Sarah Tully ’21

American Liver Foundation New England Division, Newton, MA

I spent this summer working as an intern for the American Liver Foundation New England Division. It has given me the opportunity to explore the many different sides of non-profits and foster a deeper connection with an organization to which I had previously been loosely connected to through my parents’ participation on the Run for Research Boston Marathon team.

My parents began running when over a decade ago my dad was diagnosed with two different forms of liver disease: autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Since then, I have been aware of these diseases and their impact on my family, but I knew very little about what they actually meant for my dad and his liver. Working at the American Liver Foundation (ALF) this summer has given me the opportunity to better understand these diseases and contribute to the fight for liver health. In addition, I have been able to get to know people within the organization who care deeply about liver disease prevention, as well as a number of inspirational individuals who are themselves fighting against liver disease and look to the ALF for support.

Within the organization, I have found that there are two major sides of operation. On one hand, the special events team is tasked with creating and executing fundraising events to raise money for the organization. On the other side are the education and outreach efforts that utilize the funds which have been raised. As an intern, my time was divided in both areas depending on the needs of the foundation. I began my summer focusing more on the special events work, with the Liver Life Walk Boston taking place only a week after I began. It was all hands on deck preparing and finalizing the plans and setting up for the event. It was a huge success, with over 500 people attending and $100,000 raised. The walk is just one of many events that are put on throughout the year by ALF, and it gave me a wonderful opportunity to experience the logistical side of a fundraising event and meet lots of people and families who are living with liver disease.

I also spent some of my time helping to prepare for the culinary events that are hosted in the fall, but I focused most of my energy on the education and outreach side of the organization. The two tasks that I found the most rewarding from this part of my work were editing the patient outreach materials and analyzing hepatitis C elimination plans. Editing the patient outreach materials, such as the website and brochures, was most insightful for me because it gave me the opportunity to research and understand the wide array of liver diseases and the impacts that they have on people’s lives. It allowed me to learn the science behind my dad’s liver diseases and educate myself on the many other diseases that are prevalent in this country and around the world. Chronic liver disease affects almost six million Americans, and an additional 30-40% of all adults in the U.S. have excessive fat in the liver, which puts them at risk 
for a progression into a more serious disease. What amazed me was not just the statistics and details of the 
disease, but also the stigma and lack of awareness that exists in society about them. The association of 
liver disease with addiction and substance use leads people to make judgements about patients, which in turn results in a lack of conversation about the disease and a hesitation by many to share their struggles. 
Thus, editing the educational materials allowed me not only to understand the specifics of these diseases, but also to ensure that people have the resources they need to confront and fight liver disease.

My project with hepatitis C elimination plans was also particularly rewarding because of the impact that my work could potentially have throughout the state. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of death worldwide, a toll higher than that from HIV, tuberculosis, or malaria. In 2013, a treatment was discovered for hepatitis C, and yet the spread of the disease is still on the rise with no plan in Massachusetts to reduce its impact. A small number of states and cities throughout the U.S. have produced hepatitis elimination plans, and I worked on analyzing these plans and laying a foundation for an elimination plan of our own. I found this exciting not only because this project could have an impact on the area where I grew up outside of Boston, but because it could also lead to substantial improvements in the health of people in the Williamstown area. At the moment, the opioid crisis is leading to outbreaks of hepatitis C, and with North Adams having a significant population of opioid users and many documented cases of hepatitis C, an elimination plan could have a positive impact on the area.

The Boston Liver Life Walk.

I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to learn so much this summer and contribute in many different interesting ways to the prevention of liver disease. I was able to work with a team of people who care deeply about the cause and are passionate about promoting liver health. While I don’t know what my future professions will hold, my time here has made me want to take at least one public health class in my remaining time at Williams. I will also continue my passion for this cause and a desire to help ALF.

None of this would have been possible without the support of the Kraft Family and the ’68 Center for Career Exploration. The Alumni Sponsored Internship Program is an incredible resource and has provided me with an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my Williams education and beyond.