MODERATOR: RICK WARD

Thursday, December 4, 2025
6:00 PM - 6:05 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
 
Michael Betel, Fatty Liver Alliance
Mark Swain, University of Calgary
6:05 PM - 6:30 PM
Understanding MASLD and MASH and the relationship between Primary Care and Hepatologist
  • MASLD & MASH simplified: clear, practical definitions
  • Screening criteria and risk factors
  • Brief review of updated guidelines and nomenclature
Mazen Noureddin, Houston Research Institute
6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Primary Care Toolbox: Managing Fatty Liver in Daily Practice
  • What labs to order
  • How to integrate liver health into patients visits
  • Importance of NITs: FIB-4, FibroScan, ultrasound, ELF, and non-invasive scores. When and how to use them
  • Workflow tips – Optimizing efficiency and improving care
Naim Alkhouri, Naim Alkhouri INC
James Kim, University of Calgary
7:00 PM - 7:25 PM
The Patient Voice: Obesity and Liver Disease
  • Why the patient’s voice is so important?
  • Barriers to care (stigma, confusion, fear)
  • What finally worked—and why
  • How Primary Care made (or could have made) a difference
Kerry Sivia, Fatty Liver Alliance
Gina Madison, Liver Education Advocates
7:25 PM - 7:55 PM
Lifestyle Rx: Pearls for a busy Primary Care Practice
  • Addressing real world nutritional advice – Practical strategies for Primary Care
  • Addressing patient challenges and stigma
  • Brief and Practical lifestyle intervention strategies for busy clinics
Melina Manolas, Weill Cornell Medicine
Jonathan Stine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
7:55 PM - 8:25 PM
Integrating Available Medications in Primary Care for management of Fatty Liver disease
  • Role of GLP-1s, statins, insulin sensitizers, and upcoming MASH therapies
  • Considerations for T2D, obesity, CKD, and polypharmacy
  • What’s in the pipeline
  • Diabetes Canada Guidelines / CanMASLD Guidelines?
James Kim, University of Calgary
Alnoor Ramji, Pacific Gastroenterology Associates / DHC
8:25 PM - 8:55 PM
Case-Based Panel: What Would You Do?
  • Newly diagnosed patient with elevated ALT & diabetes
  • Patient with advanced fibrosis on FibroScan but no symptoms
  • Young patient with obesity and normal liver enzymes
Melina Manolas, Weill Cornell Medicine
Lisa Schaffer, Obesity Canada
Rick Ward, University of Calgary
8:55 PM - 9:00 PM
Closing Remarks: Primary Care as Liver Health Leaders
 
Michael Betel, Fatty Liver Alliance
Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]

*Content subject to changes