For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Alena Groopman, groopman@stanford.edu
October 23, 2009
Tel: 650.721.6630
http://liver.stanford.edu/    

International College Students Unite Against Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer at the Inaugural Team HBV Conference at Stanford University

Stanford, CA – On November 13, 2009, over fifty outstanding international representatives from across the United States and China will come together to launch the Inaugural Team HBV Collegiate Conference at Stanford University.  The weekend conference, hosted by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and supported by the Ping and Amy Chao Foundation and the Liu Hac Minh Foundation, brings together individuals representing Team HBV chapters worldwide, Jade Ribbon Campaign advocates, and hepatitis B and liver cancer experts from over twenty prestigious universities worldwide.

The conference provides a professional forum for Team HBV Collegiate Chapters to share insights, best practices, and strategies to advance hepatitis B outreach, education, and communication.  The conference is an excellent opportunity to receive updated hepatitis B news and legislation, network with other chapters, and advance the future of hepatitis B and liver cancer outreach education.

There are over 350 million people worldwide who are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which causes 60-80 percent of liver cancer.  In fact, one in ten Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Americans and one in ten Chinese are chronically infected with HBV.  Education, outreach and advocacy remain the key components for combating this neglected global pandemic.

At the first Team HBV Collegiate Conference, students will have the opportunity to present to their peer and learn from leaders from the fields of medicine and public health in over thirty presentations.  Speakers include:

- Dr. Dale Hu, MD, MPH, Epidemiology Research Team Leader, Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Saturday, 11/14, 9:00 AM)

- Dr. Samuel So, MD, FACS, Director, Asian Liver Center, and Lui Hac Minh Professor of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine (Saturday, 8/5, 7:20 PM)

(If you would like to attend a talk or arrange an interview with a speaker, please email: groopman@stanford.edu)

Conference Details: DATES: Monday, November 9, 2009 to Sunday, November 15, 2009; LOCATION: Stanford University, Stanford CA

About Team HBV Collegiate Chapters: The Team HBV Collegiate Chapters raise awareness about hepatitis B, promote the ideals of the Jade Ribbon Campaign, and ultimately strive to better the health and general welfare of the student body and the local community as it pertains to hepatitis B and liver cancer.  

About the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University: The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University is a national and international leader in fighting hepatitis B and liver cancer through outreach, education, advocacy, and research.  http://liver.stanford.edu/

Jade Ribbon Campaign: In May 2001, the Asian Liver Center launched the Jade Ribbon Campaign to spread awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer in the Asian community.  The objective of the campaign is to increase awareness and provide ethnic-sensitive health information to reduce this major health disparity and improve API health.