Wayne Eskridge

Co-Founder & CEO, Steatotic Liver Foundation

fattyliverfoundation.org | LinkedIn | @LiverSaver

Executive Summary

Electrical engineer turned patient advocate with a 50-year career spanning software development, electronics, and executive leadership in both public and private corporations—from startups to Fortune 500 firms. Since founding the Fatty Liver Foundation (now the Steatotic Liver Foundation) in 2017, has built a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the early identification, diagnosis, treatment, and support of people living with the full spectrum of steatotic liver disease (SLD), including MASLD, MASH, MetALD, and ALD. Combines deep technical acumen with firsthand patient experience to bridge the gap between clinical research and the 100+ million Americans silently affected by fatty liver disease.

Nonprofit Leadership

Steatotic Liver Foundation (formerly Fatty Liver Foundation)

Co-Founder & CEO — 2017 – Present

• Built a national patient advocacy organization from inception to a multi-site web presence serving five branded programs across six websites.
• Established the State of Steatotic Liver Care in America Survey—a pioneering annual national initiative surveying real-life patient experiences. Survey analysis group includes leading hepatologists (Drs. Stine, Chinchilli, Dinani, Tetri, Friedman, Bansal).
• Secured educational grants and partnerships with major pharmaceutical sponsors including Bristol Myers Squibb, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, 89bio, Akero Therapeutics, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Regeneron, and others.
• Created the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship Program to cultivate the next generation of liver-disease patient advocates.
• Launched the Wellness League, a nationwide network connecting patients with clinical trials, health screenings, and community support.
• Spearheaded Sober Livers, an impact program providing education and peer support for people living with MetALD, ALD, and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Organized public awareness campaigns for International NASH Day, including programs at the Mexican Consulate and presentations at EASL 2019.
• Built and manage a Medical Advisory Board of leading hepatologists and researchers.
• Advocated before the FDA Advisory Committee for approval of groundbreaking NASH treatments.
• Published formal responses to ICER evidence reports on NASH treatments, representing the patient perspective.
• Directed development of 60+ educational web pages, patient stories, caregiver resources, diet guides, and noninvasive testing information.
• Lead the LIV for Liver Health webinar series and the LIVER Webinar Series, providing free public education.

Professional Career in Technology

50-year career in software, electronics, and corporate leadership

• Executive Positions in both public and private corporations with worldwide responsibilities—from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 firms.
• Progressed from computer programmer through multiple levels of technical and managerial positions in businesses of all sizes.
• Held senior technical and managerial roles across software development, electronics engineering, and business operations.

Patient Advocacy & Public Engagement

• Diagnosed with liver disease in 2010; navigated years of diagnostic challenges including misdiagnoses before receiving correct NASH diagnosis.
• Transformed personal health crisis into a national advocacy mission, leveraging engineering discipline to research, understand, and communicate liver disease.
• Featured in national media: STAT News, GE Reports, Deseret News, and Stanford Health publications.
• Published “Dancing with the Dark Angel”—a personal narrative of living with cirrhosis.
• Speaker and participant at major hepatology conferences (EASL, AASLD).

Education

University of Idaho — Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering

Programs & Initiatives Directed

Web Presence