Hep C: The Curable Virus that We Aren't Curing | Maggie Beiser | TEDxTufts

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne virus in the United States and a leading cause of liver disease and related health-care costs, but a decade into having simple, effective cures, we continue to lag far behind in the World Health Organization’s goal for elimination. Maggie Beiser discusses the approach they are taking at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program to bring dynamic and responsive hepatitis C treatment to the marginalized populations that need it most. Maggie Beiser (class of ’03, history and community health) is an adult nurse practitioner at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she provides primary and specialized HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, and gender care for people experiencing homelessness. The BHCHP hep C treatment program she founded in 2014 has treated over 1500 individuals and was recognized by the International Network on Hepatitis and Health in Substance Users in 2021 as the most innovative HCV program for people who use drugs in North America. In 2023 Maggie was appointed to the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, HCV and STD Prevention and Treatment. Day to day she sees patients and leads the HCV team’s educational, research, and advocacy efforts focused on eliminating hepatitis C among people experiencing homelessness in Boston. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx