Largest Kidney Patient Group Honors Expert
Authors Known for Patient Advocacy
WASHINGTON, March 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of
Kidney Patients (AAKP), the largest and oldest independent kidney
patient organization in the nation, is celebrating National Doctors
Day by highlighting three top kidney medical experts and authors
known for their tireless work as advocates for patients and
high-quality healthcare. Since 1933, March
30 has been recognized as National Doctors Day, an annual
observance aimed at appreciating physicians who help save
lives.
AAKP defines high quality healthcare as patient care choice of,
and access to, medical innovations that best empower kidney
patients to pursue the same aspirations as any other American.
Those aspirations include maintaining part-time or full-time work
in a chosen profession or trade, starting and providing for a
family, owning a home, and a secure retirement. AAKP is a strong
advocate for greater innovation in kidney-related diagnostics,
drugs, and devices and the removal of government barriers that
impede timely regulatory and payment approvals.
AAKP President Edward V. Hickey,
III, stated, "Kidney disease has a devastating impact on
people, their employment, and their families. Treating it
effectively requires highly educated and credentialed professionals
who possess both scientific and medical expertise as well as the
sophisticated ability to understand how this disease impacts people
within the context of everyday life. On National Doctors Day, we
salute all kidney professionals and call special attention to three
medical leaders whose books have impacted the public's
understanding of the disease and why America must move beyond
status quo care, adopt early screening for at-risk people, embrace
innovation, and save more lives." Hickey is a U.S. Marine Corps
Veteran, Chair of AAKP's Veterans Health Initiative, and has a
professional background that includes senior posts on Capitol Hill
and in two presidential administrations.
AAKP highlighted their strong ally and nephrologist Dr.
Paul L. Kimmel, Clinical Professor
of Medicine, Emeritus at The George Washington
University School of Medicine and Health Science (GWU/SMHS),
and the launch of his recently released book entitled "The
Body's Keeper: A Social History of Kidney Failure and Its
Treatments." For the past six years, AAKP has been a strategic
partner with GWU/SMHS on the annual Global Summit on Kidney
Disease Innovations, a virtual international event that draws
medical experts, industry leaders, and patients from over 100
nations.
In his book, Dr. Kimmel takes readers on a journey through the
history of kidney disease, dialysis, and transplantation, often
drawing on both his extensive research and decades of experience in
the field. Dr. Kimmel explains the development of treatments,
technologies, and medical practices that have advanced the care of
patients with kidney diseases and saved lives. The Body's
Keeper includes case studies, personal histories, and
first-hand accounts that unveil the complexities of modern
healthcare by examining the exploitation of vulnerable populations,
how the lack of opportunity and access to timely care have led to
life-threatening consequences for many Americans, and how
misalignments in payments, incentives, and overwhelming unmet
patient needs contribute to suffering on a wide scale. Dr. Kimmel
discussed his book with AAKP's Paul T.
Conway, Chair of Policy and Global Affairs and a former
dialysis patient and 26-year transplant recipient, during an
interview AAKP has made available for free OnDemand. Conway has
served in four presidential administrations and on the Nephrology
Specialty Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine
(ABIM).
In addition to Dr. Kimmel, AAKP also highlighted two other
highly esteemed fellow kidney professionals and their books. Dr.
Stephen Z. Fadem, Clinical Professor
of Medicine, Baylor College of
Medicine, Section of Nephrology, and Chair of AAKP's Medical
Advisory Board is the author of "Staying Healthy with
Kidney Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients," published in
2022. Dr. Fadem discussed his book before an audience of patients
that AAKP has also made available for free OnDemand. Dr.
Vanessa Grubbs, Associate Director
of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of California San Francisco is the
author of "Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers: A Kidney Doctor's Search
for the Perfect Match," published in 2017. Dr. Grubbs can also be
viewed discussing her book before an audience of patients,
professional, and innovation leaders AAKP has made available for
free OnDemand.
Since 1969, The American Association of Kidney Patients has been
a patient-led organization driving policy discussions on kidney
patient care choice and medical innovation. Over the past decade,
AAKP patient advocates have helped advance lifetime transplant drug
coverage for kidney transplant recipients (2020); the presidential
Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health (2019); new job
protections for living organ donors under the Family Medical Leave
Act (FMLA) via the U.S. Department of Labor (2018); and
Congressional legislation allowing HIV-positive organ transplants
for HIV-positive patients (2013). Follow AAKP on social media
at @kidneypatient on
Facebook, @kidneypatients on X,
and @kidneypatients on Instagram, and
visit www.aakp.org for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer
Rate
Director, Communications and Digital Operations
jrate@aakp.org
(813) 400-2394
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SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients