NEW YORK, April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year
the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) considers the work
of hundreds of specialists, advocates and volunteers in the field
of nephrology and selects among them those who most exemplify the
relentless efforts of NKF to enhance the lives of patients through
action, education, and accelerating change. Their work is vital to
the 37 million adults in the U.S. who are affected by kidney
disease and the 1 in 3 people who are at risk. NKF will honor these
men and women at the 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings, which is being
held virtually from April 6-10.
The Donald W. Seldin Award will go to Mark Perazella, MD, from Yale University School of Medicine and West Haven
VA Medical Center.
"It is a very special honor to receive the 2021 Donald W. Seldin
Award," Dr. Perazella said. "Dr. Seldin was an extraordinary role
model whose innovations and contributions transformed care for
patients with advanced kidney disease. He was in inspiration to me
and others of my generation. I feel very privileged and fortunate
to receive the NKF award that bears his name."
The Seldin award was established to recognize excellence in
clinical nephrology in the tradition of one of the foremost
teachers and researchers in the field.
Dr. Perazella is a Board-certified nephrologist and Professor of
Medicine in the Section of Nephrology at Yale
University School of Medicine and West Haven VA Medical
Center in West Haven, CT. His
academic career has centered on his role as a clinician and
educator. He completed a 12-year term as Yale Nephrology Fellowship
Training Program Director. He is currently Director of the Acute
Dialysis Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Medical Director
for the Yale Physician Associate and PA On-line Programs.
The NKF Public Service Award will be presented to
Dr. Aliza Thompson, Deputy Director
of the Division of Cardiology and Nephrology, at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Division of Cardiology and Nephrology regulates and reviews
Investigational New Drug applications and marketing applications
for drug and biologic products for the treatment of cardiovascular
and kidney diseases. Dr. Thompson joined the FDA in 2007.
"It's a tremendous honor to receive this award," Dr. Thompson
said. "I thank the NKF for this honor and the important work it is
doing to facilitate drug development for kidney diseases and ensure
that the patient voice remains at the center of the drug
development process."
This year's recipient of the Shaul G. Massry Distinguished
Lecture in honor of Dr. Massry for his scientific achievements
and contributions to kidney health care and NKF is James Lash, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief
of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of
Medicine.
His research focuses on the epidemiology of chronic kidney
disease and interventional trials in the treatment of kidney
disease, particularly in racial and ethnic minority populations in
the United States.
"Dr. Shaul Massry has been one of
the most prominent leaders in the field of nephrology and I am
greatly honored to receive this award," Dr. Lash said. "Recognition
from NKF is particularly meaningful to me given the organization's
patient-centered vision."
Paul K. Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, of
Tulane University School of Public Health and
Tropical Medicine, will receive NKF's 2021 David M. Hume Memorial Award. The award was
created in memory of one of the NKF's most distinguished members.
The Hume award is the highest honor given by the Foundation to a
distinguished scientist-clinician in the field of kidney and
urologic diseases. It is bestowed upon an individual who
exemplifies the high ideals of scholarship and humanitarianism in
an outstanding manner.
"It is a very special honor to receive this award," Dr. Whelton
said. "Dr. Hume was an extraordinary role model whose innovations
and contributions transformed care for patients with advanced
kidney disease. He was an inspiration to me and others of my
generation. I feel very privileged and fortunate to receive the NKF
award that bears his name."
Dr. Whelton, is a medical graduate of University College
Cork, Ireland, with a master's
degree in clinical epidemiology from University of London and a prevention research doctorate
from the National University of
Ireland. He spent 26 years at Johns
Hopkins, where he founded the Welch Center for Prevention,
Epidemiology, and Clinical Research. Subsequently, he was
Tulane University Dean, School of
Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Dean, School of Medicine; and
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences. Later, he was
President/CEO, Loyola University Health
System and Medical Center before returning to Tulane as Show Chwan Health System Endowed Chair in
Global Public Health.
NKF Senior Vice President of Scientific Operations Jessica Joseph, MBA, who has led the team that
organizes the annual Spring Clinical Meetings for more than a
decade, as well as many of the ground-breaking initiatives of NKF,
is the winner of the Garabed Eknoyan Award.
The Garabed Eknoyan Award was created to recognize an individual
who has promoted the mission of NKF in making lives better for
people with kidney disease through exceptional contributions to key
initiatives of NKF such as the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality
Initiative (KDOQI) or clinical research in the field of kidney
disease.
"I am honored and surprised to be recognized by such
world-renowned clinicians and researchers," Joseph said.
"Supporting the kidney healthcare community as part of this
incredible NKF team has been the highlight of my career and I would
like to dedicate this award to my staff for leaning into this work.
Time and time again, they have pulled off what seems to be
impossible, like pivoting so quickly and seamlessly many of our
professional education activities to virtual events over the last
year. I am incredibly fortunate to work among such devoted
colleagues and volunteers throughout my tenure at NKF."
Kirsten L. Johansen, MD, FASN,
Nephrology Division Director, Hennepin County Medical Center, Co-Director, Chronic Disease Research
Group, Professor of Medicine, University of
Minnesota, will receive the Dr. J. Michael Lazarus Award for major
contributions to the clinical science and care of dialysis
patients. The award recognizes individuals whose research has
yielded novel insights related to renal replacement therapy.
