Given recent attention to healthcare reform efforts in the U.S., a greater emphasis is being placed on generating and synthesizing evidence to inform policies affecting the clinical practice of hepatology. In turn, this program will review and teach attendees about the most common research designs and analytic methods associated with the conduct of healthcare delivery research.

Identifying best practices in the difficult management of patients with liver disease in the community outpatient setting is an important topic in clinical hepatology. It is particularly important to look at the approach to patients with non-alcoholic liver disease that are not  candidates for research studies, the management of portal hypertension and portal vein thrombosis, and outpatient intervention and monitoring of patients with cirrhosis and renal insufficiency.

Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure frequently present to the ICU for care, and the mortality rate for cirrhotic patients requiring ICU approaches 50 percent.  Unique physiologic characteristics in the patient population warrant specialized, multidisciplinary, approaches to care.  The goal of this program is to further develop dialog between surgeons, hepatologists and intensive care unit teams to better deliver care to this complex patient population by focusing on the complex physiology of chronic liver failure.  In addition, we will devote special attention to are

This program will look at current political issues related to organ allocation supported by data and an open debate, as well as changes in listing criteria. In addition, speakers will address best practices for the use of marginal livers and innovative treatment options to use such organs.Peter L. Abt Karen E. Doucette Dennis Irwin David S. Goldberg David J. Reich George E. Loss Karim Halazun Timothy L. Pruett

Attendees seeking an overview of the current diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available for patients with liver cancer will benefit from Advances in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. This session will cover a broad range of topics from epidemiology and future disease burden to the emerging role of genomics in the management of liver cancer. Attendees will also receive an overview of the role of surgical resection as well as the current indications for liver transplantation and post-transplant management and recurrence.Hashem B. El-Serag Julie Heimbach Julie K.

Now, more than ever, hepatologists and hepatology health professionals must guide personalized treatment plans for their patients. 21st Century Hepatology will help you do just that by discussing new and best evidence, therapeutic advances, and breakthroughs on the horizon. From the application of biomarkers to genetics and lifestyle, this course offers a state-of-the art look at translating discoveries into modern-day hepatology practice.Ronald J. Sokol Michael P. Manns Naga P. Chalasani Naga P. Chalasani, MD, FAASLD currently serves as David W.

As the number and type of drugs used to treat pediatric illnesses proliferate, and the push to make new drugs available for children gains speed, understanding how to recognize drug-induced liver injury is increasingly important for pediatric liver providers. This program will focus on challenges and opportunities associated with the diagnosis and management of DILI that are unique to the pediatric population. Clinical presentations include surreptitious elevation of serum aminotransferase levels, acute liver injury with or without acute liver failure, and chronic liver disease.Binita M.

A look at both traditional and new chemotherapeutic agents associated with liver injury will help attendees gain a working knowledge of agents that can cause liver injury, how the injury presents, and how to make the diagnosis. This program also offers new insight on the challenges for chemotherapeutic drug development, approval and post-marketing surveillance in the U.S.Jay H. Hoofnagle Jay H.

As HCV therapies now achieve high rates of SVR across a broad spectrum of individuals in patient care, there is a need to consider those HCV-infected persons who are not or may have difficulty accessing care or engaging in HCV therapy. Additionally, aspects related to prevention of reinfection are relevant in these difficult to reach populations. This program is targeting HCV SIG clinicians, public and global health experts as well as patient advocates with the goal of sharing expertise on how to improve the cascade of care in the “difficult to reach” populations.Mark W. Russo Mark W.

With the rising epidemic of NASH and NASH-related end stage liver disease, there is a pressing need to better define the pathogenesis of NASH, identify meaningful biomarkers and effective treatments.