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The latest in kidney research, care, and treatment.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Did you know that 40% of chronic kidney disease progression may be preventable with earlier diagnosis and treatment? On this episode, you will hear the facts around treating CKD earlier from Dr. Joe Vassalotti, NKF’s Chief Medical Officer. You will also hear from Jane DeMeis on her journey with kidney disease.
In this episode we spoke with,
Joseph A. Vassalotti . MD
Dr. Vassalotti is the Chief Medical Officer of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology, at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. At NKF, his major focus is implementation of evidence based clinical practice guidelines in chronic kidney disease (CKD). He led collaborations to develop the Kidney Health Evaluation for Adults with Diabetes quality measure to improve evidenced based estimated glomerular filtration guide detection, risk stratification and interventions rate and albuminuria testing to proportional to risk also served as PI for an AARP in the U.S. He funded Kidney Health Evaluation for Adults with Diabetes to analyze quality measure satisfaction with detection, evidenced Platform based therapies and health equity. Currently, he serves as Principal Investigator for the Kidney Score , an NKF educational project funded by the Veterans Administration Center for Innovation to improve awareness and education among Veterans with and at risk for CKD in the primary care setting. He is also a coinvestigator for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s CKD Surveillance Project. Dr. Vassalotti typically sees approximately 40 patients per week and has over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals.
Jane DeMeis
Ms. DeMeis became involved with the National Kidney Foundation in 2018 after she was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease. Previously, Ms. DeMeis had been in stage three since 2010 and also developed diabetes. Ms. DeMeis attended classes, read and took training and became very knowledgeable about nutrition and lifestyle for CKD. She is a certified Kidney Coach. Ms. DeMeis is the Chairperson of the Perinton Ambulance Corps and when COVID allows will be bringing kidney education to their Community Outreach program.
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.
Additional Resources:
Early Diagnosis of Kidney Disease: Incentivizing Comprehensive Testing
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
It is important that certain individuals with CKD limit their fluid intake, but many don’t understand why or where to begin. On today’s episode, we sat down with experts to discuss fluid restriction, such as why it’s important, the negative effects of consuming too much, and ways to manage a fluid-restricted diet.
On today's episode we spoke with:
Catherine C. Wells, DNP, ACNP, CNN-NP, FNKF
Dr. Wells have been practicing as a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner in Mississippi for 19 years. She is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner trained at The University of Mississippi with a Nephrology specialty via Vanderbilt University. Dr. Wells obtained my Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of South Alabama in 2010. She is certified as a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner since 2008. She spent 3 years in private Nephrology practice treating dialysis and CKD patients. In 2006, Dr. Wells joined the faculty of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). At UMMC her clinical practice is general Nephrology with clinical expertise in acute and chronic renal replacement therapies. She teaches locally and nationally, and supports the research efforts of the Division of Nephrology.
Anthony Reed
As a former dialysis patient, and now living with a kidney transplant, Ant knows what it takes to not only live with kidney disease but to live beyond kidney disease. He has shared his story and lessons he has learned on a nationwide level and continues to work towards the betterment of kidney patients worldwide.
Additional resources:
Learning to Follow Your Dialysis Fluid Restrictions
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
Keeping your body and bones strong are important when you have kidney disease. Do you know what types of exercise are good for kidney patients? What about for transplant recipients or people on dialysis? In this episode, we sat down with experts to discuss the benefits and recommendations of managing an exercise routine.
On this episode, we spoke with:
Brittany Glazar
Brittany has been a Clinical Exercise Physiologist at the University of Delaware for 3 years working in their Exercise and Functional Training Lab. Each day she gets the chance to work with individuals with all stages of CKD including transplant, as well as apparently healthy individuals and those with Parkinson’s disease.
Wilson Du
Wilson is a kidney transplant recipient from Alameda, California. Prior to receiving his transplant in 03/2022, he was on hemodialysis for 5.5 years. During his time on dialysis, he managed to lose over 130lbs, completed various physical competitions (10K, half marathons, triathlons), and also rode his bike 500+ miles down the coast of California. He has now dedicated his life to helping other patients live their best life through his gym in California. He is known as the Renal Warrior.
