About Us
Hep B United – We Can Stop Hepatitis B
Vision
A future free of hepatitis B.
Mission
Hep B United is a national coalition dedicated to eliminating hepatitis B and the health disparities and inequities associated with hepatitis B and hepatitis delta among highly impacted communities across the United States by increasing awareness, screening, vaccination, and linkage to care.
Hep B United was co-founded and is co-chaired by the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO). The coalition works to reduce the impact of hepatitis B through prevention and education efforts, addressing perinatal transmission, improving screening and linkage to care, contributing to national surveillance data, and advocating on a national level.
Values
Hep B United is a national coalition comprised of advocates, community leaders, and stakeholders that focuses on the health equity, respect, and empowerment of those affected by hepatitis B. Utilizing evidence-based public health best practice, Hep B United promotes equitable access to health care, preventive medicine, testing, linkage to care, and treatment for all communities at risk for hepatitis B.
Hep B United Overview and Strategic Priorities
Our Goals
- Awareness: Raise the profile of hepatitis B, hepatitis delta, and liver cancer as urgent public health priorities through education and advocacy.
- Prevention: Increase hepatitis B testing and vaccination, particularly among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African immigrants, and other communities highly impacted by hepatitis B.
- Intervention: Improve access to care and treatment for individuals living with hepatitis B and hepatitis delta and improve access to vaccination, to prevent end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.
Hep B United’s strategic plans are in alignment with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. Their strategic plans respond to strategic priority areas established at the national level and coordinates activities of Hep B United member coalitions.
Hep B United Overview and Partners (2023)
Hep B United is a national coalition established by the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), to address and eliminate hepatitis B, a serious liver infection that is the leading cause of liver cancer. An estimated 2 million people in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus.
Our Strategic Plans
HBU National Advisory Committee
Jeffrey Caballero, MPH, Co-Chair and Co-Founder
Executive Director, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, Co-Chair
President, Hepatitis B Foundation
Carol Brosgart, MD
Consultant, Biotechnology, Public Health, and Public Policy
Richard Andrews, MD, MPH
Addiction Medicine Physician
Ex-Chair, National Task Force on Hepatitis B
Rita K. Kuwahara, MD, MIH
Internal Medicine Physician and Primary Care Health Policy Fellow, Georgetown University
Ryan Clary
Consultant, Clary Strategies
Janet Afoakwah
Executive Director, United States Coalition for African Immigrant Health
Richelle Gaiter, DMSc, MEd
Physician Associate
Richard So, MPH, MPA
Executive Director, San Francisco Hep B Free - Bay Area
Thaddeus Pham
At-Large Member
Co-Director, Hep Free Hawaii and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator, Hawaii Department of Health
Amy Trang, PhD, MEd
At-Large Member
Administrator, National Task Force on Hepatitis B: Focus on Asian & Pacific Islander Americans
Founder and CEO, Social Capital Solutions, Inc.
Joan M. Block, RN, BSN
Co-Founder/Co-Chair Emeritus
Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, Hepatitis B Foundation