MASLD/MASH Learning Center
Misconceptions About Liver Health With April Morris
August 2025
Liver health is often misunderstood, with many patients and even providers believing that elevated liver enzymes mean certain medications are unsafe. In this video, April Morris, a family nurse practitioner specializing in hepatology and endocrinology, clears up misconceptions about liver disease and medication safety. She explains why evaluating overall liver function—through markers like bilirubin, albumin, and platelet counts—is far more important than looking at liver enzymes alone. April also emphasizes that many commonly prescribed medications, including statins and metformin, are generally safe for patients with liver conditions when monitored properly. Beyond medications, she highlights the powerful role of lifestyle modifications—reducing alcohol intake, managing carbohydrates and sugar, focusing on healthy nutrition, and incorporating exercise. These changes, she explains, can dramatically improve outcomes for patients with fatty liver disease (MASLD/MASH), diabetes, and other metabolic conditions. April underscores that patients hold the power to protect their liver health, but education and awareness are essential since liver disease can often remain a “silent killer” until it’s too late. Watch now to gain expert insights on how to better understand liver labs, avoid common myths, and take proactive steps to support long-term liver function.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
In this overview on the MASLD Community Network, Oyin Penny, FNP with Premier Gastroenterology, addresses some of the most frequent questions primary care providers have when caring for patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Learn when to screen patients for MASH, the key risk factors that should prompt evaluation, and when referral to gastroenterology or hepatology specialists is most appropriate. Oyin also explains how to monitor disease progression using non-invasive tests (NITs) such as FibroScan, MR elastography, and ELF tests. Whether you are a PCP managing patients with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or abnormal liver imaging, this video provides essential guidance to help you identify high-risk patients earlier and optimize their care. Stay tuned for more expert insights and practical education from the MASH Community Network.
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Misconceptions About Liver Health
August 2025
Elizabeth Goacher, PA-C at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, addresses a common misconception about Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)—that it’s a “death sentence.” While early screening and awareness are critical, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of balanced messaging: most patients with MASLD, especially those without advanced fibrosis, will not experience liver failure or require a transplant. Instead, their greatest health risks are often from cardiovascular disease and all-cause malignancy, making lifestyle changes, metabolic health management, and cardiovascular risk reduction key priorities. This discussion encourages both patients and referring providers to focus on evidence-based care, clear communication, and realistic risk assessment, ensuring that awareness doesn’t translate into unnecessary fear.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
Join Maly Tiev, NP, NYU Langone Health, as she answers common questions from primary care providers about Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). Learn who should be screened based on AASLD and American Diabetes Association guidelines, including patients with obesity, pre-diabetes or diabetes, metabolic syndrome, persistent ALT elevation, or steatosis on imaging. Molly explains when to refer MASH patients to gastroenterology or hepatology—such as those with FIB-4 scores over 1.3, suspected advanced fibrosis, or unexplained liver enzyme elevations—and addresses the safety of prescribing statins in MASH. Backed by multiple studies, she emphasizes that statins do not increase liver injury risk and can significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality, the leading cause of death in this population. This session provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help clinicians improve MASH detection, optimize referrals, and manage cardiovascular risk safely.
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Clinical Deep Dive: Unlocking the Treatment Potential of Rezdiffra
March 2025
This educational discussion dives into Rezdiffra, the first and only FDA-approved therapy for non-cirrhotic metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate to advanced fibrosis. The talk provides a clinical deep dive into the progression of MASH and fibrosis, highlighting the risks of untreated disease and the importance of early intervention. A key focus is the thyroid hormone receptor beta mechanism, explaining how Rezdiffra directly targets liver-specific pathways to reduce hepatic fat accumulation and fibrosis. Additionally, the discussion covers the rigorous FDA approval process and dual efficacy endpoints, detailing how Rezdiffra achieved significant fibrosis improvement and steatohepatitis resolution in the MAESTRO-NASH trial. The session also provides practical insights into patient access, prescribing considerations, and managing common side effects. With over 2,000 patients studied, Rezdiffra has demonstrated a strong safety profile and offers a once-daily oral treatment option that represents a major advancement in MASH management. This discussion is essential for gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and endocrinologists managing patients with MASH, as well as primary care providers and cardiologists who play a role in identifying at-risk individuals. If you are a healthcare professional looking to stay updated on the latest MASH research and treatment strategies, this session provides the insights you need.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
In this MASLD and MASH Community Network, Tessa Janovsky, PA-C at Arizona Liver Health, answers common questions from primary care providers about Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and its updated terminology. She explains why MASH has replaced the term NASH, highlighting the shift to reflect underlying metabolic drivers such as obesity and type 2 diabetes while removing stigmatizing language. Tessa discusses how normal or mildly elevated liver enzymes do not rule out MASH, the importance of screening high-risk groups—including patients with diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or incidental fatty liver on imaging—and why the FIB-4 score is the preferred first-line test for fibrosis risk assessment. She also reviews the first FDA-approved medication for MASH, resmetirom, as well as the role of GLP-1 therapies and upcoming treatment options. Whether you’re a clinician seeking updated screening guidelines or a patient wanting clarity on diagnosis and management, this session provides clear, evidence-based guidance on identifying and treating MASH.
