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The latest in kidney research, care, and treatment.
Episodes
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
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Many potential living organ donors have questions, such as what does the journey look like, and how do you know if you are eligible to donate? If you are one of them, this podcast is for you. On this episode, our panel will share the first-hand experience of being a living donor and walk you through the evaluation process.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Tania Kasongo
Tania was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Ohio. She is very passionate about health and wellness. She is a living kidney donor and donated her kidney in 2014 for her father. Tania graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in French. She works as an Events Marketing Manager for the American Chemical Society, and has her own event planning business, Yowa Events. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and is very involved in her community. She has volunteered for various organizations such as New York Cares, Ronald McDonald House charities, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and many more. She is also a strong advocate for diabetes, kidney health, and organ donation. Other activities Tania enjoys are exercising, traveling, cooking, and horticulture.
Jennifer Bruns, LMSW
Jennifer is a social worker who has worked with kidney patients for the past 23 years in the fields of dialysis, transplant and inpatient care. Jennifer has also served on the executive committee for the Council of Nephrology Social Workers and she is a living kidney donor.
Miriam Goodwin
Miriam is the Director of Health Policy for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). In this capacity, she helps to define and execute NKF’s public policy agenda with the federal government, working closely with patients, patient advocates, and professionals to ensure that public policy has the priorities of kidney patients at its center. Prior to joining NKF, Miriam was a member of the policy team at Roche/Genentech, where she worked to shape the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) commitments for the PDUFA V and PDUFA VI reauthorization cycles. Miriam earned her MPP from the George Washington University and a BA in biology from Earlham College. She is also a living kidney donor.
Further resources on living donation:
General Information on Living Donation
For additional information, visit kidney.org/livingdonation.
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Some diseases run in the family, when more than one person has the same kind of illness passed down through genes. One of those genes, called APOL1, has variations that are linked to an increased risk for kidney disease, especially in under-resourced communities of color. In today's bonus episode, we discuss how a clinical research study is looking to understand the effect of APOL1 on kidney transplant outcomes from living and deceased donors, and why it's important for you to be part of this research study.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Marva Moxey-Mims, MD, FASN
Dr. Moxey-Mims is Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Nephrology at Children’s National Health System, Washington, D.C. Dr. Moxey-Mims serves as the Study Chair of the APOLLO Steering Committee and Chair of the Publications & Presentation Committee.
Jonah Odim, MD
Dr. Odim is Chief of the Clinical Transplantation Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Dr. Odim serves as a representative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the APOLLO Steering Committee and member of the Dissemination Working Group.
Glenda V. Roberts
Glenda is the Director of External Relations & Patient Engagement for the Center for Dialysis Innovation at the University of Washington Kidney Research Institute. Glenda serves as a member of the APOLLO Community Advisory Committee, the Recruitment Committee, and the Dissemination Working Group.
Sylvia E. Rosas, MD, MSCE
Dr. Rosas is a nephrologist and epidemiologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Sylvia serves as the Principal Investigator of APOLLO Clinical Center 09 (Harvard University) and member of the Dissemination Working Group.
Krista Lentine, MD, PhD, FAST, FAST
Dr. Lentine is Medical Director of Living Donation, Co-Director of Clinical Research, and Mid-America Transplant/Jane A. Beckman Endowed Chair in Transplantation at Saint Louis University (SLU). Krista serves as co-Principal Investigator for APOLLO Clinical Center 03 (Johns Hopkins | SLU), member of the Data, Ancillary Studies, and Publications & Presentation Committees, and chair of the Dissemination Working Group.
Denay Richards
Ms. Richards and her family were born in the Caribbean when her mother was diagnosed with ESRD. They moved to the United States, where her mother was told that she had about 3 months to live. On August 29th, 2000, Denay’s father donated a kidney to her and in 2020 they celebrated their 20 year - “kidneyversary.” As a child, Denay loved helping her mother with the dialysis process, organizing medications, and attending hospital visits. It was this exposure to the medical field that encouraged Denay to pursue a career in surgery. In 2019 she graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Molecular Biology and as of 2021 is an MD/PhD student in a dual degree program with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Princeton University. In 2019, she earned a double board qualification as a fitness nutrition specialist and personal trainer under the International Sports Sciences Association. In 2020, Denay was diagnosed with an APOL1 mutation that is more prevalent in the African American community and has been linked to early kidney failure. Denay says that her diagnosis has empowered her to expand education about renal health, fitness/nutrition, and genetic predispositions for kidney failure to the world, especially disenfranchised populations that are at greater risk.
