Course Summary

The liver is a complex, vital organ that performs important metabolic and regulatory functions. Given the importance of the liver, when hepatic disease, injury or dysfunction occurs, the patient is at risk of serious illness and liver-related deaths. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Liver disease rarely presents independently of other diseases. Disorders that may accompany liver disease, especially nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, are conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and portal hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. Some of these conditions may cluster, leading to metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease interacts with these conditions in complex ways that often blur the line between cause and effect.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Liver Function
• Comorbid Conditions and Liver Disease
  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
  • Obesity and Liver Disease
  • Diabetes and Liver Disease
  • Hypertension and Portal Hypertension
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Case Study: OSA and Fatty Liver Disease
• Summary

Author

Noah H. Carpenter, MD

Dr. Noah Carpenter is a Thoracic and Peripheral Vascular Surgeon. He completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and medical school and training at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Carpenter completed surgical residency and fellowship at the University of Edmonton and Affiliated Hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, and an additional Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has specialized in microsurgical techniques, vascular endoscopy, laser and laparoscopic surgery in Brandon, Manitoba and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and in Colorado, Texas, and California. Dr. Carpenter has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary, and was appointed a Citizen Ambassador to China, and has served as a member of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, Canada Science Council, and the International Society of Endovascular Surgeons, among others. He has been an inspiration to youth, motivating them to understand the importance of achieving higher education.