing from our annual AASLD meeting for a day whenever the meeting overlapped with his daughter’s birthday, which it often did. 

May our many memories of him be a source of comfort and strength as we mourn his loss. May his legacy of selfless and unflagging commitment to excellence in patient care and research serve as aspirational goals for us all.   

Written by:

Mary E. Rinella, MD, FAASLD

Brent Tetri, MD, FAASLD

Elizabeth Brunt, MD, FAASLD