Genetics and kidney disease: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/genetics-kidney-disease
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Pregnancy can be an exciting time for most people, but what does it look like if you are a kidney patient? What does pregnancy look like if they have kidney disease, are on dialysis, or have received a transplant? In this episode, we’ll hear useful facts and tips from transplant nephrologist Dr. Mariana Markell, as well as personal stories from Cari Maxwell and Katie Reed, two mothers living with kidney disease.
In this episode, you'll hear from:
Dr. Mariana Markell
Dr. Markell is a graduate of Yale University and New York Medical College and received her Residency and Fellowship training at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital and UCLA Medical Center. At SUNY Downstate she has served as the Director of Inpatient Dialysis and created the first Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Program in New York City. She currently continues to care for general and transplant nephrology patients while serving at the Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation. Her research interests include the impact of social determinants of health and issues in women’s health in the person with kidney disease.
Katie Reed
Katie Reed has autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial MUC1 kidney disease (ADTKD-MUC1) and is a recent recipient of a successful kidney transplant. Katie is a board member for the Rare Kidney Disease Foundation, which focuses on raising awareness of ADTKD, building up the ADTKD community, and advocating for patients and families. Katie and her husband reside in North Carolina and are parents to two young children. In their free time, you can find the Reeds out and about at local parks, watching a thrilling game of preschool-aged soccer, cheering for the Steelers, or taking over Disney World in matching family shirts. Professionally, Katie is a Managing Director with Afton Partners, a consultancy focused on funding policy, governance, and sustainability strategies for education and human services organizations.
Cari Maxwell
Cari was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in 1989. Through healthy living and choices, she managed her disease on her own for many years following the example of her father, who experienced ESRD in the early 1980s. A registered organ donor provided a near-perfect matching kidney to him and that gift of life granted Cari and her family 31 additional years with him before he passed away in October of 2018. Advancements in treatment for PKD patients are very close to Cari’s heart, not only for herself but also for her other two siblings and oldest child that are diagnosed with ADPKD and for the likelihood that her two younger children may also be one day. She was fortunate to be able to participate in the clinical trial for the first-ever FDA-approved treatment for PKD – a treatment she still benefits from today.
Cari is a member of the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Advocacy Committee, and she champions patient education, early detection, and scientific advancement through patient-oriented clinical research. She hopes that through her commitment to the awareness of chronic kidney diseases, others will take an active role in their health journey through early detection, healthy choices, and becoming a strong voice of advocacy for themselves and others. Cari is a wife and mother to three daughters and works full-time as the Director of Culture & Operations for a growing technology integration firm near Hershey, PA.
For more information on pregnancy and kidney disease, visit https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/pregnancy.
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
You might have heard about drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors used in treatment of kidney disease, but, just like many other kidney patients, you might not know if they’re right for you. On this episode, we explain how different SGLT2 inhibitors are from other kidney disease medications, discuss side effects, cost, and the ongoing research around this category of drugs.
On this episode you will hear from:
Katherine Tuttle, MD
Dr. Tuttle is Executive Director for Research at Providence Health Care, Co-Principal Investigator of the Institute of Translational Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Tuttle earned her medical degree and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. She was a fellow in Metabolism and Endocrinology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Her Nephrology fellowship training was performed at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Tuttle's major research interests are in clinical and translational science for diabetes and chronic kidney disease. She has published over 250 original research contributions and served two terms as Associate Editor for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and the American Journal of Kidney Disease. Dr. Tuttle has received many honors and awards including the Medal of Excellence from the American Association of Kidney Patients, Garbed Eknoyan Award from the National Kidney Foundation, the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award in Science, and two Outstanding Clinical Faculty Awards at the University of Washington. Dr. Tuttle served on the Board of Directors for the Kidney Health Initiative and has chaired numerous kidney and diabetes related working groups and committees for organizations including the NIDDK/NIH, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Nephrology, the International Society of Nephrology, and the American Diabetes Association.
