Mathis studied medicine at Düsseldorf University / Germany and did his MD in molecular genetics. He enjoyed his liver training at the Birmingham Liver Unit where he also did his PhD and worked as a clinic lecturer for the University. Moving from England to Scotland he was shocked by the amount of liver disease seen and has studied its epidemiology. He is a committee member of Scottish Health Action on the Alcohol Problem and the European liver Policy Public and Advocacy Committee, lobbying for evidence based (alcohol) policies. His interest is early detection of advanced liver disease using the liver risk factors (alcohol consumption, deprivation and the components of metabolic dysfunctions), blood tests (e.g. www.liverriskscore.com) and liver stiffness measurement (FibroScan).