Fourth Annual Primary Care MASLD/MASH Summit 2025

Fourth Annual Primary Care MASLD/MASH Summit 2025 is organized by MCI Canada and will be held on Dec 04, 2025.

Theme: From Missed to Managed: Primary Care at the Frontline of Metabolic Liver Health

Description:
This year’s summit will bring together leading experts across disciplines to explore the latest developments in Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—formerly known as NAFLD—and Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)—formerly NASH. All sessions will be delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation in French.

The program features eight in-depth sessions covering current research, practical diagnostic approaches, and real-world management strategies. Attendees will gain valuable insights into early detection, integrated care pathways, and the role of interdisciplinary collaboration. Highlights include:

Interactive case studies and expert-led panel discussions.
The Patient Perspective Session, offering a firsthand look at the lived experience of those affected by MASLD and MASH, emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care.
A concluding multidisciplinary panel with a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, hepatologist, and endocrinologist, discussing real-world application of strategies, best practices, and diagnostic challenges.
The summit is designed to empower healthcare professionals with the latest tools, resources, and clinical insights to improve outcomes for patients living with MASLD and MASH.

We invite you to register now and join us for this important event that will help shape the future of MASLD and MASH care in Canada and beyond.

On behalf of our co-chairs and esteemed faculty, we look forward to your participation and a dynamic exchange of ideas.

Learning Objectives:

• Define fatty Liver (MASLD and MASH) using current nomenclature and explain how they relate to commonly treated metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
• Recognize early signs and risk factors for advanced liver disease in asymptomatic patients and determine which individuals in their practice should be screened for MASLD.
• Interpret and apply non-invasive assessment tools such as Fibro Scan, ALT levels, FIB-4, ELF, and other imaging in the diagnosis and staging of liver disease.
• Engage in effective patient-centered conversations to address liver health stigma, increase awareness, and support shared decision-making around lifestyle and medical interventions.
• Incorporate evidence-based lifestyle strategies and emerging pharmacological options (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists, statins, insulin sensitizers) into individualized treatment plans for patients with MASLD/MASH.
• Identify when to refer patients for specialist care and understand how to collaborate effectively with hepatology, endocrinology, or gastroenterology for advanced disease management.
• Apply clinical strategies through real-world case discussions to enhance confidence and decision making when managing MASLD in a busy primary care setting.
• Describe the value of Primary Care in reversing the MASLD epidemic and commit to one practical change that can be implemented immediately in their practice.

Preliminary Agenda:

5:00 PM – 5:05 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks

Speaker: Michael Betel, President & Founder, Fatty Liver Alliance

5:05 PM – 5:30 PM | Understanding Fatty Liver: What’s New and What Matters Most in Primary Care

• MASLD & MASH simplified: clear, practical definitions
• Screening criteria and risk factors
• Brief review of updated guidelines and nomenclature

5:30 PM – 5:50 PM | Primary Care Toolbox: Managing Fatty Liver in Daily Practice

• What labs to order
• How to integrate liver health into patients visits
• FIB-4, FibroScan, ultrasound, ELF, and non-invasive scores: When and how to use them
• Workflow tips – Optimizing efficiency and improving care

5:50 PM – 6:20 PM | The Patient Voice: “I Didn’t Know I Had Liver Disease”

• How patients found out they had MASLD/MASH
• Barriers to care (stigma, confusion, fear)
• What finally worked—and why
• How Primary Care made (or could have made) a difference

6:20 PM – 6:50 PM | Lifestyle Rx: Pearls for a busy Primary Care Practice

• Addressing real world nutritional advice – Practical strategies for Primary Care
• Addressing patient challenges and stigma
• Brief and Practical lifestyle intervention strategies for busy clinics

6:50 PM – 7:20 PM | Integrating Available Medications in Primary Care for management of Fatty Liver disease

• Role of GLP-1s, statins, insulin sensitizers, and upcoming MASH therapies
• Considerations for T2D, obesity, CKD, and polypharmacy
• What’s in the pipeline

7:20 PM – 7:50 PM | Case-Based Panel: What Would You Do?

• Newly diagnosed patient with elevated ALT & diabetes
• Patient with advanced fibrosis on FibroScan but no symptoms
• Young patient with obesity and normal liver enzymes

7:50 PM – 8:00 PM | Closing Remarks: Primary Care as Liver Health Leaders

Speaker: Michael Betel

• Recap takeaways (3 things every PCP should do starting tomorrow)