First Female Secretary General of EASL, Professor Debbie Shawcross of the RW-ILS

20 May 2025

Following EASLs annual congress earlier this month in Amsterdam, we’re celebrating Professor Debbie Shawcross of the RW-ILS and her new role as Secretary General of EASL, a key post within the international landscape of liver research.

The European Association for the Study of the Liver, founded in 1966, is a medical association dedicated to pursuing excellence in liver research, to the clinical practice of liver disorders, and to providing education to all those interested in hepatology.

While maintaining her academic and clinical posts (Professor of Hepatology & Chronic Liver Failure, King’s College London, and Consultant Hepatologist, King’s College Hospital), Debbie has now commenced the additional role of Secretary General, which serves as the Chief Executive of EASL for the next two years, having served as Vice-Secretary for the past two years.

Reflecting on her new role, Prof. Shawcross said:

“I am privileged to be elected as the first ever female Secretary General of EASL since it was founded in 1966 in Marburg, Germany.

I am excited to commence my 2-year term at the helm and to continue to foster excellence in liver research, providing an inclusive platform for education and professional development, and advocating for global excellence in patient care.  

EASL is the beating heart and home of global hepatology with more than 7700 members across 128 countries. 

With one third of the world's population now having Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) resulting from obesity and the harmful use of alcohol, one of my main ambitions is to push for the United Nations and World Health Organisation to recognise SLD as a non-communicable disease to facilitate the institution of bold policy and advocacy initiatives to tackle this head on."

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