The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) is hosting a webinar on July 20, 2017 with four experts who will share their lived experience and years of experience serving others living with hepatitis C. Individuals living with hepatitis C face stigma, endure discriminatory restrictions on access to treatment, and commonly have a lack of knowledge about hepatitis. Additionally, people living with or at risk for hepatitis C are often dealing with other health conditions, sometimes mental health or substance use issues, transportation worries, and housing concerns.

Published data from focus groups about patient perspectives on hepatitis C include a strong emphasis on social factors and stigma. Patients experience feelings of isolation within their own social circles and perceived stigma which often distances patients from the healthcare system and pursuit of treatment.[1] Our webinar panelists play a crucial role in establishing strong supportive relationships with patients that enable them to access care.

A significant gap remains between the lived experience of hepatitis C and the knowledge and assumptions of health professionals and policy makers.[2] By sharing the experience and perspectives of our panelists, NVHR hopes to inform and improve the quality of services offered to individuals living with or at risk for hepatitis C, and to continue to address stigma as a barrier to hepatitis C care.

Please join our webinar on July 20, 2017 at 3pm Eastern featuring service providers who work with hepatitis C patients every day. Our panelists are:

Orlando Chavez, Glide Foundation

Randy Madara, Help4Hep

Corinne Miga Miosi, HepatitisC.net & University of Buffalo

HepMag’s own, Lucinda Porter

Our presenters will discuss their personal stories that led them to work with hepatitis C patients, their current roles, and what they hear from patients the most. Join us to hear about their heartfelt work.

Register here

For more information about this webinar, contact Tina Broder, NVHR’s Program Director.

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Tina Broder MSW, MPH is the Program Director and Bekeela Davila, MPH is the Program Coordinator at the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), a national coalition dedicated to ending the hepatitis B and C epidemics in the United States.

[1] North, Carol S.; Devereaux, Robert; Pollio, David E.; Hong, Barry A.; Jain, Mamta K. Patient perspectives on hepatitis C and its treatment, European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology: January 2014 - Volume 26 - Issue 1 - p 74–81 doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e32836382b5

Vaughn-Sandler, V., Sherman, C., Aronsohn, A. et al. Dig Dis Sci (2014) 59: 681. doi:10.1007/s10620-013-2942-0

[2] Carla Treloar, Jake Rance, Markus Backmund; Understanding Barriers to Hepatitis C Virus Care and Stigmatization From a Social Perspective. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 57 (suppl_2): S51-S55. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit263