Drawn into the world of PBC with his mother’s diagnosis in 1994, Robert has, in one way or another, been involved in PBC advocacy since even before the PBC Foundation was founded in 1996. An experienced and powerful patient advocate, Robert’s specialist subject is listening to the patient, and using the patient experience to improve the patient experience. An international leader, presenter, innovator, academic, committee member and author on a number of topics, his driver is to ensure the patient voice, and experience, is front and centre of every potential solution to the challenges they face. An agent for change, he has led various campaigns and innovations to improve the PBC patients’ quality of life on a multinational stage.

Dr Mathis Heydtmann studied at Mainz and Düsseldorf University with electives in several European countries. After his German graduation he worked in the liver unit in Berne, Switzerland, then in Manchester, and he did his Specialist Registrar training in the West Midlands. He trained in Hepatology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Liver Transplant Unit Birmingham. After his PhD doing research in Liver Immunology in Birmingham, Mathis was a Clinical Lecturer at Birmingham University. He moved to Glasgow in 2007 where he completed his training and worked as a Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley up to August 2021. He now works in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary as a Hepatologist and dedicates time to his interests in public health and improving health inequalities. He is a strong advocate for the often deprived and underserved patients with liver disease. For example, in the beginning of the pandemic, he successfully lobbied to get our sickest patients with advanced decompensated liver disease onto the national shielding lists. He has a particular interest in early detection of chronic liver disease to prevent complications including cirrhosis and liver cancer. He is specialist advisor to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and a specialty advisor to the Scottish Chief Medical Officer for liver, and e is a vice chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP). Mathis also has an interest in teaching and communication skills, he is an appraiser for revalidation and tutor to train appraisers for Scotland. He is a Mediator (Scottish Mediation) and a Negotiator (Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation) and National Panellist for consultant appointments. His research interests include alcohol related liver disease, fatty liver disease and the link between liver disease and deprivation.