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Undocumented people face increased barriers to accessing health coverage and care, including treatment for kidney disease. In this episode, our guest experts discuss what treatment options are currently available for undocumented people and what kind of advocacy efforts are being made to improve their access to health care.
On this episode, we spoke with:
Lilia Cervantes, MD
Dr. Cervantes received her undergraduate degree at CU Boulder and completed both her medical degree and internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her background as a first generation Latina inspired her deep commitment to becoming a physician as well as her community service, advocacy, and research focused on promoting social justice in medical education and care. Dr. Cervantes has worked for over 12 years as an internal medicine hospitalist at Denver Health, the safety-net hospital, and has dedicated her career to creating a healthcare workforce that is diverse as well as conducting research to improve person-centered and clinical outcomes among Latinx patients on dialysis. The catalyst for her interest in improving outcomes for Latinx patients with chronic kidney disease was a former undocumented Latina patient with kidney failure who struggled with emergency dialysis (dialysis in the emergency department when critically ill) and ultimately died. Funded by the RWJF and the Doris Duke Foundation, Dr. Cervantes discovered the worse outcomes of undocumented immigrants who rely only on emergency dialysis. In 2019, as a result of Dr. Cervantes’ research and stakeholder engagement, Colorado Medicaid opted to include the diagnosis of kidney failure as a qualifying condition under Emergency Medicaid thereby expanding access to standard dialysis. In addition to her work with the undocumented kidney failure community, Dr. Cervantes is developing culturally tailored interventions that will address the social challenges faced by racial/ethnic minorities with chronic kidney disease.
Luz Baqueiro
Luz was diagnosed with end stage renal disease in 2018 and has recently received a kidney transplant. Luz started dialysis in the ER for almost a year this being the she did not qualify for any government assistance like Medicaid or the marketplace because she is not a born US citizen. She joined the NKF Advocacy Team after experiencing firsthand what is like not to be able to receive the care you need simple because you are not a citizen she felt she need it to raise awareness on this issues, to share her story and the story of many others who are not getting the proper care they so desperately need.
Additional resources:
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Las personas indocumentadas enfrentan bastantes barreras para acceder cobertura y atención médica, incluyendo el tratamiento para la enfermedad renal. En este episodio, nuestras expertas invitadas discuten qué opciones de tratamiento están disponibles actualmente para las personas indocumentadas y qué tipo de esfuerzos se están haciendo para mejorar el acceso a la atención médica.
En este episodio, conversamos con:
Lilia Cervantes, MD
La Dra. Cervantes obtuvo su título universitario en la Universidad de Colorado en Boulder. Al finalizar, ingresó a la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Colorado para completar su grado doctoral y posteriormente realiza su residencia en medicina interna. Ser latina de primera generación fue la inspiración de su gran compromiso de convertirse en médico, al igual que su servicio a la comunidad, su activismo e investigación, centrada en la promoción de la justicia social en la educación y atención médica. La Dra. Cervantes ha ejercido por más de 12 años como médico internista en Denver Health, hospital de red segura, y ha dedicado su carrera en crear un equipo diverso de profesionales de la salud. De igual manera, ha dirigido investigaciones para mejorar el desempeño clínico y fomentar una atención centrada en la persona entre los pacientes latinxs en diálisis. El motivo de su interés por mejorar los resultados de los pacientes latinxs con enfermedad renal crónica fue a raíz de una paciente latina indocumentada con insuficiencia renal, quien luchó contra la diálisis de urgencia (diálisis en la sala de emergencias cuando se encuentra en estado crítico) hasta que falleció. Financiado por la RWJF y la Fundación Doris Duke, la Dra. Cervantes descubrió los peores desenlaces de los inmigrantes indocumentados que dependen únicamente de la diálisis en urgencias. Como resultado de su investigación y la participación de las partes interesadas, en el 2019, Colorado Medicaid optó por incluir el diagnóstico de insuficiencia renal como una de las condiciones que cualifican para Medicaid de Emergencia, ampliando así el acceso a la diálisis estándar. Además de su trabajo con la comunidad de personas indocumentadas con insuficiencia renal, la Dra. Cervantes está desarrollando intervenciones culturalmente adaptadas que abordarán los retos sociales a los que se enfrentan las minorías raciales y étnicas con enfermedad renal crónica.
