American Liver Foundation Hosts National Legacy Gala Honoring Leaders in Liver Health

Celebrating Achievements of an Innovative Physician-Scientist, Dedicated Philanthropic Family, Groundbreaking Pediatric Physician and Leading Transplant Surgeon

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Liver Foundation's (ALF) National Legacy Gala will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Gotham Hall in New York City honoring those who have made significant contributions to the liver community. Liver patients and families, thought leaders, leading medical professionals, business visionaries and organizational partners will join us as we pay tribute to Rebecca Taub, MD, Founder, Senior Scientific and Medical Advisor of Madrigal; leading transplant surgeon Benjamin Samstein, MD, Professor of Surgery and Chief of Liver Transplantation, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine; pediatric leader in liver care and research Ronald J. Sokol, MD, Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Chief Scientific Officer at the University of Colorado School of Medicine; and dedicated liver health philanthropists The Kellner Family.

"We're honored to celebrate the phenomenal achievements of a physician-scientist whose visionary research helped shape groundbreaking therapeutic approaches in liver disease, a renowned physician who pioneered minimally invasive liver surgery and robotic techniques for liver cancer, a dedicated pediatric physician who led groundbreaking research in childhood liver diseases and liver care, and a family who turned a challenging liver disease diagnosis into a life-long philanthropic commitment to help others," said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation and caregiver to a transplant recipient. "ALF's National Legacy Gala is a beautiful evening of celebration as we honor the contributions of our esteemed 2025 award recipients." 

The evening at Gotham Hall will include a networking cocktail reception, unique silent and live auction and dinner featuring a presentation to our award recipients who have made outstanding contributions to the liver community in the fields of biotechnology, medical innovation, and philanthropy. The 2025 Award Recipients include:

• The Spirit of Giving Award, The Kellner Family
  Founders of The Kellner Family Pediatric Liver Disease Foundation
  The Kellner family's journey with liver disease inspired them to establish the Kellner Family Pediatric Liver Foundation, which celebrates over 20 years of dedication to reducing the incidence of pediatric liver disease  and supporting other families navigating the same challenges they faced when caring for their own child born with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia (BA). Through the Kellner Family Foundation, they have provided meaningful philanthropic support to organizations like American Liver Foundation (ALF).
• Leadership Award, Benjamin Samstein, MD
  Professor of Surgery, Chief of Liver Transplant, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medicine
  Dr. Benjamin Samstein is internationally known for his clinical expertise and innovative contributions to advancing the field of living donor liver transplantation through minimally invasive liver surgery and state-of-the-art-laparoscopic and robotic techniques for liver cancer. He also authored landmark studies on the first full lobe liver donation published along with two other simultaneous reports in the American Journal of Transplantation.
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Ronald J. Sokol, MD, FAASLD
  Chief Scientific Officer, Child Health, Children's Hospital Colorado and Univ. of Colorado (CU)
  Dr. Ronald J. Sokol has devoted over three decades of his life to improving the health and well-being of children with liver diseases. As someone who received ALF's first postdoctoral fellowship award in 1982, Dr. Sokol went on to lead groundbreaking research for decades in cholestatic liver diseases during childhood and the complications. 
• Innovator Award, Rebecca Taub, MD
  Founder, Senior Scientific and Medical Advisor, Madrigal
  Dr. Rebecca Taub is a physician-scientist and founder of Madrigal, whose visionary research helped shape a groundbreaking therapeutic approach to liver disease. With more than 25 years of leadership in drug development and a career spanning academia and industry, Dr. Taub has been at the forefront of scientific innovation and patient-focused progress. Her early work laid the foundation for one of the most significant advances in liver disease treatment in recent years, and her continued leadership has helped guide Madrigal's growth and mission.

In addition to honoring our 2025 award recipients, the evening also features ALF's LIVEr Champion Henry Cuttler who led an active lifestyle and considered himself to be in excellent health until a CAT scan revealed a growth on his bile duct. He was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in January of 2024. Through chemotherapy and surgery, Henry became cancer-free. Henry will share his liver journey that has been a roller coaster of unexpected twists and turns, but he continues to embrace life with gratitude and resilience through it all.

ALF is deeply grateful to our Gala Chair, Richard J. Miller Jr., Esq., an ALF Board member and passionate liver advocate who received a transplant in May 2021, and our Gala Honorary Committee Chair, Constance Deneweth, an ALF Board member and dedicated liver advocate who is truly thankful a liver transplant prolonged her father's life and is committed to helping others living with some form of liver disease. 

To learn more about the Gala or to purchase tickets, visit alfgala.org. If you'd like to participate in our silent auction, visit https://alfgala.org/national-legacy-gala/auction/. The silent auction will also be available for pre-event and remote bidding; items include sporting events, stays to locations around the world, fun leisure-time experiences, and high-end gifts and accessories. Register via the GiveSmart online platform available  here. New items are added daily, check back frequently!  If you'd like to view ALF's FREE live stream, please go here to register.

Funds raised through the National Legacy Gala benefit the 100 million Americans affected by liver diseases through resources, education and support services  and help to advance research and our patient advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.

For more information about ALF, please visit www.liverfoundation.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding liver disease, please call our FREE helpline at 1-800-Go-LIVER (800-465-4837) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

About the American Liver Foundation
American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals dedicated to helping people improve their liver health. Providing guidance and life-saving resources, we are a beacon for the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. We advocate for patients and families, fund medical research, and educate the public about liver wellness and disease prevention. We bring people together through our educational programs and events and create a network of support that lasts a lifetime. ALF is the largest organization focused on all liver diseases and the trusted voice for patients and families living with liver disease. For more information, visit www.liverfoundation.org or call: 1 800 GO LIVER (800-465-4837).

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Media Contacts:
Julie Kimbrough 
JKimbrough@liverfoundation.org
Direct dial: 646-737-9409
Karla Thomas
kthomas@liverfoundation.org
Direct dial: 773-575-9477

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SOURCE American Liver Foundation