Jane DeMeis, patient
Ms. DeMeis became involved with the National Kidney Foundation when she was diagnosed in 2018 with stage 4 kidney disease. Ms. DeMeis was the Director of Education and Organizational Development for U R Medicine Home Care. Part of her responsibilities was working with clinicians in teaching them how to present education to patients. She also was the Chairperson of the Patient Family Centered Care program and worked with improving home care through patient advocacy. In 2018, Ms. DeMeis retired. She had been fighting CKD along with Psoriatic Arthritis for over 8 years and needed to focus on her health. She currently serves as a member of NKF's Kidney Advocacy Committee, as an Ambassador for NKF's online communities, and also as a NKF Peer mentor. Ms. DeMeis is the Chairperson of the Perinton Ambulance Corps and when Covid allows will be bringing Kidney education to their Community Outreach program. Her other volunteer activities include working with clients for the Perinton Food Shelf, on the Executive Board of the Perinton Historical Society as the Director of Communications, as a member of the Fairport Village Tree Board, and sings with the Perinton Senior Chorus.
Looking for tips on how to limit your sodium? We have you covered.
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Most patients on dialysis need to limit the amount of sodium in their diets. But how much sodium is safe and what are some ways to add flavor to your diet? On today's episode, our experts cover examples of high sodium foods, recommendations for low sodium substitutes, and how much sodium people with kidney disease should have as a part of a healthy diet.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Melissa Prest, DCN, MS, RDN, CSR, LDN
Melissa Prest is the Foundation Dietitian for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. In this role, she focuses on nutrition education for individuals at risk for and/or diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Melissa is also involved in program planning for patients and professionals. Prior to working with NKFI, Melissa practiced in a dialysis center providing medical nutrition therapy for individuals treated with renal replacement therapy. Melissa completed her doctorate in clinical nutrition from Rutgers University and her master’s degree in clinical nutrition from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Prest holds multiple local, state, and national volunteer leadership roles with the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Illinois Council on Renal Nutrition, the NKF Council on Renal Nutrition, the Renal Dietitian Practice Group and serves a as National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “In addition to being able to form a long-term patient-clinician relationship, what I most enjoy about working with persons living with chronic conditions is seeing the impact of making healthy behavior changes on their quality of life.”
Chef Duane Sunwold
Chef Duane is a CKD patient who put his disease into remission by changing his diet and following his doctor’s recommendations. Duane is currently a culinary arts instructor at the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy. He has spent his culinary career cooking in the Pacific Northwest and was a private chef for the Bill Gates family. Duane has presented his culinary accomplishments to medical professionals and patients around the United States. Duane has also participated on a PCORI research grant with Washington State University and was a core member on a CDC’s sodium reduction grant for the Spokane Regional Health District.
For more information on sodium and a CKD diet, visit here.
For tips on limiting your sodium, visit here.
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
As a kidney patient, you most likely know your estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR, and that it’s a way to check how well your kidneys are working. In the past some medical calculations, including a way to measure eGFR, included race in their estimates. In September, NKF and the American Society of Nephrology announced that their joint taskforce recommended a new, race-free approach to measuring eGFR. What does this new equation mean for patients, especially those who identify as Black or African American? In this episode, we sat down with two members of that taskforce to get the facts.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Mallika L. Mendu, MD, MBA
Mallika Mendu, MD, MBA is Executive Medical Director of Clinical Operations for Brigham Health, in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Mendu is also a practicing nephrologist and Associate Medical Director of Mass General Brigham Population Health Management. She received her MD and MBA degrees from the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Management. During her internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she was involved in the Medicine Management Leadership Track and developed an interest in addressing system-level deficiencies in quality and care delivery by implementing innovative interventions. She pursued nephrology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Mendu’s administrative responsibilities are focused on care continuum management and inpatient operations. Her research efforts relate to care delivery innovation, quality and safety and population health.
Glenda Roberts
Glenda is a passionate activist for kidney research and patients living with kidney disease. She’s involved in myriad patient-centered national and international health care transformation initiatives. All are focused on addressing patient preferences and improving patient-reported outcomes. Glenda brings the patient voice to a number of NIH/NIDDK government and industry research efforts, as well as, the ASN COVID-19 Response Team and the ASN COVID-19 Transplant Subcommittee. She’s a member of the ISN, the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI) Patient and Family Partnership Council (PFPC); Can-SOLVE CKD International Research Advisory Committee; Home Dialyzors United Advisory Board and she’s has been an Ambassador for the American Association of Kidney Patients since 2018.
Learn more about what this means for people living with kidney disease: https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/changes-to-egfr-calculation-and-what-means-people-living-kidney-disease
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Nearly 10,000 children in the country are diagnosed with kidney failure and require either dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. What does a pediatric kidney disease diagnosis look like for families and how can loved ones can offer their support? This bonus episode features a conversation from The Journey Continues, a podcast by the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Host and kidney transplant recipient Monica Fox spoke about pediatric kidney disease with Katie Adduci, a nurse and living kidney donor to her son Max, as well as Nicole duMont, a licensed social worker who has worked with children in all stages of kidney disease and transplantation.
Download and subscribe to "The Journey Continues" in Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you like to listen.
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Many kidney disease patients often face financial hardships, such as having to leave a job or struggling to pay for medications. Applying for or maintaining insurance may also be overwhelming and may create challenges with access to care. In today’s episode, physician and a postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Isaac Acquah talks about his recent research into the financial impact on people with chronic kidney disease with guests Beth Witten, a social worker, and Charles Pecoraro, a dialysis patient.
In this episode, you will hear from:
Dr. Isaac Acquah, MD, MPH
Dr. Isaac Acquah is a physician and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Outcomes Research at Houston Methodist Hospital. He holds an MD degree from the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is particularly concerned about health care disparities and social determinants of health. Prior to moving to the United States, he practiced in both rural and urban settings where he directly experienced the influences of these determinants on a person’s health. His current work as a postdoctoral fellow involves understanding health care disparities among different patient populations and how they affect patient outcomes.
Beth Witten
Beth Witten is a renal social worker. She has worked with dialysis and transplant patients for over 40 years. She has been an NKF employee and volunteer and past chair of NKF's social work council. Beth ran CKD classes for many years. She consults with the nonprofit Medical Education Institute. Beth speaks and writes on choosing a treatment, paying for treatment, working and living your best life with kidney disease.
Charles Pecoraro
Charles Pecoraro is a dialysis patient who is also currently on the transplant waitlist at Mayo Clinic in Florida. In June 2019 he was diagnosed and treated for Malignant Melanoma Cancer. In follow up visits with his PCP, they found he had high blood pressure. He experienced debilitating emotional, mental, and physical symptoms from CKD that ultimately affected his ability to continue working and he lost the business he had owned for many years. He also experienced delays in care due to insurance issues and ultimately started on dialysis emergently in March 2020. Charles is a kidney advocate with NKF.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- dol.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)
- ssa.gov/redbook or (800) 772-1213 (Social Security Disability Insurance)
- Healthcare.gov
- Medicare.gov
- Needymeds.org and mat.org (Medicine Assistance Tool)
- Benefits.gov
- Unitedway.org
- shiphelp.org or (877) 839-2675 (State Health Insurance Programs)
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Over the past year, NKF advocates have won a number of policy campaigns both in Congress and state capitals across the country. While these victories will improve the lives of kidney patients nationwide, we’re not done yet. We need every voice for kidney health to join the fight to ensure that we are heard across the country. In this episode, we discussed some recent wins and our upcoming challenges for the kidney advocate community with Jeff Currey, a Connecticut State Representative and kidney transplant recipient, and Armand Halter, an NKF patient advocate who helped lead NKF’s efforts to pass the Connecticut version of the Living Donor Protection Act.
In this episode, you will hear from:
CT Representative Jeff Currey:
Rep. Jeff Currey is a United States State Senator in Connecticut who who was re-elected to a fourth term in 2020 to serve the 11th Assembly District. Currey, who went public with his kidney failure prognosis in 2020, received a kidney transplant from a longtime friend in January 2021. In May he supported and advocate for the Living Donor Protection Act (HB 6387) in Connecticut, which prohibits insurers from discriminating against living organ donors and creates a committee to promote kidney donation in the state.
Armand Halter:
Armand Halter is a patient-advocate from Connecticut who has led NKF’s efforts to pass a state version of the Living Donor Protection Act (HB 6387) in Connecticut, including testifying on February 11th. He has also been a mentor to fellow advocates and helped organize Connecticut advocates in their efforts to pass bills and raise awareness in the state legislature.
For more information on NKF's advocacy efforts and how to become an advocate yourself, visit voices.kidney.org. You can also email us directly at advocacy@kidney.org.