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Integrative Hepatology

Integrative Hepatology

Optimizing Overall Health to Manage Liver Disease

Is integrative hepatology right for you?

Whether you're managing a liver diagnosis or preventing one, Integrative Hepatology offers tools to help you live better, longer, and with greater vitality.

Our work focuses on:
Nutrition
Food is medicine
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Movement
Move to groove, your body will approve
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Integrative Approaches
Nourish your mind, body, and spirit
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Two of our own Integrative Approaches:

Nutrition for Liver Health and the BRIDGE Program

Nutrition for liver health - enhance liver health through the power of healthy eating

 

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with chronic liver disease—such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, also known as “fatty liver”), viral hepatitis, or autoimmune liver conditions—or simply want to take proactive steps to protect your liver, this group medical visit series offers expert guidance, practical tools, and a supportive community to help you enhance your liver health through the power of healthy eating. Designed with individuals living with liver disease in mind, this series is also ideal for anyone looking to understand how daily habits can promote liver function, reduce inflammation, and improve long-term well-being.

 

 

 

Behavioral Resources and Intervention via Digital Group Education (BRIDGE)

BRIDGE - a 6-session group telehealth program led by advanced practice providers in 90-min shared medical appointments with small groups of MASLD patients in an academic outpatient hepatology clinic setting. The program contains multi-component group interventions, with didactic education and behavioral coaching, while leveraging peer-based learning and support.

 

 

 

“Thanks to the Bridge Program and Lisa’s leadership, I now feel empowered to take care of myself—physically, emotionally, and mentally. It truly changed the way I live with liver disease.”
“Thanks to the Bridge Program and Lisa’s leadership, I now feel empowered to take care of myself—physically, emotionally, and mentally. It truly changed the way I live with liver disease.”
Patricia H.
Bridge Program Participant, MASH patient with cirrhosis
“Meditation for me has replaced anxiety with calm and has given me the courage to face the challenges that come my way..”
“Meditation for me has replaced anxiety with calm and has given me the courage to face the challenges that come my way..”
Steve L.
HCV and HCC patient
“I want to shout Dr. Lai’s praises from the rooftops! I want to tell you how life changing the course has been for me. I am so grateful for Dr. Lai, her smarts, sweet nature, and her mission to prevent metabolic disease. "
“I want to shout Dr. Lai’s praises from the rooftops! I want to tell you how life changing the course has been for me. I am so grateful for Dr. Lai, her smarts, sweet nature, and her mission to prevent metabolic disease. "
Kristin J.
Participant of the Nutrition for Liver Health group medical visit sessions
“I truly believe that when combined with healthy diet and exercise acupuncture can enhance our body's ability to cleanse and rejuvenate itself, potentially reversing fatty liver disease. Besides pain relief, acupuncture can also improve liver function, aid detoxification and reduce fat accumulation within the liver. "
“I truly believe that when combined with healthy diet and exercise acupuncture can enhance our body's ability to cleanse and rejuvenate itself, potentially reversing fatty liver disease. Besides pain relief, acupuncture can also improve liver function, aid detoxification and reduce fat accumulation within the liver. "
Tracy C.
MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis) patient
“The Bridge program was very helpful to me in my initial days of learning about liver disease. I have managed to turn my liver disease around and actually heal my liver!  I feel better than I have ever felt and am healthier than I have been in a couple decades."
“The Bridge program was very helpful to me in my initial days of learning about liver disease. I have managed to turn my liver disease around and actually heal my liver!  I feel better than I have ever felt and am healthier than I have been in a couple decades."
Sara C.
Bridge Program Participant
"I was pleased to attend the inaugural liver nutrition course. It was incredibly informative and helpful. I sincerely believe this should be required learning for every liver patient and I cannot recommend the course highly enough!"
"I was pleased to attend the inaugural liver nutrition course. It was incredibly informative and helpful. I sincerely believe this should be required learning for every liver patient and I cannot recommend the course highly enough!"
Tanya G.
Participant of the Nutrition for Liver Health group medical visit sessions
Our UCSF Integrative Health center:

THE OSHER CENTER

Osher Center for Integrative Health

At the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, our vision is to nurture health and inspire well-being in all people.

We work closely with clinicians, educators, and researchers across UCSF and with our colleagues in the Osher Collaborative for Integrative Health.

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Publications & Impact
Articles, publications, and research from our team.
Research Areas

Powering Up with Protein

Exploring how protein and creatinine supplementation can strengthen nutrition, support recovery, and improve quality of life for patients living with cirrhosis.

Beyond Pills for Pain

Developing safe, non-drug strategies—from movement to mind-body practices—to manage pain while minimizing side effects.

Muscles Matter in MASLD

Muscles Matter in MASLD
 

Investigating how muscle health influences the course of fatty liver disease, and testing interventions to preserve strength and resilience.

We’re pushing the boundaries of hepatology through cross-disciplinary research initiatives

Micronutrient deficiencies in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that micronutrient deficiencies are associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality in patients with liver disease.

 

  • To assess micronutrient deficiency patterns in liver transplant candidates. We will measure micronutrient deficiencies among patients with cirrhosis undergoing evaluation for liver transplantation. This will allow us to establish patterns of micronutrient deficiency among patients with cirrhosis.
  • To evaluate the association between micronutrient deficiency patterns and liver-related clinical outcomes.
Meet our team
Our philosophy is simple — hire a team of diverse, passionate people and foster a culture that empowers you to do your best work.
About us
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