Selection Committee

The Selection Committee for the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship comprises distinguished leaders in liver health, patient advocacy, clinical research, and public policy. This independent panel plays a vital role in ensuring a transparent, inclusive, and merit-based process for selecting Fellowship recipients.

Charged with upholding the integrity of the selection process, Selection Committee members evaluate applicants using clear and consistent criteria aligned with the Fellowship’s mission and values. They bring a wide range of expertise across advocacy, science, and health policy to support a thoughtful and rigorous review.

In addition to reviewing applications and interviewing finalists, Selection Committee members serve as trusted advisors to the program. Their contributions help shape the Fellowship’s direction, reinforce its commitment to health equity, and honor Dr. Stephen Harrison’s legacy by advancing patient-centered approaches to liver disease research and care.

Selection Committee Member Year 2

Gina Bartes is a health advocacy executive and global leader in liver health, dedicated to improving outcomes through cross-sector collaboration and patient-centered innovation. Throughout her career, she has translated patient experience into action—building programs, policies, and partnerships that reduce diagnostic delays, improve care coordination, and support individuals from initial concern through diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management. Her work emphasizes closing gaps between primary and specialty care and elevating patient voices in clinical and policy decision-making.

Gina was appointed in 2026 to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Patient Advocacy Group and previously served on the AASLD Practice Guidelines and Fundamentals of Liver Disease (FOLD) Committees. She is co-founder of Hep Free AZ and founder of United Liver, advancing health equity and access to liver disease screening, diagnosis, and care. Gina also serves on the Donate Life Arizona Medical Executive Committee, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable Diagnostics Working Group, and the EASL Global Liver Action Network. She mentors the inaugural Harrison Fellowship cohort and will serve on the Selection Committee for Year 2.

Selection Committee Member Year 1 | Year 2

Michael Betel, MS, MSc, is a distinguished patient advocate and educator in liver health with over 30 years of leadership across the commercial and non-profit sectors. He is the Founder and President of the Fatty Liver Alliance, a Canadian-based organization dedicated to advancing awareness, education, and advocacy for individuals affected by MASLD/MASH.

Michael’s background includes senior roles in virology and oncology at Hoffmann-La Roche, as well as leadership positions at Canadian Blood Services and Schering-Plough. He served for nine years on the board of a Canadian liver-focused charity, contributing to national marketing and strategic efforts.

He currently chairs the Global Liver Institute's Liver Action Network, a coalition of patient advocacy organizations across North America, and was honored with the 2024 Global Excellence in Advocacy Award. Michael also serves on the boards for the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, Regeneron's MASH POWER Council, and the PPD/Evidera Patient Voice in MASH Advisory Board. He has collaborated with leading hepatology societies, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), contributing to consensus statements and nomenclature development for liver diseases.

Selection Committee Member Year 1 | Year 2

Wayne Eskridge, BSEE, is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals affected by steatotic liver disease, including MASLD, MASH, MetALD, and ALD. Following his own diagnosis in 2010, he turned his  personal experience into a broader mission to raise awareness and advance early detection and lifestyle-based interventions.

With a 50-year career in software and electronics, Eskridge brings a systems-thinking approach to patient advocacy. Under his leadership, FLF has launched impactful initiatives like the SUNN Program, the Wellness League, and the State of Steatotic Liver Care in America patient survey, focusing on non-invasive screening, public education, and direct patient engagement and support.

Wayne continues to advocate for innovative, patient-centered strategies to reduce the burden of liver disease across the U.S.

Selection Committee Member Year 1

Maraika Geisterfer-Black, MScGH, leads public health and advocacy initiatives as the Advocacy, Policy, and Public Health Programme Manager at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), where she drives efforts to promote early detection and liver health education across Europe. She oversees the award-winning “Love Your Liver” campaign, which brings free screenings and awareness to local communities through schools, public events, and major medical congresses.

Maraika has been recognized as one of PCMA’s “20 in Their Twenties” Class of 2025 for her innovative use of health events to drive social impact. She frequently represents EASL at international health forums and brings a passion for embedding public health into liver research, policy, and outreach.

Selection Committee Member Year 1 | Year 2

Jeff McIntyre, MA, most recently served as Vice President of Liver Health Programs at the Global Liver Institute (GLI), where he led a comprehensive portfolio addressing liver diseases such as MASLD/MASH, liver cancer, pediatric and rare liver conditions. He also oversaw GLI’s “Liver Health is Public Health” campaign. His work focused on advancing patient advocacy, influencing regulatory policies, and promoting equitable access to liver health resources worldwide.

Previously, as GLI’s MASH Programs Director, Jeff spearheaded initiatives like the U.S. MASH Action Plan, and the "Beyond the Biopsy" campaign, and the coordination of Global Fatty Liver Day. He has served on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’ Practice Guidelines Committee and currently contributes to the Food and Nutrition Innovation Council at Tufts University and the advisory board of Wellness for Greater Kenya.

Selection Committee Member Year 1 | Year 2

Michael Providence, CAE, is the Director of Policy and Planning at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), where he leads the development and execution of strategic policy initiatives aligned with AASLD’s mission to advance the science and practice of hepatology. His work includes shaping public policy priorities, coordinating advocacy efforts, and ensuring that AASLD’s positions are effectively communicated to policymakers and stakeholders.

Michael's leadership is instrumental in guiding AASLD’s Public Policy Committee, which is responsible for developing policy recommendations related to hepatology and ensuring accurate representation of these policies in external communications.

With a background in association management and a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, Michael brings a wealth of experience in policy development and strategic planning to his role. His contributions are vital in advancing policies that strengthen liver health and support the hepatology community.

Selection Committee Member Year 1

Dr. Amy Trang, PhD, MEd, is a distinguished public health leader and patient advocate specializing in liver health equity. She serves as the Vice President of Administrative Services and Planning for the Vietnam Viral Hepatitis Alliance (V-VHA), where she has played a pivotal role in advancing hepatitis B and C screening, education, and linkage to care initiatives in underserved communities.

She is also the founder and CEO of Social Capital Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm that supports nonprofit organizations in strategic planning and program development. Since 2014, Amy has served as Administrator for the National Task Force on Hepatitis B Focus on Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, coordinating national efforts to eliminate hepatitis B through community engagement and policy advocacy. Her work bridges grassroots outreach and policy leadership to address disparities in liver health across vulnerable populations.

Selection Committee Member Year 1 | Year 2

José Willemse, MSc, is a seasoned patient advocate and global leader in liver health, with over 25 years of experience amplifying the patient voice in healthcare. She serves on the board of Liver Patients International (LPI) and is a member of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Policy, Public Health and Advocacy Committee, the Public Affairs Committee of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), advisory boards and committees in various forums. She actively contributes to the development and improvement of national and international clinical guidelines and care pathways.

As the former Executive Director of the Dutch Liver Patients Association, José has been instrumental in shaping patient-centered policies and advancing public health initiatives at the national and European levels. She contributed to the development of European practice guidelines on MASLD/MASH, ensuring that patient perspectives were embedded in clinical recommendations.

In 2024, she co-authored a publication in the Journal of Hepatology, addressing the impact of stigma in liver disease and calling for more responsible language and shared accountability in care. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to equity and inclusion in liver health policy and practice.