Dr Kate Hallsworth – a senior research physiotherapist at Newcastle’s Liver Unit – has been awarded a Rising Star Award from the European Association for the Study of the Liver.
Kate was nominated by her colleagues at the Freeman Hospital and received the award for her outstanding commitment to improving services for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The European Association for the Study of the Liver Nurse and AHP (Allied Health Professional) Rising Star Award is designed to showcase the work of leading liver nurses and AHPs whose focus is on putting people with, or at risk of, liver disease at the heart of their practice.
Kate, who works as a research physiotherapist in Newcastle’s Liver Unit and is an Associate Lecturer in the Translational and Clinical Research Institute at Newcastle University, was nominated by colleagues for her pioneering work, over the last 10 years, towards helping to shape the service for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
During this time she has published world-leading research in the field of lifestyle management for patients with NAFLD, and led the first study to assess the effects of resistance exercise and subsequent trials assessing the effects of different types of exercise in NAFLD.
She also led the first study assessing the feasibility of using a very low calorie diet to help patients with advanced NAFLD, which showed very exciting results.
Supporting patients to make transformational lifestyle changes
More recently Kate – a member of the NIHR Academy and a Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Trainee – has looked at what tools would help healthcare professionals support patients to make transformational lifestyle changes, and led the development of an evidence based NAFLD-specific digital intervention called VITALISE – which was co-designed with patients, and will soon to be trialled in the NHS.
Dr Stuart McPherson, a Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical lead for Newcastle’s Liver Unit, explains why he nominated Kate for the Rising Star Award.
Kate’s work has positioned herself as an expert in the field of lifestyle interventions to treat NAFLD and her ongoing commitment to improving patient care is exemplary.
Dr Stuart McPherson, Clinical Lead for Newcastle's Liver Unit
“Her passion for improving the care of patients with NAFLD is evident in how she has driven service redesign here in Newcastle to ensure a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach, offering patients tailored lifestyle interventions that meet their needs.
“We are absolutely delighted that Kate has won this prestigious award.”
Ewan Dick, Associate Director of Allied Health Professionals and Therapy Services adds: “Kate has worked tirelessly on the research for which she is widely recognised but also for the innovative ways in which she has translated this into digital solutions, MDT models to deliver tailored lifestyle services and to improve outcomes for patients”
Public and Patient Involvement
Kate is an avid advocate for public and patient involvement and engagement, and has a close relationship with the national patient representative group LIVErNORTH.
She has spoken at several LIVErNORTH events and co-authored their “Lifestyle and your liver” booklet and “Exercise and osteoporosis in liver patients” leaflet, both of which are used widely across the Northern Region.
Her dedication to ensuring patients have the best possible information at their fingertips has seen her help develop a website to support patients diagnosed with liver cancer and their relatives and carers, providing input on lifestyle interventions:
Living with Cancer websiteOf her award Kate says: “I feel very proud for my work to have been recognised by such a prestigious award from EASL and hope that this is a springboard for further work to improve the care of patients with NAFLD, both in Newcastle and beyond.”
Kate was the first physiotherapist to be invited to deliver a lecture as part of the EASL Faculty in 2018 and was invited back to give a second talk in 2019.
Since then she has also been invited to present her work in NAFLD at The Global Liver Institute for International NASH-Day 2020, the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) NAFLD Meeting 2021 and the United European Gastroenterology Team on NAFLD/NASH 2021.
She is part of an international working group writing the EASL NAFLD Patient Guidelines and national groups working on developing BASL Quality Care Standards for patients with NAFLD and BSG Liver Transplant Guidelines for NASH.
The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
EASL is a medical association dedicated to pursuing excellence in liver research, to the clinical practice of liver disorders, and to providing education to all those interested in hepatology.
The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) website
