Fatty Liver Foundation Announces Second Cohort of the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship

Nineteen Fellows Selected to Carry Forward Dr. Harrison’s Legacy Through Patient-Centered Advocacy and Leadership

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026, BOISE, IDAHO, USA — The Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF) today announced the second cohort of the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship, a program that equips patients, care partners, and patient advocates with the knowledge, skills, and access needed to shape the future of drug and diagnostic development across the full spectrum of steatotic liver disease (SLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), metabolic and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD), and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD).

Following a rigorous selection process led by an independent Selection Committee, 19 Harrison Fellows have been chosen from applicants across North America, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. The second cohort builds on the strong foundation established in the program’s inaugural year, deepening the program's international reach and expanding representation across the full spectrum of SLD.

2026—2027 Harrison Fellows:

·         Lori Botello (Tucson, Arizona, United States)

·         Willis Frank Dungan (Central Mississippi, United States)

·         Dianne Gillard (London, United Kingdom)

·         D. Scott Graham (Manassas, Virginia, United States)

·         Jo Anne Henry (Roanoke, Virginia, United States)

·         Kathryn J. Hudson (Baltimore, Maryland, United States)

·         Gema Iribar (Zarautz, Spain)

·         Karen V. Kwinn (Denver, Colorado, United States)

·         Georgeta Lester (Raleigh, North Carolina, United States)

·         Wendy Lo (San Francisco, California, United States)

·         Lesley Anne Manning (Plymouth, United Kingdom)

·         Gary Miller (Stamford, Connecticut, United States)

·         Terri Milton (Houston, Texas, United States)

·         Tricia Nichols (Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States)

·         Joana Pina (Vila Real, Portugal)

·         Jerry Rosenberg (Jacksonville, Florida, United States)

·         Jillian Sanchez (McAllen, Texas, United States)

·         Claudia S. Tamayo-Torres (Brighton, Massachusetts, United States)

·         Ken Wong (San Ramon, California, United States)

The 2026—2027 cohort reflects the geographic and experiential diversity that the Fellowship's selection process is designed to cultivate. Fellows hail from 12 U.S. states, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Spain, and bring lived experience spanning MASH, MASLD, ALD, and related metabolic conditions.

Wayne Eskridge, CEO and Co-Founder of FLF, pointed to the maturing state of patient advocacy across the liver disease field. "The quality of this year's applicant pool reflects how rapidly this landscape is changing," he said, "and this cohort brings remarkable depth of experience alongside a shared commitment to advancing the patient voice in science and policy."

Henry E. Chang, Executive Director of FLF, who helped shape the vision for the Fellowship, reflected on the conviction at the heart of the program. "The most powerful force in medicine is a patient who truly understands their disease," he noted. "These Fellows will carry that conviction into clinical trials, regulatory discussions, and health policy, ensuring that patient experience is never an afterthought but always a foundation."

Reflecting on what the Fellowship has meant to those who came through it first, Kerry Sivia, a member of the inaugural 2025—2026 cohort, shared, "I am exceptionally proud to be part of the inaugural cohort. The Fellowship means a great deal to me because of the legacy behind it, the relationships I have formed, and the opportunities it has given me to grow as an advocate and contribute to liver disease care and awareness, especially around clinical trials and how care is delivered."

FLF thanks the Harrison family for their continued support of the Fellowship that carries Dr. Harrison’s name. FLF also thanks Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, the Fellowship's inaugural and continuing lead funder, and Genentech for its support of the second year. FLF further thanks the distinguished members of the independent Selection Committee, whose deliberations and expertise guided the choice of this second cohort, and the mentors who are lending their expertise to equip Fellows with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become effective advocates and leaders.

The Fellows begin their year-long journey this month, participating in structured learning sessions, mentorship, and applied advocacy work that culminates in the Patient Advocate Trial Design Simulation Lab in October 2027. In that capstone session, Fellows work in teams to develop and present recommendations on a clinical trial protocol to a multidisciplinary panel representing clinical development, regulatory, and industry perspectives, applying everything they have learned across the year.

For more information about the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship and the work of FLF, please visit www.harrisonfellows.org and www.fattyliverfoundation.org.

About the Fatty Liver Foundation

Founded in 2017, the Fatty Liver Foundation is a national non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals living with steatotic liver disease (SLD) across its full spectrum, including MASLD, MASH, MetALD, and ALD. Through awareness, community-based screening, education, and advocacy, FLF works to ensure that every person, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay, can access the care and support they need to live well with liver disease. Connect with us at www.fattyliverfoundation.org, Facebook (Fatty Liver Foundation JUST LIVER NEWS), X (@LiverSaver), and YouTube (@Fatty Liver Foundation).

Media Contact

Henry E. Chang

Executive Director, Fatty Liver Foundation

[email protected]

Mobile +1 917 400 8900

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