B Heppy

In this episode, Bright and Anousha chat with Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, about the financial challenges people living with hepatitis B face in the U.S., including high medication costs, insurance barriers, and the ongoing struggle to access affordable, life-saving treatment. Note:  Carl also shared an important update that at least one widely used hepati...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha sit down with Dr. Joseph Lim, Director of Clinical Hepatology at Yale School of Medicine, to explore the intersection of viral hepatitis and MASH/MASLD. Dr. Lim shares key insights on how these conditions overlap and what it means for liver health and disease progression. Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twi...

In this episode, Anousha and Bright speak with Dr. Chloe Thio and Dr. David Thomas, academic medical researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, about a new NIH grant supporting a Johns Hopkins–led consortium focused on finding a cure for hepatitis B. They discuss the goals of the $24 million award, the importance of collaborative science, and what this investment could mean for the futur...

In this episode, Michelle Liu, Advocacy and Engagement Program Manager at the Hepatitis B Foundation, joins us to discuss the Foundation’s storytelling programs and their impact. She shares how uplifting the voices of people with lived experience helps reduce stigma, build community, and empower individuals affected by hepatitis B and liver cancer. Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Suppo...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha speak with Ravshan Yakubov, a storyteller and patient advocate living with hepatitis B and Delta. Diagnosed as a child in Uzbekistan, Rav later discovered he had hepatitis D and liver cirrhosis after moving to Canada. He shares his journey, the challenges of co-infection, and his hope for future treatment options.  Learn more about Rav's story here: https:/...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha speak with Bruno D’Amato, a hepatitis B advocate whose diagnosis came decades after an unexpected hospital exposure. Symptom-free for years, Bruno’s routine tests later revealed liver fibrosis, prompting life-changing treatment. He shares his journey from silent infection to healing and the importance of regular monitoring, self-care, and hope.  Learn more about...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha welcome Dr. Catherine Freeland and Pharmacist Prince Okinedo, advisory board members of the African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC). They discuss the Coalition’s launch and its mission to advance hepatitis B advocacy across Africa.  Learn more about ABAC here: https://abachepb.org/ Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media: ...

In this episode, Anousha is joined by Dr. Su Wang, Medical Director of the Chinese Medical Program at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Medical Advisor to the Hepatitis B Foundation, along with Dr. Thomas Tu, Molecular Biologist at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Australia. Together, they discuss expanding hepatitis B treatment guidelines by broadening eligibility criteria, impr...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Claudia Hawkins, Director of the Center for Global Communicable and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University. Dr. Hawkins leads the H2NET Initiative, a groundbreaking effort focused on addressing critical research gaps in Hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV/HBV co-infection across Sub-Saharan Africa. She shares insights into the challenges of HBV research in...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha invited Dr. David Higgins, a pediatrician and leading expert in vaccine delivery and communication from University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He sheds light on common myths and misconceptions about the hepatitis B birth dose and offers practical strategies for healthcare providers and advocates to address concerns with parents using empathy and evidenc...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha are joined by Dr. Bethany Holt, Associate Director of Health Systems at Harvard Medical School’s Program in Global Primary Health Care, and Imee Lacson, a patient advocate with the Yellow Warriors Society. Together, they explore how hepatitis B can be integrated into primary care and discuss strategies for strengthening health systems to address hepatitis B in t...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha are joined by researchers Philippa Mathews of the Crick Institute and Louise Downs of Oxford University to discuss their latest findings on the devastating financial impact of hepatitis B on patients and their families. They unpack key insights from their recent paper, shedding light on the hidden costs of care. The episode also features a powerful segment from...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha spoke with Dr. Nancy Reau from Rush University to share insights and updates on current treatments in development for hepatitis B. Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

Hear from Lou Kassa, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute, and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, and Chari Cohen, President of the Hepatitis B Foundation in an interview for our podcast as they discuss what these changes mean for our organizations and others like us.  Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, we welcomed Heidi Emery and Kathryn Jack to discuss their qualitative review on the barriers and facilitators of hepatitis B programs and services for prison inmates.  Read more about their research here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39731473/ Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha invited Michaela Jackson, Program Director of Prevention and Policy at the Hepatitis B Foundation to share insights about the hepatitis B vaccine and why it must be prioritized.  Learn more about birth dose and hepatitis B vaccination: https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/hep-b-birth-dose-media-toolkit/ Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B...

In this episode, Anousha and Bright invited Dr. Robert Gish to speak about hepatitis B Reactivation, a serious health issue often overlooked in the discourse surrounding hepatitis B and liver cancer. Learn more about Dr. Gish at his website www.robertgish.com as well as through his podcast linked below.   Everything Liver Podcast: https://www.robertgish.com/podcast Support the show Our website:  w...

In this episode, Anousha invited Mohamed Ali, a public health professional with the Seattle King County Health Department as well as a board member with Somali Health Board. Mohamed shared his experience working on the liver cancer disparities project and educating Somali communities in Seattle about the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer.  Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Suppor...

In this episode, Bright spoke with Prince--a patient advocate living with hepatitis B. Prince details his journey with hepatitis B and his aspirations to eliminate hepatitis B and improve the quality of life of those living with hepatitis B.  Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha invite Wendy, a #justB storyteller with the Hepatitis B Foundation to share valuable insights about the journey towards patient advocacy and the challenges that come with it. Check out the resources mentioned during the episode! How do I Become a Patient Advocate with Wendy Lo Wendy's HepBStories.org Webpage Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Suppo...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha spoke with Lynette, a storyteller living with hepatitis B. Lynette shares more about her diagnosis and what encouraged her to make the decision to get treatment to manage her health.  Watch Lynette's B the Voice Story here: https://youtu.be/zSbwbRrkVro Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha invited Amy Jessop (Prevention Point) and Beatrice Zovich (Hepatitis B Foundation) to share insights from their recent study examining barriers to screening and education for hepatitis B and delta among PWUD (people who use drugs).  Read the study here: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/4/628 Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Me...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha interviewed Dr. Chari Cohen (President of the Hepatitis B Foundation), and Dr. Carolyn Wester (Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the CDC). Dr. Cohen and Dr. Wester shared insights about the importance and impact of the universal hepatitis B screening and vaccination recommendations for adults in the United States.  Check out additional resources by...

In this episode, we are joined by our Philip Yeboah and Joe Balestrteri, who both serve on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) as patient advocates as well as storytellers for the #justB and #BtheVoice storytelling programs. Philip and Joe share more about their stories as well as their experiences with the CAB.  Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram...

In this episode, Bright and Anousha chat with 2 members serving on the CAB Advisory Board as patient advocates with lived experiences. They share their stories with hepatitis B and how it empowered them to become a voice for people with lived experience everywhere.  Support the show Our website:  www.hepb.org Support B Heppy! Social Media:  Instagram - Twitter - Facebook