At the upcoming International Liver Congress™ 2019, from April 10 to 14, 2019 in Vienna, Austria, the Fatty Liver Foundation aims to give visibility and amplify the voices of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The International Liver Congress™, the annual European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) meeting, is one of the largest conferences of its kind and plays a fundamental role in shaping the scientific, educational, and public health response to NAFLD and NASH. At this year’s Congress, the Fatty Liver Foundation will for the first time attend as a key player for advocating and championing patient-centric approach to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment and support of people with NAFLD and NASH.
NAFLD is rapidly being recognized as one of the most prevalent causes of chronic liver disease worldwide and the most common form of liver disease in children. NAFLD can potentially progress to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Due to liver-related morbidity and mortality, NAFLD has major economic impact on healthcare costs. The majority of people living with NAFLD are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. Currently, there are no approved treatments for NAFLD and NASH, except for lifestyle modifications.
“When combined with their common comorbidities, NAFLD and NASH are the Swiss army knife of death,” said Wayne Eskridge, CEO of the Fatty Liver Foundation. “This disease has reached epidemic levels, so we’re energized by EASL’s inclusion of the patient voice in developing not only effective, but also relevant, medical treatments.”
Available for Interview – Wayne Eskridge, CEO of the Fatty Liver Foundation
Wayne Eskridge, an electrical engineer from the University of Idaho, worked in software and electronics through a 50-year professional career. Starting out as a computer programmer, he held both technical and executive roles in both public and private corporations in businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 firms.
Eskridge was first diagnosed in 2010 and his subsequent experience in learning about NAFLD/NASH, which was challenging, led him to develop a website aimed solely at educating patients about this disease. Eskridge was astounded to learn that today an estimated 100 million Americans have “silent” fatty liver disease and most are completely unaware of it. While there is currently no medical treatment for NAFLD/NASH, Eskridge has successfully improved his liver health solely through lifestyle changes. As a champion for the patient voice and the founder of the Fatty Liver Foundation, Eskridge focuses on disease prevention and education in the hope of helping others avoid his difficult experiences.
About The Fatty Liver Foundation
The Fatty Liver Foundation is a non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment & support of Americans with fatty liver, NAFLD or NASH through awareness, screening, education and patient outreach. The Foundation’s goal is to improve the lives of both asymptomatic and diagnosed patients by raising awareness, developing wellness screening, educating patients and championing the development of a responsive support systems for individuals of the growing epidemic of fatty liver disease.
For more information on the Fatty Liver Foundation, please visit www.fattyliverfoundation.org and follow the Fatty Liver Foundation on Twitter (@LiverSaver).
Media ContactCompany Name: The Fatty Liver FoundationContact Person: Wayne EskridgeEmail: Send EmailPhone: 208-860-0546City: ViennaCountry: AustriaWebsite: http://www.fattyliverfoundation.org
