BRC trainee receives Rising Star Award

Dr Kate Hallsworth has been awarded a prestigious Rising Star Award from the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL).

Dr Hallsworth (pictured below) is an NIHR Newcastle BRC funded trainee, and a Senior Research Physiotherapist with Newcastle Hospitals. She has published world-leading research in the field of lifestyle management for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Her research within the Newcastle BRC’s Liver Disease theme included leading the first study to assess the use of a very-low calorie diet approach to manage patients with advanced NAFLD – this showed exciting results in terms of patient uptake, adherence and improvements in key clinical outcomes.

The EASL Nurse and Allied Health Professional (AHP) Rising Star Award is designed to showcase the work of emerging liver nurses and AHPs whose focus is on putting those with, or at risk of, liver disease at the heart of their practice.

Nominating her for the award, Dr Stuart McPherson (Consultant Hepatologist at Newcastle Hospitals) listed several outstanding accolades, including her pioneering and world-leading contribution to published research in the field, her dedication to working with patients and the public and shaping the lives of people living with liver diseases, and her commitment to optimising clinical interventions and driving service design for more efficient practices in healthcare.

He comments:

“Through her work, Kate 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. We are delighted that she has been recognised for this work”.

Dr Hallsworth commented:

“I feel very honoured 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”.