Luz Baqueiro
Luz fue diagnosticada con una enfermedad renal en etapa terminal para el año 2018 y recientemente ha recibido un trasplante de riñón. Al no ser ciudadana americana de nacimiento, Luz, no contaba con los requisitos necesarios para recibir asistencia del gobierno, como el Medicaid; por lo que tuvo que comenzar diálisis en salas de emergencias por casi un año. Luego de conocer personalmente lo que significa no poder recibir los cuidados necesarios por el simple hecho de no ser ciudadano, decide unirse al grupo de activistas de la NKF y así poder crear conciencia sobre estos temas, compartir su historia y la de muchas otras personas que no reciben los cuidados adecuados que tan desesperadamente necesitan.
Recursos adicionales:
Open Letter to State Medicaid Directors
Sé parte del Grupo de Activistas/Defensores
¿Tienes comentarios, preguntas o sugerencias? Envíenos un correo electrónico a NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Además, no olvide reseñarnos dondequiera que escuche podcasts.
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
As a kidney patient or a transplant recipient, you probably know that getting a flu shot can offer the best protection from a serious disease. But should you get it every year? Or is it safe to get the flu and the COVID vaccine or booster at the same time? Get answers to these questions and more on today’s podcast with Dr. Harold Manley, Senior Pharmacy Director at Dialysis Clinic Inc. in Nashville, TN, and Rachel Bratcher, a patient living with IgA nephropathy.
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
After a kidney transplant, your diet still plays a big role. Do you know which foods to avoid or how your transplant medications affect what you can eat? On today’s episode, we’ll discuss how you can keep your new kidney healthy while also maintaining a healthy weight.
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Friday Aug 12, 2022
One of the jobs your kidneys is to manage your body’s levels of potassium, which keeps your heartbeat regular and your muscles working right. Many kidney patients need to watch what they eat to ensure that their potassium levels don’t become too high and cause dangerous health risks. On today’s episode, you’ll hear how to best manage your potassium levels to protect yourself.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Jessianna Saville, RD
Jessianna Saville RD, CSR LDN is a renal dietitian with over 12 years experience. After working 8 years in the dialysis setting, she decided to fully concentrate her energy on her virtual practice and helping provide early nutrition intervention for kidney disease clients. She is the founder and owner of KidneyNutritionInstitute.org, a collective of expert renal dietitians that serve all areas of kidney disease. She is also the founder of RenAlign, a non-profit that advocates for nutrition as a first line therapy for kidney disease through the RenaLIFE and Ren.Nu programs. She and her team develop training resources for other renal dietitians at RenalNutritionMastery.com, helping them stay up-to-date on all things renal nutrition and guiding them through setting up their own private practice. Her passion for good food shows up in the kidney-friendly recipes her team creates on the blog and the amount of time she spends cooking herself. Along for the ride with Jessianna are her three children and husband, a very old dog, 2 kittens, and 4 friendly backyard chickens.
Dawn Edwards
Self-described 25+ Year chronic kidney disease Warrior, Dawn P. Edwards, a nocturnal home hemodialysis patient, has experienced first-hand, every renal replacement modality including a kidney transplant, rejection and return to dialysis. Dawn is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with kidney disease, and is also a resource to her community, sharing her story and educating patients, professionals and the public about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the relationship between hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, especially among people of color and low socioeconomic status. Dawn has served the community for over 25 years through the IPRO ESRD Network of New York in multiple roles including employment as their Community Outreach Coordinator. She is an NKF Kidney Advocate and Peer Mentor and also currently serves on many kidney disease related boards.
