There’s a story BehinD the SilenCe.
Sometimes, what people living with
hepatitis don’t say, says everything.
For many people living with hepatitis B, C, and D—stigma, stress, and fear can prevent them from opening up about what they are truly experiencing.1
BehinD the SilenCe invites you to step into their world and listen, in their own voices, to the contrast between what is shared with their healthcare providers and what is left unsaid.
Their stories, alongside the perspectives of a healthcare provider, underscore the importance of asking deeper questions to uncover the fears that hold them back from accessing care.
BehinD the SilenCe is a collaboration between Gilead and the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA).
We are harnessing the transformative power of art to give voice to the unspoken. Photography and audio have brought to life the experiences that words alone cannot capture, to reveal the hidden truths and emotions too often hidden BehinD the SilenCe.
By recognizing the unspoken, healthcare providers can play a critical role in transforming care through improving shared decision-making, breaking down stigma, and ensuring every person living with hepatitis can access the support and care they deserve.
Listen to what’s BehinD the SilenCe
Meet the Ambassadors
Person featured compensated by Gilead Sciences
Terry D. Box, MD
During his four decades long career as a hepatologist, Dr. Box focused on chronic viral hepatitis and transplant hepatology. He has seen first hand how stigma is the significant barrier to appropriate care.
“Until we can convince people living with hepatitis that we, their healthcare providers, are not going to judge them, we can't have open, frank, and honest conversations.”
Person featured compensated by Gilead Sciences
Imee L.
Following her hepatitis B diagnosis, Imee has been actively involved in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting legislation for people living with viral hepatitis. She aligns her professional work with her passion for supporting patient groups by educating others on accessing government health benefits and advocating for viral hepatitis outpatient benefits.
“Do not let discrimination silence you or take over your dreams. Seek accurate information.”
Person featured compensated by Gilead Sciences
Steffy P.
Steffy describes herself as a fighter with the heart of a survivor and the love of a healer. As a survivor of childhood sex trafficking, addiction, hepatitis C and silence, Steffy now supports people living with hepatitis C, and HIV to provide mobile testing, case management, and peer support.
“My advice to doctors would be to not diagnose a story that you haven't heard. Lead with compassion first and medicine second.”
Person featured compensated by Gilead Sciences
Dee L.
Alongside his role as President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, Dee is Director of Inno and an active member of several international advocacy groups. Drawing on his lived experience of hepatitis B, Dee continues to be a human rights defender for people living with hepatitis who cannot advocate for themselves.
“To any person living with hepatitis, stand up and tell as many people as possible, I am who I am.”
See the story BehinD the SilenCe
“We don't know, frequently, how our behavior, our language, is making our patients feel."
In this cinematic film, our Ambassadors Steffy P. and Dr Terry Box share the emotional and lasting impact of stigma in healthcare settings, and the changes needed to foster open conversations and improve outcomes for people living with viral hepatitis. Their real-life testimonies are powerfully dramatized by actors to reveal what is often unsaid.
What inspired this campaign?
In a recent survey by the WHA, one in four respondents living with hepatitis B (25%) and around a third (34%) of those living with hepatitis C reported they were worried they would be treated differently from other patients by healthcare staff.1 This stigma is a barrier to testing and care.1 For a future without viral hepatitis, we need everyone to feel supported and free of judgment when engaging with their healthcare providers.
This is the catalyst to the ‘BehinD the SilenCe’ campaign. Gilead and the WHA are working together to close the gap between what's said by people living with hepatitis and what remains unspoken to break down barriers in access to diagnosis and care.
Building shared understanding.
Breaking stigma.
People living with hepatitis may carry fears, stigma, and concerns they don’t always voice. By creating space to listen and asking deeper, open questions, healthcare providers can help patients feel heard, respected, and supported.
Normalizing these conversations matters. When people feel safe to speak openly, stigma can be challenged – and shared understanding can grow.
Fostering trust is vital to ensuring every person living with hepatitis can access the support they deserve. Together, we can help change how viral hepatitis is understood and experienced in care.
For more information, visit the WHA website.
BehinD the SilenCe is a collaboration between Gilead and the WHA, helping to close the gap between what's said and what remains unspoken.
References
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. A pilot survey of stigma related to infection with hepatitis B and C. World Hepatitis Alliance. Accessed April 2026. https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hep-B-and-C-survey-on-stigma-FINAL.pdf