Support Team HBV @ UCLA!

Team HBV at UCLA is a collegiate branch of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University that aims to raise hepatitis B awareness among students and underserved communities in Los Angeles. We host a variety of health-related events, collaborating with on-campus and local community partners such as Vietnamese Community Health (VCH) and APA Health Care to increase public knowledge, encourage preventative measures, and decrease health disparities and stigmas associated with the disease. 

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is transmitted through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child during childbirth. While hepatitis B can result in acute or chronic disease, patients with the condition are often asymptomatic until they have sustained severe liver damage. If left untreated, HBV can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and eventually, liver cancer. 

According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis B is a global public health threat - it is estimated approximately 254 million people were living with chronic HBV infections in 2022, and hepatitis B was responsible for ~1.1 million deaths worldwide, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). In the United States, hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and other minority groups, with roughly 1 in 12 people in the AAPI community having the disease. In a report conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mortality rate in recent years for AAPI persons with hepatitis B was 11.2 times the rate for non-Hispanic White persons. 

How Can We Stop It?

While hepatitis B is highly prevalent and a major health risk, it is preventable through vaccination and screening. Team HBV partners with local nonprofits to provide this education to underserved populations, high schools to host in-person and virtual  outreach events, and on-campus organizations to raise HBV awareness among UCLA students. Our other community service initiatives include fundraising for the Hepatitis B Foundation and distributing care packages with hygiene products and informational flyers to the homeless community in Los Angeles. 

Additionally, Team HBV is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of physicians and healthcare professionals to combat hepatitis B and other diseases that plague our communities. We offer plenty of incredible opportunities to our members, including exclusive shadowing opportunities with renowned transplant hepatologist Dr. Steven Han at the UCLA Pfleger Liver Institute, Jade/Blue Mentorship Program, and valuable clinical/non-clinical experience at health fairs. 

How Can You Help?

Your donations will help us finance events and cover miscellaneous costs not comprehensively supported by our primary funding sources, such as health fair tabling fees, volunteer transportation, custom merchandise for club members/service recipients, and special supplies. With your help, Team HBV at UCLA will be able to expand its educational initiatives, increase health screening accessibility, maximize volunteer impact and member opportunities, and protect vulnerable populations from hepatitis B. Support us in making a difference today! 

Please review UCLA and The UCLA Foundation’s Disclosure Statements for Prospective Donors https://mygiving.ucla.edu/faq#disclosure.

Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment.