The BRIDGE Program - for patients | UCSF Integrative Hepatology

Behavioral Resources and Intervention via Digital Group Education (BRIDGE)

BRIDGE (Behavioral Resources and Intervention through Digital Group Intervention) is a telehealth program designed to work alongside regular medical care for patients with fatty liver disease (steatotic liver disease). It is a group-based program that provides long-term support and education to help people manage their health while living with MASLD (Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease). BRIDGE includes 90-minute group medical visit sessions held every two weeks for 12 weeks, led by an advanced practice healthcare provider.

The program’s goal is to give patients knowledge and encourage them to take an active role in their own care through learning and support from peers. It is based on Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model, focusing on how health behaviors affect the liver. BRIDGE creates a space for shared learning, peer interaction to build community, and personalized help with self-management skills.

Each session has four parts: a 10-minute check-in, a 20-minute live presentation by the group leader, a 30-minute group discussion with questions and answers to help participants reflect on their motivation for change, and a one-on-one consultation with the clinician to create personalized health goals.

Lisa Catalli, MNS, NP

Lisa Catalli, MNS, NP, the co-founder of the BRIDGE program to liver health invites all patients diagnosed with MASLD to join the BRIDGE program. Interested patients can contact their hepatology provider and are added to a waiting list of patients to start ongoing BRIDGE sessions.

”I am passionate about using patient-centered care to empower patients so they can achieve their goals.”

Lisa Catalli, MSN, NP-C, UCSF School of Nursing

She co-founded BRIDGE to Liver Health, a video conferencing-enabled, shared medical appointment program to longitudinally interface with hepatology patients to improve liver health outcomes.

Bridge sessions for MASLD patients

BRIDGE Session 1: Introduction to Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) This session provides an introduction to MASLD, covering key topics such as the dynamic nature of fatty liver disease, the role of metabolic dysfunction, its prevalence, and potential health impacts. Participants will gain an understanding of how MASLD is diagnosed and monitored over time. The group activity focuses on introducing cognitive behavioral strategies to help participants explore the connections between their environment, thoughts, emotions, physical symptoms, and health-related behaviors.

BRIGE Session 2: Improving outcomes in MASLD

This session focuses on strategies to improve outcomes for MASLD and metabolic dysfunction through sustainable health-related behaviors, lasting weight loss, and the use of medications. Emphasis is placed on participants becoming active participants in self-care. The group activity helps participants identify their core values that inspire positive health behaviors and introduces the BRIDGE goal tracker as a tool to prioritize specific areas of health to focus on.