Book "Einstein's Table" Tells Story of Hepatitis B

Online, May 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The inspirational story of the Hepatitis B Foundation of Doylestown, Pa., has been chronicled in a new book, "Einstein's Table: The Search to Find a Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B," authored by Kimberly Jungkind, a Foundation board member. The book's release comes during May which is National Hepatitis Awareness Month. There will be a book signing offered during the Foundation's "B Informed" Parent Conference, a free event for parents of children with hepatitis B, to be held on May 19, 2012 at Holiday Inn Express Midtown in Philadelphia.

The only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide, the Hepatitis B Foundation began its journey more than 20 years ago. Founders Paul and Janine Witte and Dr. Timothy and Joan Block were moved by the plight of a young family affected by hepatitis B. Dismayed that the affected family had nowhere to turn for support, the Wittes and Blocks gathered at Albert Einstein's guest cottage in Bucks County, Pa., for a brainstorming session, and the Hepatitis B Foundation was born.

"If the strength and commitment of a community can make a difference in one person's life in Pennsylvania, imagine what it can do for people across the nation and around the world," said Jungkind. "I, too, share the dream of the Hepatitis B Foundation's founders that this disease will be cured and eliminated in our lifetime."

Jungkind is a nurse clinician and healthcare marketer with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has lectured nationally on chronic diseases and disease management, and authored more than 15 articles and texts addressing disease management, clinical topics and information technology. Jungkind is the recipient of the Aster Award for Medical Marketing, two Healthcare Advertising Awards, a Dorland Health People Award, a Web Marketing Association Award, Merck's Most Amazing Woman award and Wyeth's President's Golden Circle Award. "Einstein's Table: The Search to Find a Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B" is available in soft and hard back editions through Amazon.com, with all proceeds benefitting the Hepatitis B Foundation. To learn more, go to http://hepb.org/einsteins_table.htm.

"We are grateful to Kim for telling the story of the Hepatitis B Foundation and raising awareness of this deadly disease," said Foundation Executive Director and Co-founder Joan Block. "We are also indebted to her for the 15 years of dedicated service to our Board of Directors. Kim has been a valuable resource to our organization and we look forward to continuing our work together."

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection and the major cause of liver cancer worldwide. Nearly 2 billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (1 out of 3) and 400 million are chronically infected. Each year, 1 million people die prematurely from hepatitis B-related liver disease and liver cancer. In the U.S., an estimated 2 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis B - that is 1 in 20. The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable and treatable. However, for the 400 million people living with chronic hepatitis B infections, there is still no complete cure.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at http://wp.hepb.org, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call (215) 489-4900.