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Common Questions From Community GI About MASH
August 2025
In this MASLD Community Network episode, Valerie Shin, NP with UCLA Health Hepatology, addresses frequently asked questions from community GI providers about noninvasive tests (NITs) for assessing steatosis and fibrosis in MASLD and MASH. She reviews the benefits and key limitations of the FIB-4 score—highlighting the risk of false negatives in patients with normal AST/ALT levels, false positives in older patients, and inaccuracy when thrombocytopenia is unrelated to liver disease. Valerie explains when to consider second-line NITs, including transient elastography (FibroScan®), ELF score, and MR elastography, detailing their strengths, availability challenges, and technical limitations such as operator dependence, BMI restrictions, and insurance coverage issues. She also clarifies the rare but important role of liver biopsy when NITs produce conflicting or inconclusive results. Whether you’re a healthcare provider seeking practical diagnostic guidance or a patient wanting to understand your testing options, this video offers expert insights into selecting and interpreting noninvasive liver tests for MASLD and MASH.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
In this MASLD Community Network episode, Edith Johannes, NP at UCLA Health, shares evidence-based guidance on one of the most important questions in managing Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH): how much weight loss is needed to improve liver health. Drawing on years of experience in hepatology and liver transplant care, Edith explains how weight loss can reduce liver fat (steatosis), decrease inflammation, improve or even reverse fibrosis, and support better overall metabolic health. Research shows that achieving more than 10% weight loss can result in 100% improvement in steatosis, MASH resolution in 90% of patients, and fibrosis regression in over 80%. Even smaller amounts of weight loss—5% to 10%—provide significant liver and metabolic benefits, while exercise and dietary changes can help improve liver function even without weight loss. Edith also discusses when additional treatments like GLP-1s, bariatric surgery, or resmetirom may be needed. This video is essential for healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers seeking practical, science-backed strategies to manage MASLD and MASH effectively.
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Common Questions From Patients About MASH
August 2025
Discover practical insights into managing fatty liver disease from Melissa Franco, PA, a hepatology expert at the University of Miami. In this MASLD Community Network episode, Melissa answers one of the most common questions from patients: what causes fatty liver and how to improve it. She explains the multiple factors that can lead to fatty liver, including lifestyle, diet, genetics, alcohol use, and certain medications, and emphasizes the critical role of dietary modifications and regular exercise—often recommending the Mediterranean diet. Melissa also addresses alcohol use in patients with fatty liver, sharing why she discourages it entirely due to its potential to accelerate fibrosis progression, even at mild intake levels. Learn why personalized nutrition, physical activity, and avoiding alcohol are key steps in slowing disease progression and protecting liver health. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this video offers clear, evidence-based guidance on managing fatty liver disease effectively.
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Common Questions From Community GI About MASH
August 2025
In this insightful session, Lavinia Iordache, PA-C—a seasoned hepatology specialist from the University of Miami—answers critical questions from GI providers about the real-world management of patients with suspected advanced fibrosis. With over a decade of experience in both outpatient and inpatient liver care, Lavinia explores when and how to monitor patients with low-risk FIB-4 scores, the evolving role of liver biopsy, and criteria for hepatology referral. She also breaks down current AASLD and EASL recommendations for imaging surveillance in MASLD and MASH patients, particularly the limitations of ultrasound in obese populations and why CT or MRI may be preferred in high-risk individuals. From noninvasive testing timelines to HCC screening strategies, this episode offers clear, practical guidance to support frontline GI providers managing the growing population of MASLD patients.
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Common Questions From Patients About MASH
August 2025
In this engaging episode from the GHAPP MASLD Community Network, Alison Moe shares practical insights into the most common questions patients ask about advanced fibrosis and fatty liver disease. Using a liver model, she explains the stages from normal liver to steatosis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, emphasizing that with lifestyle modifications—such as weight loss, glycemic control, and now FDA-approved pharmacotherapy—fatty liver disease, including F3 fibrosis, can be reversible. Alison also addresses a critical concern: alcohol consumption. She breaks down how her guidance differs depending on the presence and stage of fibrosis, adhering to strict AASLD guidelines to protect liver health. Whether you're a healthcare provider or a patient looking for clarity, this video offers evidence-based guidance and compassionate answers.
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Common Questions From Community GI About MASH
August 2025
In this educational video, HoChong Gilles, NP—Clinical Program Director at the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System—breaks down practical, non-invasive strategies for evaluating liver fibrosis in community GI and primary care settings. With over 25 years of hepatology experience, she walks through the importance of calculating the FIB-4 score using just four parameters: age, ALT, AST, and platelet count. Learn how to interpret FIB-4 score cutoffs to determine low, indeterminate, or high risk of advanced fibrosis and explore alternative tools like the ELF (Enhanced Liver Fibrosis) test when imaging options are limited. Whether you're a hepatology specialist or a frontline provider, this video offers actionable insights to help bridge the gap in liver care access using guideline-supported lab-based methods.
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