2025 Canadian Liver Meeting
Joint Canadian Digestive Disease Week – Canadian Liver Meeting (CDDW-CLM) 2025 Highlights
Held in beautiful Quebec City, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses (CAHN)
This year’s joint CDDW-CLM and CAHN meeting brought together leading voices in liver health and digestive diseases, creating a rich environment for knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation. Hepatology nurses were front and center, and the conference buzzed with the latest developments in metabolic liver disease, pregnancy and liver health, and groundbreaking nurse-led models of care across Canada.
Dr. Giada Sebastiani: A Deep Dive into MASLD and MASH
Dr. Giada Sebastiani delivered a highly anticipated talk on the evolving landscape of metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Her presentation walked us through the reclassification of these conditions (formerly under the umbrella of NAFLD/NASH) and their increasing prevalence driven by obesity, type 2 diabetes, and sedentary lifestyles.
She emphasized the necessity of early detection and risk stratification, highlighting non-invasive tools such as FibroScan and biomarkers. Equally important was her discussion of a truly multidisciplinary approach to management—bringing together hepatologists, endocrinologists, dietitians, mental health professionals, and, of course, nurses. Lifestyle interventions—diet, exercise, weight loss—remain the foundation of treatment, but Dr. Sebastiani also discussed promising pharmacologic options on the horizon, including agents targeting insulin resistance, inflammation, and fibrosis. This talk underscored the growing complexity of MASLD/MASH management and the essential role of coordinated care.
Victoria’s Nurse-Led Hepatology Success Story
Hayley McPhail and Carmen Cabral of the Pecuro Clinic in Victoria, BC, wowed the audience with their presentation on a nurse-led hepatology program that’s not just efficient—it’s transformative. By collaborating closely with local hepatologists, their team successfully cut the referral wait time to see a liver specialist from a jaw-dropping 600 days down to just 60 days.
They detailed their approach: comprehensive nurse assessments, triaging, pre-consultation workups, patient education, and follow-up—all of which freed up physician time and improved patient flow. The nurses also leveraged telehealth and community partnerships to improve access in surrounding areas. Their program is a powerful example of how empowering nurses can dramatically reduce system bottlenecks, improve patient outcomes, and offer a model of care that’s scalable across other regions.
North Bay: Hepatitis C Treatment in Action
Saskia Hildebrandt, Keri McGuire-Trahan, and Kaitlyn Barber presented their community-driven hepatitis C treatment model based in North Bay, Ontario. Their nurse-led program, designed to increase accessibility in a rural and often underserved population, uses a low-barrier, flexible approach to care.
The team walked the audience through a particularly complex case study involving a patient with co-occurring mental health challenges, housing instability, and poly-substance use—factors that often make adherence and follow-up difficult. By coordinating with addiction services, mental health providers, and social support systems, the team demonstrated how person-centered, wraparound care can lead to successful treatment outcomes—even in the most challenging cases.
Their work exemplifies how nurse-led hepatitis C programs can be not only clinically effective but also culturally safe and deeply responsive to the social determinants of health.
Common Themes: Empowerment, Flexibility, and Teamwork
Both nurse-led presentations reinforced the urgent need for diverse and flexible care models. They highlighted how nurses, when given the tools and autonomy, can be powerful leaders in reducing liver disease burdens—especially in settings where specialist access is limited. Capacity building, collaborative care, and innovation are not just buzzwords; they’re the blueprint for the future of hepatology nursing.
Navigating Liver Health During and After Pregnancy
Dr. Chelsea Elwood delivered a critical presentation on hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the context of pregnancy and postpartum care. She emphasized the need for routine HCV screening in pregnancy, pointing out missed opportunities in current guidelines and care pathways. Importantly, Dr. Elwood shared strategies for linking postpartum women to HCV treatment programs, given the known drop-off in care after delivery.
She addressed the sensitive but increasingly relevant question of whether HCV treatment during pregnancy may soon be possible, referencing ongoing studies and emerging data. Dr. Elwood advocated for a harm-reduction, non-stigmatizing approach when speaking to pregnant women with HCV, emphasizing patient choice and clear communication about timing, safety, and treatment options.
Dr. Hin Hin Ko: Managing Liver Disease in Pregnancy
Dr. Hin Hin Ko followed with a comprehensive overview of liver diseases specific to pregnancy, including intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, HELLP syndrome, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy—conditions that carry significant maternal and fetal risks if unrecognized.
She also explored how chronic liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis or cirrhosis, can complicate pregnancy, requiring close monitoring and coordinated care between obstetric and hepatology teams. Dr. Ko stressed that liver-related symptoms in pregnancy should never be dismissed and encouraged vigilance around abnormal liver enzymes during this period. Her talk was a timely reminder that pregnancy is a vulnerable window where liver health needs both attention and advocacy.
Final Thoughts
The CDDW-CLM 2025 conference left hepatology nurses inspired and energized. From groundbreaking models of care to nuanced discussions about liver health in pregnancy, the sessions reflected the critical role of nurses in shaping the future of liver care in Canada. Whether you’re working in a busy urban clinic or a remote northern community, the message was clear: nurses aren’t just part of the liver care team—they’re leading the charge.
