Emerging Topics in Liver Disease Conference: Innovative Trends in Liver Health 2026 - Sept. 19, 2026

Houston, TX US
September 19, 2026

In-Person and Virtual attendance options are available. 

Presented by the Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation at Houston Methodist

The epidemic of liver disease has become increasingly more common and poses complex problems regarding diagnosis and management. There are recent advances in the diagnosis and management of patients with liver disease. This CE activity has been designed to educate attendees about new developments in hepatology, and new approaches to management of liver diseases that can be readily integrated into their daily practice. A group of national experts, including several renowned guest faculty, will present new findings in a clinical context that will be beneficial in the multidisciplinary management of unique and complex liver disorders.

This activity will provide lecture format presentations, debate and panel discussions, Q&A sessions and case discussions.

​​​​​FEES

REGISTRATION TYPEFEE
Physician (Houston Methodist)$30
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)*$275
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area)$50
Allied Health Care Professional (including Nurses)$20
Resident / Fellow / StudentComplimentary

*In compliance with HM’s policy on Physician Non-Monetary Compensation regarding “Stark Law,” private physicians who reside and/or practice medicine within the Greater Houston Area are required to pay the full Fair Market Value registration fee.

 Presenters, topics, program schedule, and credit is subject to change

Target Audience

This conference is designed for primary care physicians, internists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants and other health care providers.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to: 

  • Provide significant information regarding new and critical developments in portal hypertension.
  • Identify emerging trends in the Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD) and determine the latest concepts in diagnosis and management.
  • Explain innovations occurring in the management of liver diseases, including viral hepatitis.
  • Discuss current new developments and treatment of liver cancers –an emerging epidemic.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 7.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 7.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.75 Attendance
  • 7.75 Nursing Contact Hours

    Houston Methodist is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

    Houston Methodist will award up to 7.75 nursing professional development contact hours for this activity.

  • 7.75 Social Work
    The program has been approved for 7.75 CE contact hours for Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.
  • 7.75 Transplant Coordinators
    The American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC) has assigned the following Continuing Education Points for Transplant Certification (CEPTCs) to the following Houston Methodist Transplant Center educational program: Emerging Topics in Liver Disease Conference: Innovative Trends in Liver Health 2026 - Sept. 19, 2026 | Fri, 05/22/2026 - 8:00am | 7.75 Category 1 CEPTCs
Course opens: 
05/22/2026
Course expires: 
10/19/2026
Event starts: 
09/19/2026 - 7:30am CDT
Event ends: 
09/19/2026 - 4:30pm CDT
Cost:
$275.00
2026 Emerging Topics in Liver Disease & Transplantation
AGENDA | Saturday, September 19
TIMEPRESENTATIONSPEAKER(S)
7:00 AMRegistration & Breakfast
7:30 AMConference WelcomeVictor Ankoma-Sey, MD, FACP, FAASLD
7:35 AMIntroductory RemarksR. Mark Ghobrial, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS (Ed)
Plenary Session I : Complications of Portal Hypertension: New Insights & Emerging Strategies
Moderators: Tamneet Basra, MD, MD and Ashish Saharia, MD, Julie Corkrean, MBA, RN, CCTC
7:40 AMState-of-the-Art Lecture I
Noninvasive Assessment of Portal Hypertension and Risk of
Hepatic Decompensation
Mitchell Shiffman, MD
8:10 AMSarcopenia in Cirrhosis:
Diagnosis, Current Management Strategies, and Future Directions
Aldo J. Montano-Loza, MD
8:40 AMHepatic Encephalopathy in 2026:
Practical Approaches to Diagnosis and Management
Omar Mousa MBBS, MD
9:10 AMHepatorenal Syndrome (HRS):
Contemporary Diagnosis and Management Updates
Florence Wong, MD
9:40 AMQ&A and Discussion 
9:55 AMBREAK
Plenary Session II: Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction – Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD):
What’s New in 2026?
Moderators: Victor Ankoma-Sey, MD, David Victor, III, MD, and Constance Mobley, MD
10:10 AMEvolving Management of Obesity: Pharmacotherapy for Weight Loss: New Insights and Clinical ApplicationSamaneh Dowlatshahi, MD
10:40 AMState-of-the-Art Lecture II:
MASLD in 2026: Current Standards and Future Therapeutic Options
Fernando Membreno, MD
11:10 AMDebate: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists vs. MASH-Specific Therapy: Which Strategy Holds Greater Promise for Patients With MASLD?

