Thelma King Thiel, RN, BA
Chair and CEO
Hepatitis Foundation International

News & Media Center

Press Releases

U.S. Expert Promotes Hepatitis Prevention at WHO Meeting in Italy

HFI CEO Represented USA at European Liver Meeting

Give Your Liver a Break DVD Wins Emmy

Thelma King Thiel Receives

Above and Beyond Citizen Award

HFI’s CEO Thelma King Thiel received the Above and Beyond Citizen Honors presented by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation as an unsung hero for her extraordinary courage and selflessness in promoting liver wellness and healthy lifestyles. Affectionately known as ”The Liver Lady”, Thelma has dedicated her life to educating people about the importance of liver health following the loss of her four-year-old son, Dean, to a rare liver disease four decades ago. Her inspirational message empowers individuals with knowledge and challenges them to take responsibility for their own health and wellness.  She is an inspiration to all who know her.

Public Service Announcement

Our hepatitis prevention public service announcement is now online and available for download. Click Here

U.S. Expert Promotes Hepatitis Prevention at WHO Meeting in

Italy

   Hepatitis Foundation International’s (HFI) CEO, Thelma King Thiel, creator of the unique ”liver” cartoon and humorous messages about the liver, was invited to  share her techniques with representatives from the World Health Organization and 12 European countries at a meeting held in Lucca, Italy March 13-14, 2008. Calling the liver one’s personal power plant, she described how drugs, alcohol and hepatitis viruses attack and kill liver cells, the employees in this miraculous powerplant. She encouraged the attendees to engage caregivers, educators and patients in promoting liver wellness and healthy lifestyle behaviors to help bring viral hepatitis under control.

   Members of the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, affiliate of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Liver Patient Association (ELPA) welcomed having new and non-threatening techniques to enhance their efforts to prevent viral hepatitis and other blood borne pathogens.  Ms Thiel said, " Dollars devoted to prevention will circumvent the tragedy of this disease for individuals around the world, many of whom have no resources for treatment, if infected". 

   Ms Thiel was recommended by John W. Ward, M.D. Director, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to represent the United States and share her approach to prevention with the attendees.  Dr. Ward, who also attended the meeting, commented, “Your participation added a lot to the meeting particularly your passion for viral hepatitis prevention which the audience responded enthusiastically to at the end of your presentation.”

  The purpose of the meeting was to identify the role and impact of various partner agencies, organizations and patient groups on bringing hepatitis under control. Patient access to care and support for treatments for viral hepatitis were high priorities for many of the European organizations. The focus of Ms. Thiel’s presentation was to share new and easily replicated messages promoting primary and secondary prevention.

   Representatives from WHO/EURO, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, and the UK received a copy of HFI’s Foundation for Decision Making Teacher’s Guide and a DVD called The Invisible Threat. Applauded for her exceptional educational approach, Ms. Thiel commented “I was encouraged by the positive response by several attendees as an educational “eye opener.”

   The Hepatitis Foundation International, a non profit organization located in Silver Spring, MD, is recognized internationally for its unique liver wellness approach, its series of 14 DVDs and educational materials promoting primary and secondary prevention of viral hepatitis and other blood borne pathogens.  HFI’s Foundation for Decision Making™ Training Program has been embraced by numerous government agencies including the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, numerous health departments and community organizations reaching thousands of educators, healthcare providers, substance abuse and mental health counselors, and social workers.

HFI Chief Represented USA at European Liver Meeting

     The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis, and the European Liver Patient Association will hold a meeting on “Preventing and control of viral hepatitis; the role and impact of liver patient groups in and outside Europe” in Lucca, Italy, March 13, 14 2008. The purpose of the meeting is to open a dialogue to identify the role and impact of various partner agencies, organizations and patient groups. Thelma King Thiel, Chair and CEO of the Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI) will be representing the United States reporting on prevention initiatives and collaborative efforts with patient groups, local and federal government agencies and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  “I look forward to sharing our unique primary and secondary prevention program and materials called Foundation for Decision Making with several European countries,” says Thiel.  “Our mutual goal is to bring viral hepatitis under control and to improve outcomes of patients in treatment.” 

Representatives attended from WHO/EURO, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, the UK and the United States.  Attendees will preview HFI’s recently produced EMMY Award winning DVD for young adults called Give Your Liver a Break. This is one of 14 educational DVDs HFI has produced targeting young children, adolescents, college students, patients, healthcare providers and another for those who participate in high risk behaviors. Each DVD uses animation depicting how cirrhosis occurs and identifies modes of transmission of hepatitis viruses in several languages for various ethnic groups.  All DVDs are available for viewing at www.hepatitisfoundation.org

Give Your Liver a Break DVD wins Emmy

     The National Academy of Arts and Sciences presented the Emmy Award for outstanding achievement in television programming for children to Hepatitis Foundation International's newest production, "Give Your Liver a Break".  Bill Shomo accepted the award at the Emmy Awards Ceremony held in Orlando, Florida.  Kudos to Bill, President of Chaumont Communications, who co-produced the DVD with HFI.

     "Through Bill's exceptional ability to tailor messages promoting liver wellness to various audience's in the series of fourteen DVDs he has created for HFI, millions of viewers, young and old, have received messages to help them live healthier lives," said Thelma King Thiel, HFI's CEO.

     "Give Your Liver a Break" and other HFI DVDs are available for viewing on our website, to preview, Click Here.