The Cost of Survival: Navigating Hepatitis B Treatment in America

In this episode, Bright and Anousha chat with Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, about the financial challenges people living with hepatitis B face in the U.S., including high medication costs, insurance barriers, and the ongoing struggle to access affordable, life-saving treatment.Note: Carl also shared an important update that at least one widely used hepatitis B medication is now available through Trump Rx for about $20 per month, offering a potentially more affordable option for some patients.Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha sit down with Dr. Joseph Lim, Director of Clinical Hepatology at Yale School of Medicine, to explore the intersection of viral hepatitis and MASH/MASLD. Dr. Lim shares key insights on how these conditions overlap and what it means for liver health and disease progression.Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Anousha and Bright speak with Dr. Chloe Thio and Dr. David Thomas, academic medical researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, about a new NIH grant supporting a Johns Hopkins–led consortium focused on finding a cure for hepatitis B. They discuss the goals of the $24 million award, the importance of collaborative science, and what this investment could mean for the future of hepatitis B research and for people living with the disease.Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Michelle Liu, Advocacy and Engagement Program Manager at the Hepatitis B Foundation, joins us to discuss the Foundation’s storytelling programs and their impact. She shares how uplifting the voices of people with lived experience helps reduce stigma, build community, and empower individuals affected by hepatitis B and liver cancer.Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha speak with Ravshan Yakubov, a storyteller and patient advocate living with hepatitis B and Delta. Diagnosed as a child in Uzbekistan, Rav later discovered he had hepatitis D and liver cirrhosis after moving to Canada. He shares his journey, the challenges of co-infection, and his hope for future treatment options. Learn more about Rav's story here: https://youtu.be/rMmi90OIPAASupport the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha speak with Bruno D’Amato, a hepatitis B advocate whose diagnosis came decades after an unexpected hospital exposure. Symptom-free for years, Bruno’s routine tests later revealed liver fibrosis, prompting life-changing treatment. He shares his journey from silent infection to healing and the importance of regular monitoring, self-care, and hope. Learn more about Bruno's story here: https://youtu.be/CYlyc1l3blQSupport the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha welcome Dr. Catherine Freeland and Pharmacist Prince Okinedo, advisory board members of the African Hepatitis B Advocacy Coalition (ABAC). They discuss the Coalition’s launch and its mission to advance hepatitis B advocacy across Africa. Learn more about ABAC here: https://abachepb.org/Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Anousha is joined by Dr. Su Wang, Medical Director of the Chinese Medical Program at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Medical Advisor to the Hepatitis B Foundation, along with Dr. Thomas Tu, Molecular Biologist at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Australia. Together, they discuss expanding hepatitis B treatment guidelines by broadening eligibility criteria, improving access, reducing loss to follow-up, and the importance of including public health and patient perspectives in guideline development. Read more about their new paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40714036/Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Claudia Hawkins, Director of the Center for Global Communicable and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University. Dr. Hawkins leads the H2NET Initiative, a groundbreaking effort focused on addressing critical research gaps in Hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV/HBV co-infection across Sub-Saharan Africa. She shares insights into the challenges of HBV research in resource-limited settings, the importance of building local research capacity, and how H2NET is fostering collaboration to improve health outcomes in the region. Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

In this episode, Bright and Anousha invited Dr. David Higgins, a pediatrician and leading expert in vaccine delivery and communication from University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He sheds light on common myths and misconceptions about the hepatitis B birth dose and offers practical strategies for healthcare providers and advocates to address concerns with parents using empathy and evidence-based science.Support the showOur website: www.hepb.orgSupport B Heppy!Social Media: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook