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In this Issue:

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Let’s start with a question.  Who participated in San Diego’s first walk in 1998, then called Liver Walk?  To jog your memory Phyllis Borchardt was ALF’s Executive Director, Bill Clinton was the President and the walk was held at the San Diego Zoo.  If you were there, please let us know.

Since the walk first started 20 years ago, it has expanded to more than 35 sites coast-to-coast, annually bringing together more than 10,000 people and raising millions of dollars to change the face of liver disease.  In fact, during that time the San Diego walk has raised nearly $2 million to support ALF’s mission locally and to fund research. 

We continue to gather for the same reasons the walk was started … to promote the cause, increase awareness, raise funds to support ALF’s mission and to build a sense of community and support.

In 2010 the walk adopted the LIVEr Champion program to bring awareness to liver diseases that affect children.  This year’s LIVEr Champion is Nathan.  You can read how he BEAT his fight with liver disease HERE.

Past LIVEr Champions include the following.

2010    Jake, Wendi, Nicholas Wallace, Raeann - Biliary Atresia
2011    Austin – Biliary Atresia
2012    Nicholas – Biliary Atresia
2013    Nick – Biliary Atresia
2014    Trent – Biliary Atresia
2015    Nathan – Biliary Atresia
2016    Blythe – Liver Transplant

2017    Emma - Autoimmune Hepatitis

If you’re a family member, please let us know.  It would be great to have past LIVEr Champions start this year’s walk.

How incredible would it be to have over 1,000 walkers to celebrate this milestone!  It could happen if all past walker registered to walk again this year.

You can make it happen!

Scott Suckow
Executive Director, Pacific Coast Division

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Thank you to Dr. Jayakumar, Dr. Robert Gish and Cathy Mumford for presenting at the Ask The Experts Primary Biliary Cholangitis Roundtable Presented by Intercept Pharmaceuticals on January 30, 2018 at 211 Connections Center.  Their presentations were extremely informative and were followed by an enthusiastic question and answer session between patients and the healthcare providers.  If you missed the Roundtable you can catch the presentation HERE

As a follow up to this meeting, the American Liver Foundation will be starting a PBC support group meeting every three months for patients, families and friends.  Anyone interested should contact Margaret “Peggy” Beers, Community Outreach and Education Manager, (619) 291-5483 or mbeers@liverfoundation.org.

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Meet Chef Daniel England, One of Our Sip 'n Savor
Co-Chairs!

Daniel England’s passion for culinary arts began at the very young age of 13, in Rochester, NY. A small Italian restaurant within walking distance of England’s home hired him on as a bus boy, and he immediately fell in love with the kitchen. The rich aromas, heat of the fire, aggressive communication style and loud music blasting in the background had England hooked. He began working in the kitchen as soon as he turned 14, and remained at that restaurant until he graduated high school.

Recruited fresh out of school, England began his culinary studies at Le Cordon Blue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, completed his internship at the recently remodeled Pittsburgh Convention Center, and was asked to stay on full time after graduation. It was there that England mastered the art of food production on a massive scale, while also cooking for the likes of President Bush and Prince Edward.

Over the next several years England worked various jobs in restaurants and country clubs around New York, Virginia and Florida before arriving in San Diego, CA. Chef England is now the Corporate Chef for OMG Hospitality Group, overseeing kitchen operations for all five locations: Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas, Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp, Backyard Kitchen & Tap, Pacific Beach Alehouse, and Waterbar.

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Meet Dr. Christian Ramers!

Dr. Christian Ramers joined the American Liver Foundation’s Pacific Coast Division Medical Advisory Committee in 2016.  He serves as the Assistant Medical Director for Research & Special Populations and Director of Graduate Medical Education at Family Health Centers of San Diego

Dr. Ramers is a very active member of the MAC, he presented at ALF’s Ask the Experts last year on HIV/HCV Co-Infection and participated in a ALF congressional visit with Congresswoman Susan Davis to discuss liver disease and wellness.  Dr. Ramers was selected as a 2017 Clinical Champion Awardee by CalHEP. 

Picture (L to R):
Christian Ramers, MD
Congresswoman Susan David
Terry Cunningham, ALF Pacific Coast Division Board President

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On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, Dr. Yuko Kona, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at UC San Diego Health presented a very organized and informative case study on Hepatocellular Carcinoma also know as Liver Cancer. Dr. Kona discussed the risk factors, screening and treatment options on the American Liver Foundation Liver Wellness Webinar Series: Ask the Experts.  Sunday, Febaruary 4, 2018 was #WorldCancerDay and we would love to get everyone informed about Liver Cancer.  

If you missed this very informative presentation, you can find it at HERE.

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We have many wonderful ways and great reasons to get involved with the American Liver Foundation and give back to the community while making new friends at the same time!
Below are current opportunities available with the Pacific Coast Division.

Special Events Intern
Programs Intern
Weekly Office Volunteer
Sip 'n Savor San Diego Volunteer
Liver Life Walk San Diego Volunteer

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ProSciento is a leading service provider in NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) clinical research and development. They offer an integrated portfolio of today’s most advanced imaging techniques and circulating biomarkers to support the development of drug candidates for NASH and NAFLD.  In cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry and academic centers, they perform clinical research studies for the development and testing of new drugs and medical devices to treat diabetes, NASH, obesity and other related metabolic diseases. Learn more at www.prosciento.com



 

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Pictured (L to R): 
Scott Suckow, Executive Director, American Liver Foundation Pacific Coast Division,
Secretary Diana Dooley, California Health and Human Services
Veronica LaBeau, Executive Director, American Liver Foundation Northern California Division.


Congratulations to Scott Suckow, our Executive Director, who was recognized as a Star of Advocacy by the California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) at their annual gala in Sacramento on January 25th.

The California Chronic Care Coalition is a unique alliance of more than 30 leading consumer health organizations and provider groups that works with policy makers, industry leaders, providers, and consumers to improve the health of Californians with chronic conditions. 

 “Annually, the CCCC recognizes key public officials, legislators and patient advocates at our Stars of Advocacy Gala in Sacramento.  We are pleased to include Scott Suckow as recipient of a Star of Advocacy Award this year.  As a trusted voice for patients, he has worked tirelessly reducing barriers to care.  His ability to bring business, providers, payers and patients together to work collaboratively to strengthen our healthcare system makes him worthy of receiving a 2018 Star of Advocacy,” commented Liz Helms, President & CEO, as well as Co-Founder of the CCCC.

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Follow the Pacific Coast Division today!
 
                                

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Thank You To Our Sponsors

Ask the Experts Roundtable: PBC

American Liver Foundation
5230 Carroll Canyon Road, Suite 108
San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 291-5483

Call the HelpLine at
1-800-GO-LIVER (465-4837)
M-F / 9AM - 7PM EST
LiverFoundation.org