Florida Healthy Liver Program launches new initiative to help patients detect liver disease early and improve health outcomes
Tallahassee, Florida – For Gabriella, 15, and Susan Hayes, 67, life has taken very different paths, yet they share a surprising common thread — both were diagnosed with liver conditions that could have gone unnoticed for years were it not for a simple scan in their primary care physician’s office. Gabriella’s condition, liver steatosis, developed due to a combination of sedentary habits, a carb-heavy diet, and excess weight. Susan’s diagnosis, autoimmune hepatitis, reflects her body’s immune system attacking her liver, leading to cirrhosis. Despite these differences, both have benefitted from early detection and intervention, thanks to the innovative Florida Healthy Liver Program™.
Gabriella, a bright and cheerful teenager with a smile that can light up a room, had never considered her liver a potential health concern. Her days were filled with school, hanging out at home, and minimal physical activity. That changed after her primary care physician suggested a Fibroscan™, a noninvasive device that can quickly measure liver fat and fibrosis. The scan revealed liver steatosis, sparking a lifestyle overhaul.
“I was scared at first,” Gabriella said. “But after the doctor explained it, I felt a lot better. Before I found out, I wasn’t doing anything. I was just being homey and lazy.”
Her mother, Rosaria, described Gabriella’s transformation with pride. “I saw that she herself made the decision to go on a diet, eat more vegetables, exercise. She started one sport and then started another one. I saw she was the one who wanted to change and that she was the one who made those changes. She really spearheaded the effort.”
Gabriella’s newfound discipline and participation in sports such as volleyball and flag football, combined with healthier eating habits, have already led to dramatic improvements in her liver health in just seven months. This early success highlights the power of early detection in reversing the course of liver disease before it progresses.
Susan’s story, while different, underscores the importance of vigilance for older adults. A retiree originally from Michigan, Susan moved to North Florida to be closer to her children. She was proactive in establishing care with a primary care physician at Florida State University PrimaryHealth™. Though soft-spoken and thoughtful, Susan never suspected her liver was at risk.
“I had no idea what it was. I have no family history of liver problems and I was having no symptoms,” Susan said. It was routine bloodwork that initially caught Dr. Scottie Whiddon’s attention, prompting a Fibroscan™. The scan revealed advanced liver fibrosis, placing Susan at stage F4 — the final stage, often associated with cirrhosis.
“When we did her labs and her liver enzymes were up a little bit, I said, ‘Well, you know, we’ve got this new machine. Let’s just check you out and see. It’s probably liver steatosis,’” Dr. Whiddon said. “I can’t recall if she was an S3 or an S4, but she was an F4.”
Dr. Whiddon, co-medical director of FSU PrimaryHealth™, emphasizes the critical role primary care physicians play in identifying liver disease early. “We’re the initial point of care,” he said. “We’re the soldiers on the ground. Our goal is to not only find people early but educate everyone about the impact this simple scan can have when it comes to early diagnosis and treatment.”
This commitment to early detection led to the establishment of the Florida Healthy Liver Program™, a collaboration between FSU Health and Mayo Clinic Florida based at the FSU College of Medicine. The program aims to determine whether placing Fibroscans™ directly in primary care offices can lead to better outcomes for patients.
“Dr. Cyneetha Strong, co-medical director of FSU PrimaryHealth™, visited the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and presented our initial data,” Whiddon said. “In the first six months, 55 adult and pediatric patients underwent a scan. A total of 42% demonstrated both liver fibrosis and steatosis. The scanner is an incredible tool and it’s simple. You can do a point-of-care scan in just a few minutes.”
Those few minutes can be life-changing. Early detection often means less aggressive treatment and can even prevent the need for a liver transplant. For Gabriella, the discovery meant lifestyle changes that could reverse liver damage. For Susan, it meant beginning appropriate medication and regular monitoring to slow disease progression.
Gabriella’s transformation underscores the importance of actionable guidance. “I joined a sport — which helped me, because I started exercising almost every day,” she said. Her mother agrees that the initiative worked because Gabriella took ownership of her health. “She started one sport and then started another one. She really spearheaded the effort,” Rosaria said.
Susan’s journey emphasizes the significance of connecting with trusted healthcare systems. Having moved from Michigan, she sought care at FSU PrimaryHealth™ due to its association with the university. “Being from Michigan, we had Michigan State and the University of Michigan Health System connected to universities, which I think is important,” she said.
Both Gabriella and Susan had no symptoms that might have indicated liver disease. This is common among patients with early-stage liver disorders, making screenings like the Fibroscan™ all the more critical. Liver steatosis is graded from S0 to S4, while liver fibrosis is graded from F0 to F4, with higher numbers representing more severe disease. Early detection allows physicians to intervene before patients reach advanced stages.
Despite its benefits, the Fibroscan™ device remains costly — roughly $400,000 per unit — which limits its availability in primary care offices. The Florida Healthy Liver Program™ is currently conducting a feasibility study to evaluate whether widespread deployment in primary care settings can improve early diagnosis rates and reduce overall healthcare costs.
“So far, the study is quickly proving these assumptions to be true,” Dr. Whiddon said. “With data in hand, and stories like Gabriella’s and Susan’s, we are approaching industry partners and private donors to help fund the cost of scanners so they can be placed in more physician offices.”
The potential impact of this initiative extends beyond individual patients. If widely adopted, the program could foster a healthier community, reduce the burden of late-stage liver disease, and minimize costly interventions such as transplants. For Gabriella, it has already meant a healthier lifestyle and a proactive approach to her wellbeing. For Susan, it provides reassurance and structured management of a lifelong condition.
“This would be a great help to other people,” Rosaria said. “And, if Gabriella can do it, you can do it. You just have to push yourself to better yourself, but you can do it.”
The Florida Healthy Liver Program™ represents a model for integrating advanced diagnostics into primary care, demonstrating how early intervention, patient education, and innovative technology can converge to improve public health outcomes. Its success also highlights the importance of partnerships between academic institutions and medical centers like Mayo Clinic Florida.
The program’s leaders are optimistic about its potential to transform liver care in Florida. By placing devices like the Fibroscan™ in primary care offices, patients can be screened earlier, receive timely interventions, and ultimately live longer, healthier lives. The initiative also serves as a reminder that liver disease can affect anyone, regardless of age, and that lifestyle factors and autoimmune conditions alike demand vigilance.
Gabriella’s story reflects the power of prevention and self-motivation, while Susan’s underscores the necessity of ongoing monitoring and treatment. Both illustrate how early detection can fundamentally alter the course of liver disease. The Florida Healthy Liver Program™ hopes that more patients across the state will benefit as the program expands and additional funding allows for more widespread deployment of the technology.
The program is also a call to action for community members, physicians, and potential donors. By supporting the initiative, more primary care offices can gain access to the Fibroscan™, enabling physicians to detect liver disease before it becomes critical. The program demonstrates that with the right tools, education, and motivation, liver disease can be managed effectively, and in some cases reversed.
To learn more about the Florida Healthy Liver Program™ and how it is working to improve liver health for patients across Florida, visit www.med.fsu.edu/healthyliver.