PRO: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Should Be the Preferred
Therapeutic Strategy


CON: MASH-Specific Therapy Remains Essential for Optimal
Disease Management


Rebuttal Discussion
PRO: Chukwuma Egwim, MD

CON: David W. Victor III, MD
11:40 AMQ&A and Discussion 
11:55 AMLUNCH 
11:55 AMPRODUCT THEATRE (Presented in Boardroom)
*Not certified for CE credit
 
Plenary Session III: Current Innovations in Chronic Liver Disease and Transplantation
Moderators: R. Mark Ghobrial, MD, Caroline Simon, MD & Andrea Duchini, MD
12:55 PMState-of-the-Art Lecture III
Advances in the Management of Primary Biliary Cholangitis and
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Tamneet Basra, MD
1:20 PMHepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) Infection:
Current Evaluation and Evolving Management Strategies
Michelle Jones- Pauley, MD
1:45 PMTowards Chronic HCV Elimination by 2030: Barriers,
Opportunities and Path forward in the United States and Globally
John W. Ward, MD
2:10 PMAdvances in Organ Preservation:
Machine Perfusion Strategies for Expanding the Donor Pool
Caroline Simon, MD
2:35 PMThe Next Frontier:
Eliminating Immunosuppression in Organ Transplantation
Stephanie Tsai, MD
3:00 PMQ&A and Discussion 
3:15 PMBREAK
Plenary Session IV: Liver Cancer: Current Concepts and Future Directions
Moderators: Maen Abdelrahim, MD, & Kirk Heyne, MD, Yee Lee Cheah, MD
3:30 PMPresidential Address
Transplantation Oncology - Liver Transplantation for
Cholangiocarcinoma and Colorectal Liver Metastases:
Where Do we Stand ?
Wojciech G. Polak, MD, PhD
3:55 PMState-of-the-Art Lecture IV
Molecular and Immune Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
and Cholangiocarcinoma:
Can They Guide Therapeutic Decision-  Making?
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, JD, MBA, PhD (hc)
4:20 PMHepatocellular Carcinoma in the Pre- and Post-Transplant Setting:
Current Management Approaches and Evolving Strategies
Maen Abdelrahim, MD
4:45 PMQ&A and Discussion 
5:00 PMAdjourn
Houston Methodist Research Institute
6670 Bertner Avenue
John F. Bookout Auditorium, 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77030
United States

In-Person attendance will be held in the Houston Methodist Research Institute (6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030). 

Virtual information will be provided to registered learners. 

COURSE DIRECTOR
Victor Ankoma-Sey, MD, FACP, FAASLD
Director, Liver Transplant Program
Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation
Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center
Director, Liver Associates of Texas, PA

Available Credit

  • 7.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Houston Methodist designates this Live activity for a maximum of 7.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.75 Attendance
  • 7.75 Nursing Contact Hours

    Houston Methodist is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

    Houston Methodist will award up to 7.75 nursing professional development contact hours for this activity.

  • 7.75 Social Work
    The program has been approved for 7.75 CE contact hours for Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.
  • 7.75 Transplant Coordinators
    The American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC) has assigned the following Continuing Education Points for Transplant Certification (CEPTCs) to the following Houston Methodist Transplant Center educational program: Emerging Topics in Liver Disease Conference: Innovative Trends in Liver Health 2026 - Sept. 19, 2026 | Fri, 05/22/2026 - 8:00am | 7.75 Category 1 CEPTCs

Interested in exhibiting? Contact us for more information.


Exhibitors

We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for participating as exhibitors for this activity: 

Ardelyx

AstraZeneca

Eisai

Gilead

Helio Genomics

HepQuant

Intra-Sana Laboratories

Ipsen

Keenova

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals

Mirum Pharmaceuticals

Orphalan

Takeda


Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for participating as exhibitors for this activity: 

Break Sponsors: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Takeda

Lunch Sponsor: Gilead


Educational grants

We gratefully acknowledge the following companies for providing an educational grant to partially support this activity:

Madrigal

 

Price

Cost:
$275.00
Please login or register to take this course.

​​​​​FEES

REGISTRATION TYPEFEE
Physician (Houston Methodist)$30
Physician (Private physician located within the Greater Houston Area)*$275
Physician (Private physician located outside the Greater Houston Area)$50
Allied Health Care Professional (including Nurses)$20
Resident / Fellow / StudentComplimentary

*In compliance with HM’s policy on Physician Non-Monetary Compensation regarding “Stark Law,” private physicians who reside and/or practice medicine within the Greater Houston Area are required to pay the full Fair Market Value registration fee.