Liver Nurse News - November 2023
Looking Forward to 2024
CAHNference 2023 Highlights
“I’d like to express my genuine gratitude to everyone. The agenda, speakers, and the energetic atmosphere in the room all stand as a remarkable testament to the hard work and dedication that have truly paid off. It was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding conferences I’ve had the pleasure of attending.”
“Wonderful conference one of the best I have attended. Absolutely great program and speakers”
“I have enjoyed all of the presentations today. I appreciate the opportunity to hear so many different practice experiences and I am taking away so many ideas and nudges for my own practice. Thank you!”
Congratulations to our 2023 award recipients!
- Elizabeth Lee for the Distinguished Service in Hepatology Nursing
- Fraser Jordan for the Rising Star In Hepatology Nursing
- Tamara Barnett for the Innovation and Inspiration in Hepatology Nursing
- Sonja Hartz for the Innovation and Inspiration in Hepatology Nursing
This year’s CAHNference program, centered on “The Future of Nursing,” offered a platform for introspection and dialogues regarding CAHN’s mission and the organization’s future. As we witness the continued evolution of liver nursing, we remain dedicated to serving our members and the communities we care for. Notably, our program featured purposeful choices that support planetary health, including a plant-based menu and eco-friendly practices such as ditching plastic lanyards.
The CAHNference commenced with a combined nurse networking session following the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) HCV Intervention Symposium. We extend our gratitude to INHSU for their collaboration, which engaged numerous nurses in innovative HCV models and interventions, fostering new friendships and support networks.
Friday evening’s program paired two speakers to explore themes encompassing alcohol, liver health, and health policy. First, we heard from the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction, a national authority on alcohol policy, discussing updates to Canada’s “Guidance on Alcohol and Health,” a document that sparked significant public discourse in 2023. Subsequently, we gained insight from a patient with alcohol-associated liver disease, who shared his lived experiences, addressed disease stigma, and emphasized the need for advocacy in reducing alcohol-related harm to society.
Saturday morning adopted an intentional tone, reflecting on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. An exceptional panel of speakers joined us to reflect on the essence of true reconciliation and its significance as Canadian citizens and liver nurses caring for patients with chronic liver diseases.
Our program then transitioned to exploring viral hepatitis in migrants, providing valuable insight into the journey from arrival in Canada to healthcare. This was complemented by a high-level cascade of care perspective, bridging the real-life experience with each crucial step toward treatment.
To conclude the morning, we delved into the sphere of planetary health and its implications for liver nursing. These discussions initiated ongoing conversations about the role we play as a liver nurse organization, with aspirations to incorporate more recommendations into future CAHNference programming. We also hope these dialogues will pave the way for potential collaborations with liver nurses worldwide, aligning with global liver societies’ priorities.
In the afternoon, we showcased exemplary nurse-led models of care, including a solo NP hepatology program, RN-led paracentesis, and RN-led care for those with MASLD in both hospital and community settings. These models signify pioneering efforts where RNs are practicing to their full scope, taking the lead in care provision.
Our program concluded with two dynamic speakers addressing obesity management. We explored practical approaches to discuss weight loss goals with patients and learned about strategies for engaging in shared decision-making. Notably, this session shed light on novel medications soon to be available in Canada and encouraged us to contemplate how to better support patients in the long term with an evidence-based approach.
We extend our sincere thanks to all attendees, sponsors, partners, speakers, the organizing committee, and our dedicated members. Without your unwavering support, we could not have hosted such a fantastic event. We believe it was an engaging and thought-provoking weekend and hope that everyone enjoyed the content. Stay tuned for more exciting developments and collaborations in the future. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable journey.
CAHN 2024 AGM Registration
2024 Annual General Meeting - Register Now!
Register today for CAHN’s virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, March 7th, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM EST.
Attendance at the AGM entitles you to all the best member benefits including travel reimbursement to CAHN’s 2024 events:
- The Canadian Liver Meeting happening in Toronto from March 1-3, 2024
- CAHNference 2024 being planned for Calgary in the fall of 2024
Join the Team
Consider joining CAHN’s executive team either as a board member, a committee chair, or a committee member. Volunteering with CAHN is a rewarding and fun experience. We are looking for people who have about 2 hours per week to dedicate to moving CAHN’s initiatives forward. This is how CAHN is able to bring you the educational content you love. All experience levels are welcome. Having a diverse from across the nation with varying perspectives helps us ensure educational gaps are bridged.
We are looking for 4 board members, 4 event planning chairs, and 1 or 2 membership chair(s)
If you are interested in joining our team, please indicate so on the AGM registration form or send questions to [email protected].
