Dressing Up and Rocking Out for Liver Disease: Denim & Diamonds Starts Sept. 29

ST. LOUIS – Make plans to attend the annual Denim & Diamonds weekend benefiting the Saint Louis University Liver Center Sept. 29-30.

The "Denim" portion of the weekend begins Friday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. with a concert at The Pageant featuring Groovethang STL, a five-piece band known for faithful covers of hits by Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Al Green, The Bee Gees and other classic rock groups.

The glitzy "Diamonds" portion takes place Saturday, Sept. 30, Bruce Bacon, M.D., director of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology, joins donors for a black-tie dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton.

"Each day, we are discovering that more people are suffering from liver disease, including hepatitis C and B, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, auto immune liver disease and liver cancer, yet many feel there's little hope after being diagnosed," Bacon says. "There is treatment; there is hope. At Saint Louis University Liver Center, we are working tirelessly to continue providing that hope through lifesaving treatments."

More than 25 million Americans suffer from liver and biliary disease. Hepatitis C affects about 4 million Americans, making it five times more widespread than HIV. It’s estimated that 40,000 people in the St. Louis area are infected with the virus. Saint Louis University School of Medicine is home to the nationally recognized center for the research and treatment of these diseases. The purpose of Denim & Diamonds is more to provide education on prevention and treatment options while also raising funds for research.

One of the Saint Louis University Liver Center’s better-known patients is Grammy-winner Naomi Judd, who was given just three years to live after being diagnosed with hepatitis C. Judd credits Bacon and his team for saving her life.

General admission tickets for the Sept. 29 concert are $25 each and are available through Ticketmaster (314-421-4400 or www.ticketmaster.com) or The Pageant box office. For more information about the Sept. 30 black-tie dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, contact the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center at 314-576-3078.

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first M.D. degree west of the Mississippi River. Saint Louis University School of Medicine is a pioneer in geriatric medicine, organ transplantation, chronic disease prevention, cardiovascular disease, neurosciences and vaccine research, among others. The School of Medicine trains physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health services on a local, national and international level.

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