Additional resources:
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
While many people feel like the world is headed back to normal, many kidney patients can feel left behind. COVID-19 is still top of mind for those who are immunocompromised and we're here to offer resources and support. On today's episode, our guests will answer your questions about how COVID-19 affects transplant, dialysis, and early stage CKD patients.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Dan Weiner, MD
Dan Weiner is a nephrologist at Tufts Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. His clinical interests include home and in-center dialysis, hypertension and CKD. His research has focused on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in CKD; clinical trials in CKD, dialysis and hypertension; decision-making in advanced CKD; and policy. He works closely with the American Society of Nephrology on kidney disease policy. He is DCI's Medical Director of Clinical Research, and he is the Editor-in-Chief of the NKF's journal, Kidney Medicine, and the NKF's Primer on Kidney Diseases, the 8th edition of which will be published in early 2022.
Patrick Gee
Patrick Gee is a Community Activist, fighting against systemic issues such as poverty, social and racial injustices, criminal justice reform, and education reform. Patrick worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections and the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, where during his time in service, he acquired several awards and recognitions. In April 2013, Patrick was diagnosed with Stage 3b End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). He began doing Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) in December 2013. On April 21, 2017, Patrick received a kidney transplant. Patrick has been very passionate in his pursuit to speak on behalf of the underserved, undervalued, and disenfranchised communities of color. Because of this, he serves as an advocate and kidney patient expert for a number of organizations including the NKF, CMS, FDA, KHI, AKF, AAKP and HDU.
Additional resources:
What you need to know about COVID-19 in 2022
COVID-19 vaccine and treatments for people with kidney disease
Regional resources for COVID-19
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
When we hear the word research, most of us think of innovative breakthrough treatments and technologies. But applied clinical research could not be possible without another type of research called basic science research in which scientists study the fundamental processes of the human body. In this episode, we’ll learn what basic science research is and how it applies to the area of kidneys and kidney disease.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Hannah Wesselman
Hannah Wesselman is a PhD candidate at the University of Notre Dame studying the genetic mechanisms underlying kidney development in Dr. Rebecca Wingert's lab. Prior to her dissertation work, Hannah worked with Dr. Larissa Myaskovsky at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care, and their collaboration continued as Dr. Myaskovsky moved to the University of New Mexico Center for Healthcare Equity in Kidney Disease. During this time, Hannah worked directly with kidney transplant patients, and later published in CJASN on social determinants and race disparities in kidney transplant. Inspired by the strength of the kidney community, Hannah has returned to bench science in the hopes of identifying new treatment targets and has continued to connect with kidney patients through NKF advocacy.
Holly Kramer, M.D., MPH
Holly Kramer, M.D., MPH, is a practicing nephrologist who conducts research connecting nutrition and kidney health. Her connection to the National Kidney Foundation was inspired by her mom, who was a dialysis nurse and helped create some of the first dialysis units in Northwest Indiana. Dr. Kramer finds being on the NKF Board important, because it is the largest, patient-centered organization focusing on kidney disease. Her long-term goal is to increase national funding for kidney disease research and to heighten awareness about chronic kidney disease.
Joseph V. Bonventre, M.D., PhD
Dr. Bonventre is the Samuel A. Levine Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Constantine L. Hampers Distinguished Chair at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is Chief of the Renal Division and Founding Chief of the Engineering in Medicine Division of the Brigham and Women's Hospital. In addition to his B.S. with distinction in Engineering Physics from Cornell, Dr. Bonventre holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in Biophysics from Harvard University. He has honorary doctorate degrees from Mt. Saint Mary’s College and from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology in Norway. He was Director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology for 10 years.