2024 Member Benefits
CAHN is run by members for members. Education and patient care are our top priorities. To support this, CAHN offers a generous travel reimbursement benefit to ensure easy access to our educational events, The Canadian Liver Meeting and CAHNference. For 2024, this includes up to $500 in travel reimbursement towards each event plus 50% of one night’s accommodation at CLM and two night’s at CAHNference. Make sure to read the Conference Travel Policy to be aware of eligibility requirements. CAHN members also receive registration discounts to both events and partner events.
CAHN strives to ensure education is accessible to all members, including those who find travel to be a barrier. In 2020 we introduced our first virtual event, which initiated the creation of our new video education library, housing educational content from all of our events since its inception. Members may access this education through their CAHN Member Portal.
The International Presentation Travel Grant (IPTG) will continue for 2024. This year IPTG supported three members to travel to Geneva to present their work at INHSU! These members will be sharing their newfound learnings from the conference with you in upcoming education so stay tuned!
Members may be nomination by their colleagues to receive deserving recognition of the important work they do. Recognition happens through a heart-warming and meaningful ceremony at CAHNference. We’ve come to know that nurses are humble. And, they deserve recognition! We will be calling for award nominations at the AGM, so come prepared with your inspirational colleague in mind.
If you are a nurse working in Canada with patients with liver disease, join us in 2024 to receive all of the above and more for only $115.
If you are not a nurse, or you practice outside of Canada or you don’t work with patients but would like to access CAHN’s educational events and content, join as a Friend of CAHN for $75. Visit the Membership page to learn more or click the button below to join now.
*CAHN Member CLM Discount Code*
Log into your CAHN Member Portal to access your discount code. CAHN member registration gives you access to the Canadian Liver Meeting portion (March 1-3, 2024) of this event. Early-bird registration ends Dec 13.
CDDW™-CLM 2024
It is our great pleasure to invite you to the Joint 2024 Canadian Digestive Diseases Week™ and Canadian Liver Meeting Conference in Toronto, Ontario.
The Canadian Liver Meeting (CLM) portion takes place March 1-3, 2024
As was last year, the Conference will be another joint effort between the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, as well as their affiliates the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C, Canadian NASH Network, and Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses. Attendees will have full access to two distinct conferences – CDDW™ and CLM – as well as exceptional Symposia and programming such as the Gastroenterology Resident in Training Course and Research Topics program at the same time and under a single roof. We’re also so excited about the numerous opportunities for delegates from across the GI and hepatology communities to come together for shared networking and social events as part of the collaborative Conference.
Other Events
November 2-3, 2023 in Toronto
This annual meeting delivers updates in best practices for liver disease and provides commentary for ongoing research efforts on an array of liver-related topics. As a leader in Ontario’s education on Hepatology, the presentations on these topics have significant impact on the future of practice of Clinical Hepatology. Hepatology Update 2023 will be a two-day in person event.
November 8, 2023 in Boston, United States
The International Workshop on HBV Cure 2023
Since 2014, the International Workshop on HBV Cure has been a scientific platform acting as a catalyst to accelerate the progress for achieving a cure. Around the globe, more than 250 million people live with hepatitis B (HBV). The purpose of the workshop is to inform the participants about the developments in the work to find a cure for HBV. The meeting will be highly interactive with input from experts out of the arena of basic, translational, and clinical HBV research.
November 30 and December 1, 2023. Hybrid Event
The Annual BC Liver Forum
Will take place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on November 30, 2023 and at the UBC Campus, Robson Square December 1, 2023. The meeting includes a lecture series as well as dedicated discussion sessions and workshops. This is BC’s largest liver meeting, with Royal College accreditation pending. The content of the sessions will be focused on clinical discussion in the areas of: HBV, HCV, steatotic liver disease, PBC, Alcohol related liver disease and aspects on care of the cirrhotic patient. On the second day there will be the opportunity to participate in an HCV elimination workshop.
May 3-4, 2024 in Barcelona Spain + Virtual
The Innovations in NAFLD Care (INCBCN) Workshop 2024 will take place as a hybrid workshop in Barcelona, Spain. Delegates will be able to attend either in person in Barcelona or virtually from their computer. This workshop provides a platform to bring together the relevant stakeholders and patients to optimize NAFLD care.
New NAFLD Nomenclature
As many of you know, in August, new NAFLD nomenclature was announced.
The process to revise the nomenclature began in 2020 and included input from multiple organizations. The consensus of this global collaboration was for:
- Steatotic liver disease (SLD) to be the overarching term encompassing the various aetiologies of steatosis.
- The term steatohepatitis to remain as it is an important pathophysiological concept.
- NAFLD will now be MASLD: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, with a new subset, MetALD, to describe those with MASLD who consume greater amounts of alcohol per week.
- MASH is the replacement term for NASH; metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
Click below to learn more about applying the new terminology, created by AASLD.
Member Discount
Join the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association
The CFPNA/ACIMF is currently offering a no cost ($20 coupon) subscription for NEW MEMBERSHIPS for the 23/24 membership year Apply Coupon Code New2324.
Thank you to our Sponsors