Dr. Johansen is honored for her focus on physical function among
patients with end-stage kidney disease and interventions to improve
it, and epidemiology of kidney disease with an emphasis on racial
and ethnic disparities in progression of chronic kidney disease and
access to kidney transplantation.
"I am extremely honored to have even been considered for this
award, no less to receive it," Dr. Johansen said. "I am as ever
before committed to making a difference to patients with kidney
disease and honestly, to make sure that someday I am deserving of
this recognition."
Shivam Joshi, MD, a nephrologist,
internist, and plant-based physician, who practices at NYC Health +
Hospitals/Bellevue in New York City. He will receive the
Joel D. Kopple Award for work
in the field of renal nutrition.
"I'm very honored to have won this award and it is an enormous
surprise," Dr. Joshi said. "In the field of renal nutrition, this
is the highest award to win and I'm very thankful to have earned
the respect of so many in my field. I am still in shock to also be
the youngest nephrologist to have won this award."
Although Dr. Joshi graduated from fellowship less than three
years ago, he has published more than a dozen articles on diet and
kidney disease in prominent journals, been a featured speaker
dozens of times around the world, been featured in the New York Times and multiple podcasts about his work
and published on more than 40 peer-reviewed platforms.
Krista L. Lentine, MD, PhD, will
receive the 2021 Excellence in Kidney Transplantation Award.
Dr. Lentine is professor of medicine with tenure, Medical Director
of Living Donation, and Mid–America Transplant/Jane A. Beckman
Endowed Chair in Transplantation at SSM Saint
Louis University Hospital.
"It is difficult to fully express my gratitude for this award
embodying the NKF's commitment to helping people navigate the
challenges of kidney disease, organ donation and transplantation,"
Dr. Lentine said. "I'm deeply honored to join esteemed past awarded
colleagues and future recipients as we work together with the NKF
and other organizations to make the gift of life possible for more
patients in need. This shared mission honors the altruism of organ
donors, and the courage, hope and appreciation of those who seek
and receive transplants."
The Excellence in Transplantation Award was established to
recognize a scientist or clinician scientist whose exceptional
research has contributed novel insights in or resulted in improved
access to kidney transplantation.
The Medical Advisory Board Distinguished Service
Award recipient Shubha
Ahya, MD, a Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School Medicine
and a clinical nephrologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
"It's an honor to receive this award," Dr. Ahya said. "I have
worked with NKF of Illinois for
over 15 years and love the comradery of staff and volunteers to
care for our kidney patient-caregiver-provider community."
Dr. Ahya is the Chairperson of the Professional Advisory Board
of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and helps plan the professional
programming including Citywide Grand Rounds and the annual
Controversies in Nephrology.
This year, NKF will honor living-donor recipient and advocate
Curtis H. Warfield with the
Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award, which was
established to honor the longtime advocate for patient-centered
care and empowerment. Warfield is a regional leader of NKF's Kidney
Advocacy Committee, a peer mentor with NKF's Peer Program, and a
member of the Board of Directors of NKF of Indiana.
"I am very surprised and humbled to have been selected as the
2021 Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award recipient,"
Warfield said. "I have never considered my activities as an
advocate as work or an obligation but a chance to fulfill part of
my purpose in life to give forward and support others as they live
with kidney disease. It is an honor to be selected by NKF and to
represent the legacy of Celeste Castillo
Lee in the kidney community."
Maria "Rosley" DeClaro, RN, BSN, CNN will receive the Council
of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians award in the name of
Carol Mattix, a home dialysis
training nurse of the last century who worked tirelessly to improve
the lives of kidney patients.
"I love my job and didn't expect to be rewarded in this way for
the work that I do," Ms. DeClaro said. "But it makes me very happy.
When I see my patients, they are learning about kidney failure, a
diagnosis that is life-long, so they need hope. I try to give them
that."
Ms. DeClaro has been a Registered Nurse at Fresenius Kidney Care
for more than 20 years. During her time at Fresenius, she has
served in many roles, including direct patient care and managerial
roles. In 2009, she truly found her professional calling as she
entered the world of Home Therapies. As a Home Therapy Nurse,
DeClaro has worked tirelessly to support her patients, and to give
them the freedom and quality of life they never imagined on
dialysis.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 29 years, nephrology healthcare professionals
from across the country have come to NKF's Spring Clinical
Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all
aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and
present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary
healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes.
It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating
science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This
year's Spring Clinical Meetings will be held virtually April
6-10.
NKF Professional Membership
Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access
to tools and resources for both patients and professionals,
discounts on professional education, and access to a network of
thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney
disease.
Kidney Disease Facts
In the
United States, 37 million adults are estimated to
have chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and approximately 90
percent don't know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is
at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for
kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart
disease, obesity, and family history. People who are Black or
African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska
Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander are at increased risk for developing the
disease. Black or African American people are almost 4 times
more likely than Whites to have kidney failure. Hispanic or Latino
people are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanic or non-Latino
people to have kidney failure.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National
Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most
comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization
dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney
disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit
www.kidney.org.
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SOURCE National Kidney Foundation