The word “live” is in liver for a reason. Thirty-five percent of Americans incorrectly believe that you can survive without a liver, which means it’s time to focus on liver health education. The Community Liver Alliance (CLA) is hosting its second annual National Liver Gathering (NLG) October 8 – 10 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square.
The NLG brings together the full liver health ecosystem—including patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, advocates, industry leaders, and other stakeholders from all over the country—to advance science, improve care delivery, and strengthen collaboration.
Building on the success of the inaugural 2025 Gathering, the 2026 theme, “The Intersection Between Humanity and Academic Medicine,” will focus on taking successful collaborative approaches and showing how they can be implemented and scaled in real-world healthcare settings.
“Progress in liver health doesn’t happen in silos,” said Suzanna Massrtis, CEO of Community Liver Alliance. “Patients and caregivers aren’t on the sidelines of these conversations; they are helping lead them. Your voice belongs at the table, and we welcome it!”
Each day of the conference features speakers, training sessions, breakout groups, and panels, covering various stages of liver disease:
- Thursday, October 8: Prevention and Early Disease: Protecting Liver Health and Identifying Disease Early
- Friday, October 9: Living with and Managing Liver Disease
- Saturday, October 10: Transplant and Life After Transplant: Hope, Innovation, and Survivorship
Patients and caregivers are not simply attendees; they are partners in the program. Every 2026 session will include patient or caregiver partners to highlight lived experience within scientific, clinical, and policy conversations.
Conversation topics include rapidly evolving areas in liver health: rare disease innovation, AI-driven diagnostics, clinical trials and translational science, digital health, health equity, and collaborative care models. An interactive AI in Healthcare initiative will explore patient, caregiver and provider perspectives on how AI and digital health may influence engagement, diagnostics, care delivery, and long-term outcomes.
As an organization focused on community education and advocacy, the CLA is also kicking off the Gathering with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ free community event, MASH Across America, on Wednesday, October 7, from 2 – 6 p.m. at the First National Bank Stadium Tailgate Zone in Station Square. Featuring a giant, 40-foot inflatable liver to walk through, speakers, and other activities, the event aims to spark conversation about the critical role the liver plays in our overall health.
Patients and caregivers receive free admission to the Gathering. Register for the conference at https://www.communityliveralliance.org/national-liver-gathering.
About The Community Liver Alliance
The Community Liver Alliance is more than local; it’s a beacon of hope for communities nationwide. From our humble beginnings in Pittsburgh, we’ve grown into a powerful force for change, driven by a relentless commitment to supporting those affected by liver disease. Our mission is clear: to empower patients and providers, raise awareness, and champion education, advocacy, and research. With the support of an incredible network of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, we’re making the impossible possible, one liver at a time. Together, we can create hope as we strive for a world free from the burdens of liver disease.
