Dr. Dominic Raj Honored for Scientific and
Patient Care Excellence
Over 100 Nations Engaged via Global Summit
on Kidney Disease Innovations
WASHINGTON, July 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of
Kidney Patients (AAKP), the largest and oldest independent kidney
patient organization in the United
States, with an expanding international reach, presented its
Inaugural Medal of Excellence in Global Kidney Science
and Patient-Centered Medicine to Dr. Dominic Raj of the George
Washington (GW) University School of Medicine and Health
Sciences (SMHS) of Washington,
D.C. during the opening session of the 6th
Annual Global Summit on Kidney Disease Innovations (The Global
Summit) (July 16,
2024). Since 2019, The Global Summit, a
partnership of AAKP and GW SMHS, has grown into the world's largest
patient-led meeting on kidney disease innovations, engaging tens of
thousands of patients, medical professionals, industry leaders, and
government officials across more than 100 nations.
The Inaugural Medal of Excellence in Global Kidney
Science and Patient-Centered Medicine is distinct from any
other international scientific or medical honor in kidney disease.
The recognition was developed by kidney patients and intentionally
designed to elevate scientists and medical experts whose work aims
to transcend status quo care and positively influence medical
innovation and save more lives. AAKP is a champion for the
universal principles of greater patient care choice, protection of
the patient/doctor relationship, and more intelligent alignments in
government of regulatory and payment policies to support, not
stymie, innovations in kidney diagnostics, drugs, and devices. AAKP
and its global allies define high quality kidney care as disease
prevention strategies and treatments that fully support patients'
aspirations and individual freedom, including freedom from
dependency.
Dr. Raj is the Bert B. Brooks Chair in the GW SMHS and a
Professor of Medicine in Biochemistry and Genetics, and
Biostatistics and Epidemiology. He is also the Director of the
Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension. Under his tenure, the
Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension was the first clinical
section of the GW SMHS to earn the coveted designation of "high
performing" by U.S. News and World Report. Dr. Raj has delivered
over 100 expert presentations on kidney science and
patient-centered medicine to audiences across the globe, including
medical schools and professional societies in East Asia, South
Asia, and Europe. He has
also received numerous honors from medical professional
societies.
Upon acceptance of the honor from kidney patients, Dr. Raj, a
founding Co-Chair of The Global Summit, stated, "I am deeply
honored to be recognized by AAKP with the Inaugural Global Medal
of Excellence in Kidney Science and Patient-Centered Medicine
and I am humbled by this award. It has been my life's mission to
help all people impacted by kidney diseases through scientific
excellence and innovation, and patients have always been at the
center of my efforts. I believe all professionals must listen to
their patients, understand their aspirations, and help them choose
the best treatments that allow them to remain as independent and
healthy as possible. I dedicate this award to all the patients who
have taught me about the burdens of kidney disease and whose
boundless courage and resilient hope continues to inspire my
work."
Dr. Raj was pivotal in the establishment of the GW SMHS
transplant program and has been the architect of efforts to expand
patient care choice and access to transplant services in
Washington, D.C., and surrounding
regions, especially among historically underserved people and
Veterans. For the GW SMHS, he has secured over $18 million in taxpayer-funded research grants
through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mentored over 70
medical professionals, and, since 1995, authored more than 240
peer-reviewed medical journal articles. Dr. Raj is board certified
in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, a Fellow of the American
College of Physicians (ACP), and a Fellow of the American Society
of Nephrology (ASN). He has been named a "Washington Top Doctor"
multiple times by Washingtonian magazine.
AAKP President Edward V. Hickey,
III, a kidney patient and USMC Veteran, stated, "AAKP has
deep respect for Dr. Raj's extraordinary leadership at George Washington University and his prominent role
as an international thought leader in kidney science and meaningful
patient engagement. His commitment to scholarship, innovations that
improve lives and protect livelihoods, and the advancement of
patient interests are consistent and highly commendable." Hickey
serves as Chair of AAKP's Veterans Health Initiative and has a
professional background that includes senior posts on Capitol Hill
and in two presidential administrations. Hickey works closely with
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on a wide range of health
and kidney care issues for Veterans.
Paul T. Conway, AAKP's Chair of
Policy and Global Affairs, a founding Co-Chair of The Global
Summit with Dr. Raj, stated, "Dr. Raj demonstrated the highest
ideals of patient-centered medicine and great integrity by reaching
out to AAKP to launch The Global Summit as equal partners in
both science and medical innovation. His shared sense of urgency to
address the unmet needs of kidney patients around the world, and
within our nation's capital of Washington, D.C., is genuine and reflects a
sophisticated understanding of why kidney care must evolve. Dr. Raj
has provided a model for how patients, professionals, and industry
can change the trajectory of innovation collaboratively and on a
very impressive scale." Conway is a 46-year kidney patient and has
served as Chair of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
Patient Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) and as a member of the
Nephrology Specialty Board of the American Board of Internal
Medicine (ABIM).
Following the awards presentation, day one of The Global
Summit featured a series of substantive presentations from
patient and medical subject matter experts across the world
including Costa Rica, Switzerland, Guatemala, Lithuania, Malaysia, and Spain. Presentations focused on critical
issues important to patients including environmental and
occupational contributors to cardio/renal disease such as natural
and non-natural disasters, as well as game-changing innovations in
disease screening and detection that allow physicians to identify
an individual's risk for kidney disease and target interventions to
prevent disease progression and organ failure. Other session
highlights included clinical benefits of genetic testing,
incorporating patient privacy concerns in the consent process, and
and an inspiring presentation from AAKP's allied partners at the
Rare Kidney Disease Foundation. Day one closed with a series of
presentations focused on transplantation, from prolonging the life
of a kidney transplant, to research updates on artificial and
wearable kidneys, xenotransplantation, and 3D printed kidneys.
AAKP is a staunch defender of the principle of patient consumer
care choice and protection of the patient/doctor relationship from
third party interference. AAKP defines kidney disease as both a
workforce and healthcare issue and, since 2023, has labeled federal
government decisions that, knowingly or unwittingly, harm kidney
patients as Government Determinants of Health (GDoH).
The Global Summit is a free, virtual, and open
access international education event that runs through July 17. Day two of The Global Summit
begins at 10:00 a.m. eastern U.S.
time on July 17. Registration remains
open and is available at https://bit.ly/AAKPGlobal.
About the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP):
Since 1969, AAKP has been a patient-led organization driving policy
discussions on kidney patient care choice and medical innovation.
In 2018, AAKP established the first and largest U.S. kidney voter
registration program, KidneyVoters™. Over the past decade,
AAKP patient advocates have helped advance the passage of the
bipartisan law modernizing the Organ Procurement and Transplant
Network (OPTN) via greater competition and oversight (2023);
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 Twitter, 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