A message from Thomas Krummel, MD, Emile F. Holman Professor and Department Chair

Length: 2:02 mins

THE ASIAN LIVER CENTER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

The Asian Liver Center (ALC) began at Stanford University 15 years ago with Dr. Samuel So’s vision of community outreach, building public-private partnerships, performing advocacy, and conducting research.  It has grown from Dr. So and one assistant, to a staff of 20, including coordinators, interns, and researchers.  However, their mission remains the same: the ALC works at both the national and international levels to fight against the spread of Hepatitis B and C, and the prevalence of liver cancer. 

“This has been a largely neglected, but preventable problem,” said Dr. So. 

Using a multi-pronged approach, the ALC works with physicians and nurses, high school and college students, local communities, and government officials and agencies in the United States and abroad, to spread their message. 

One of their local projects includes building a partnership to form city-wide Hep B Free projects in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, and inspiring others to replicate the project nationwide, in cities like Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Hawaii, and Las Vegas.  Groups such as Cisco Systems, General Electric, IBM, Stanford University, and the National Business Group on Health partner with the Asian Liver Center to screen, educate, and protect their employees from hepatitis B and liver cancer.

The Hep B Moms project empowers mothers to help eliminate mother to child transmission of hepatitis B through education and vaccination.  Last year, the Asian Liver Center partnered with Tea Collection, a designer children's clothing company, to sponsor a photo contest to raise awareness about hepatitis B. 

The ALC has engaged high school and college leaders across the nation to take action against hepatitis B and liver cancer. Over the past year, the Jade Ribbon Youth Council recruited well known figures to join the Jade Ribbon Campaign, including former acting Lieutenant Governor Mona Pasquil, chef Martin Yan of "Yan Can Cook," and actor Jackie Chan.  In early November, Team HBV Collegiate Chapters, including Stanford, Harvard, and UPenn, convened for the 2nd Annual Team HBV Collegiate Chapters Conference in Palo Alto to discuss innovative ideas and best practices to raise awareness.

Nationally, the ALC conducts extensive research to support legislation.  Recently, the Institute of Medicine came out with a report on hepatitis and liver cancer co-authored by Dr. So, which has motivated the Department of Health and Human Services to develop an action plan.  With the support of Dr. So and the ALC, the 2012 federal budget has money set aside to fund this plan.

On the international front, July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, and Dr. So, as special advisor for the Western Pacific Region, has been busy working with the World Health Organization to prepare for the event. It is important to note that this is one of only seven diseases that has a “day”  recognized by the WHO, emphasizing the importance of awareness in fighting Hepatitis.

The ALC has been working with the Chinese government for many years to improve vaccination rates for newborn and young children.  The next step is to educate health care workers working to reduce transmission and learn about prevention and control.  To do this, the Asian Liver Center has developed an online training course.  Next year, the Chinese government will roll out this 3-module training course, and will track the effectiveness based on regions without this training. With the opening of the Stanford Center at Peking University in 2012, the ALC will have a hub through which they can push forward their efforts.

“We want to incentivize governments to look into their policies and identify gaps,” said Dr. So.

The core of the problem, he said, is education.  So the ALC’s international community outreach efforts are primarily in advocacy and the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate health educational brochures, banners and public service announcements.  They also provide some seed funding when international agencies introduce a new program.  “We want to help build a sustainable program, incorporated into the health system so when we leave, the program continues on.”

For more information on the Asian Liver Center, please visit their website: http://liver.stanford.edu/.