ERN RARE-LIVER Clinical Exchange Programme: Reports from Birmingham

Thanks to the support of the ERN RARE-LIVER team, I had the opportunity to participate in the ERN RARE-LIVER Clinical Exchange Programme at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. This experience was incredibly enriching, both professionally and personally.

During my stay, I was warmly welcomed by the Hepatology team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I had the chance to observe and participate in the management of patients with complex and rare liver diseases, with a particular focus on autoimmune liver diseases, as well as the opportunity to observe the management of liver transplant patients. I attended multidisciplinary meetings, outpatient clinics, and ward rounds, gaining insights into different diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies.

In addition to the clinical activities, I was also given the opportunity to visit the research laboratories, where the team explained how translational and clinical research is organised within their department. I found it particularly interesting to learn about the research projects being carried out and how they aim to address key challenges in the field of rare liver diseases.

What stood out to me was the high level of expertise, collaboration, and dedication shown by the entire team. The exchange not only deepened my clinical knowledge, but also allowed me to build valuable professional connections and to apply in my clinical practice elements of the approach used in a highly specialised liver centre like Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Ye Htun Oo, Professor James Ferguson, Professor Palak Trivedi, and the entire team of the Liver Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for their support and guidance throughout my stay. I am deeply grateful to the ERN RARE-LIVER team for making this invaluable experience possible. 

I strongly encourage other healthcare professionals involved in the management of rare liver diseases to embrace this exceptional opportunity to learn, share expertise, and foster collaboration across Europe.

Veronica Vezzosi, Ospedale San Paolo – ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan.

To learn more about the ERN Clinical exchange programme, please visit the dedicated section on our website or contact the ERN RARE-LIVER office directly.