Additional resources:
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Shared decision making can play a vital role in the treatment of kidney disease. When physicians involve patients in their care, they may be able to help slow progression and improve outcomes. In this episode, we discussed how patients and their physicians can achieve this and hear stories from patients who have been there.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Ansara Piebenga, parent of a child with kidney disease
Ansara Piebenga is the mother of two daughters. Her younger daughter was diagnosed at four months of age with a rare, genetic disease called primary hyperoxaluria. She received a year of daily (seven days a week!) hemodialysis and nightly peritoneal dialysis while being fed only through a gastric-tube. Once she grew large enough (10 kilograms) she received a combined kidney and liver transplant at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at only 16 months of age. Ansara's younger daughter is now a teenager who enjoys driving, playing lacrosse, and petting her three dogs. Her daughter will celebrate 15 years with her transplanted organs this June and their entire family will thank her donor's family once again for their selfless and generous gift. Ansara has mentored other families facing chronic kidney disease since 2007. She volunteers for Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, the Medical University of South Carolina, the Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative, Transplant Families, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Susan P. Wong, nephrologist
Susan Wong is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and a nephrologist and bioethics consultant at the Seattle VA. She leads a research program on treatment practices for advanced kidney disease with a focus on dialysis practices, conservative management without dialysis, and end-of-life and kidney palliative care. When she's not working, she enjoys spending her time gardening and with her 3 beautiful children.
Dr. Taylor House, nephrology fellow
Dr. Taylor House is a senior pediatric nephrology fellow at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, and she will be joining the faculty at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in the fall. She performs research focused on supporting the flourishing of children with kidney disease and their families through the integration of palliative care into routine nephrology care. She has a specific interest in improving communication between patients, caregivers, and clinicians surrounding kidney disease decision-making.
Elizabeth Fortune, kidney patient
Elizabeth Fortune was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. Two significant developments came from her fight with cancer. First, she and her husband started their own non-profit to support fellow cancer survivors and their caregiver. Second, she was left with End-Stage Renal Disease as a result of chemotherapy. She has been on dialysis since her diagnosis in April 2014. She is a member of NKF's Kidney Advocacy Committee. She also enjoys knitting, reading, writing about her experience with cancer and kidney failure, and traveling with her husband. They also have the greatest cat, Mr. Meowington.
Friday May 27, 2022
Friday May 27, 2022
People with chronic conditions like kidney disease face mental health struggles such as depression or anxiety. In many kidney patients those challenges often go overlooked or undertreated. In this episode, we sat down with a mentor and mentee from NKF Peers to discuss their experiences and the importance of talking to someone who knows what you've been through.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Doris Lew
Doris Lew, a transplant recipient since 2016, just celebrated her six-year kidney-versary on May 12th. She received her kidney from a living donor after a year of peritoneal dialysis as a part of a ten-way chain. She was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy and is continually learning about her kidney disease. She has two grown sons and currently lives in Oakland, CA, with her husband and two dogs.
Manusca Belony
Manusca Belony has been living with kidney disease since 2019 and has recently begun peritoneal dialysis. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
Marissa Argentina, LMSW
Marissa Argentina is the Patient Programs Director at the National Kidney Foundation whose primary role is overseeing patient support initiatives to improve kidney patient outcomes. She has provided oversight to the NKF Peers program since 2017. Prior to joining the National Kidney Foundation, Marissa worked as a dialysis center social worker.
Additional resources:
More information on NKF Peers (You can also call 855.NKF.PEER or email us at nkfpeers@kidney.org)
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Friday Apr 29, 2022
If you are in need of a kidney transplant, finding a living donor can sound scary and overwhelming. Where should you start and what’s the best way to share your story with the world? In this episode, you will hear from transplant recipients who once stood in your shoes.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Dorothy Muench, LCSW
Dori Muench is a post-transplant social worker with the Abdominal Organ transplant department with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for the past 5 years. In this capacity, she works with numerous individuals who have received a kidney or pancreas transplant and works to provide concrete and emotional support. Before this, Dori worked in dialysis for close to 10 years and has seen and heard the effects people have while on dialysis. She works hard to advocate for people to be transplant and find living donors so they can decrease as much time on dialysis as possible. Dori lives in North Carolina with her husband, 2 daughters and golden retriever.
Gisela Delgado
At the age of 14, Gisela was rushed to the emergency room after having Coca Cola colored urine. It took 6 months of various testing to eventually be diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy via kidney biopsy. The doctors told her and her parents that there was no cure, no proven treatment and that this disease would likely lead to kidney failure in 20-25 years. This was very upsetting and also left the family with a lot of unanswered questions. At the age of 30, Gisela was then rushed to the emergency room with flu-like symptoms. The doctors flagged GFR and Creatinine levels. She was then put on a course of meds to help with Proteinuria and to treat high blood pressure. At the age of 38 Gisela reached end stage kidney failure requiring a kidney transplant. Luckily she was able to receive a pre-emptive transplant from a living donor (her brother). For those that do not know - a kidney transplant is still considered a type of treatment for kidney failure. Today Gisela is a huge advocate for living donation and volunteers with The IgA Nephropathy Foundation as their Director of Brand + Creative. She looks forward to being “in the room where it happens” as the foundation is working hard with several Pharmaceutical partners to not only finding treatment but a cure for IgA Nephropathy.
Morgan Reid
Morgan Reid joined the National Kidney Foundation as the Director of Transplant Policy & Strategy in November 2021. In this role, Morgan will implement strategies and help create policies that promote equitable access to quality kidney healthcare and transplantation. Before joining NKF, Morgan worked for two Organ Procurement Organizations and a well-known transplant center. She has a deep passion for improving organ donation and transplant processes. A dear college friend donated a kidney to Morgan on January 9, 2007, after several years of dealing with an IgA Nephropathy diagnosis with nearly two years on peritoneal dialysis. She will use her personal experience and professional expertise to advocate for underserved communities that face barriers to kidney transplantation.
Additional resources:
Information on living donation
Kidney Donation: How to Make the Ask
The Top 3 Reasons People Are Afraid to Ask for a Kidney—and How to Overcome Them
5 Ways To Inspire Living Kidney Donation
Living Donation: Sample Letter to Family and Friends
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!
Friday Apr 22, 2022
Friday Apr 22, 2022
From the invention of the dialysis machine to the first successful kidney transplant, science has come a long way in extending life for kidney patients. Is transplantation between humans and animals the next step? In this episode, you will hear from a doctor behind the first successful transplant of a human receiving a pig kidney and where the science can take us from here.
We dedicate this episode to the Parson Family, who made the selfless decision to delay their grieving process and permit the doctors at the University of Alabama to maintain Jim Parsons’ body functioning on a ventilator so this scientific and medical breakthrough could be possible.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Jayme Locke, MD, MPH
Dr. Locke is an abdominal transplant surgeon at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who specializes in innovative strategies for the transplantation of incompatible organs, disparities in access to and outcomes after solid organ transplantation, and transplantation of HIV-infected end-stage patients. Her research interests include complex statistical analysis and modeling of transplant outcomes and behavioral research focused on health disparities.
Dr. Locke is an Associate Editor for Transplantation and is a regular peer reviewer for several journals, including the American Journal of Transplantation and the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology to name a few. She is an invited member of the ASTS Providing Better Access to Organs Task Force and Diversity Affairs Committee, the AST Kidney-Pancreas Committee, The Transplantation Society Young Member Committee, and the United Network for Organ Sharing Pediatric Transplant Committee. Dr. Locke is the recipient of numerous honors and has most recently received the American Transplant Congress Young Investigator Award, the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 Award, and was named one of AL.com’s 2015 Women Who Shape the State.
Jessica Washington
Jessica Washington is an NKF patient advocate who was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease in 2019 after being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. She works in the software industry as a Data Analyst and also enjoys freelance writing, in particular sports writing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She has been extremely motivated to advocate for the National Kidney Foundation to help others fight for better understanding, awareness, support, early detection and anything else she can do to make it easier for so many out there dealing with this disease.
More information:
How Genetically Altered Pigs Could Help Kidney Transplantation