Kidney Action Week has become a can’t-miss event. Whether you work with people with kidney disease, have kidney disease yourself, or are a friend or family member of someone who does, this week is a great opportunity for you to catch up on everything you need to know about kidney health. It is free and 100% virtual, so you can attend from anywhere you happen to be.
The 2023 Kidney Action Week will be taking place from March 20-24 – what better way to celebrate Kidney Month!
LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund
Moderator:
Ken Sutha, MD, PhD, Pediatric Nephrologist, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, and American Kidney Fund Ambassador
Speakers:
Melissia Baker, American Kidney Fund Ambassador
Della Major, American Kidney Fund Kidney Health Coach and American Kidney Fund Ambassador
Speaker:
Amanda Lane, MS, RD, CDCES, Renal Dietitian, Healthful Lane Nutrition, LLC
Moderator:
Tamara Ruggiero, Vice President and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Amy Mottl, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension
Susanne Nicholas, MD, MPH, PhD, Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles
Patrick O. Gee, PhD, Founder & CEHD, iAdvocate, Inc.
Moderator:
Melanie Paris, M.A., MPH, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Kidney Disease Education, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Kirk Campbell, MD, Professor of Medicine/Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Ashte Collins, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Speaker:
Dr. Blake “The Cooking Doc” Shusterman, MD, Nephrologist and author of “The Cooking Doc's Kidney-Healthy Cooking: A Modern 10-Step Guide to Preventing and Managing Kidney Disease”
Moderator:
Jemetra Collins, Director of Professional Education, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Orlando Gutierrez, MD, Professor and Director, Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Holly Bode, Vice President of Government Affairs, American Kidney Fund
Kevin Schnurr, Associate Director, Alport Syndrome Foundation
Moderator:
Tamara Ruggiero, Vice President and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Hannah Graves, LMSW, Transplant Outreach Social Worker, Piedmont Transplant Institute
Jonathon Seidl, Kidney donor
Kenneth Cook, Kidney transplant recipient
Debra Cook, Support person of kidney transplant recipient
Elizabeth Kay, Kidney donor
Camille Hamme, Transplant recipient
Speaker:
Quenton Gee, In-Center Hemodialysis Patient
Moderator:
Eric Weinhandl, PhD, Senior Director of Analytics and Home Therapies, Satellite Healthcare
Speakers: 
Maria Camila Bermudez, MD, Nephrologist, Geisinger Medical Center
Rachel Perlman, MD, FACP, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan Health
Shayan Shirazian, MD, Nephrologist, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Speaker:
Nieltje Gedney, Home Dialysis Advocate
Moderator:
Fiona Lawless, Senior Director, Corporate Engagement, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Maria Camila Bermudez, MD
Nephrologist, Geisinger Medical Center
Antonio Cain, MBA, RD, LDN, CHA, Registered Dietitian, DaVita Kidney Care
Ruth D. Simon, MSW, LCSW
Dialysis Social Worker, Fresenius Kidney Care
Gabrielle Maria Turner- Gee, Care Partner
Moderator:
Silas Norman, MD, MPH, Nephrologist and Professor of Medicine, University of Michigan
Speakers:
Joseph Keith Melancon, MD, Chief, Transplant Institute and Division of Transplant Surgery at The George Washington University Hospital
Carolyn Feibig, MS, Thoracic Transplant and Advanced Heart Failure Dietitian at INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Evan Dame, Kidney transplant recipient
Moderator:
Ryan Woolley, MSPH, RDN, Director of Public Education, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Melanie Betz, MS, RD, CSR, CSG, Founder and CEO, The Kidney Dietitian
Kathy Wong, RDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, DaVita Kidney Care
Speaker:
Janice E. Powers, M Ed, RDN, CSR, Hampton VA Medical Center
Moderator:
Melanie Paris, MA, MPH, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Education, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Amanda Lane, MS, RD, CDCES, Renal Dietitian, Healthful Lane Nutrition, LLC
Maria Rodriguez, MS, RD, CSR, LND, Renal Dietitian
Speaker:
Reggie Hubbard, BA, MBA, Active Peace Yoga
Moderator:
Kevin Fowler, Principal, Voice of the Patient
Speakers:
Elle Lee, LCSW, Owner, Care Therapy Online, Inc.
Julie Keahey Spears, LBSW, CHC, Kidney Disease Health Coach
Speaker:
Tamara Graham, MA
Moderator:
Joy Hall, MS, MCHES, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Anoop Sheshadri, MD, MAS, Assistant Professor of Nephrology
Bonnie Kam, Kidney transplant recipient and Kidney Disease Advocate
Moderators:
Janelle E. Gonyea, RDN, LD, FNKF, Clinical Dietician
Carolyn Feibig, MS, RD, LD, CCTD, Thoracic Transplant and Advanced Heart Failure Dietitian at INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Kellsey Reed, RDN, LDN, CKD Nutrition LLC
Speakers:
Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, CPT, 360Girls&Women®LLC
Alana E Hunnicutt, Klean Plate Catering LLC
Jennifer Krasilovsky, RD, Community Dietician, Food and Friends
Moderator:
LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10)
Melissia Baker, American Kidney Fund Ambassador
Rob Goldsmith, Director of Advocacy and Policy, Endocrine Society
Neha Pagidipati, MD, MPH, Cardiologist, Duke University
Kristy Anderson, Director, Federal Government Relations, American Heart Association
Deena Adimoolam, MD, Internist and Endocrinologist, Mt. Sinai Hospital
Moderator:
Lauren Andracchio, MPH, Associate Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Shayla Harris, Associate Director of Administration, American Kidney Fund
David Rush, Motivational speaker, patient/doctor consultant, and kidney care advocate
Jessica Sheehan Tangren, MD, MPH, Nephrologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Dawn Laney, MS, CGC, CCRC, Assistant Professor and Genetic Counselor at Emory University, Division of Medical Genetics
Moderator:
Melanie Paris, MA, MPH, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Education, American Kidney Fund
Speakers:
Noah and Tessa Shird, Pediatric kidney patient and American Kidney Fund camper, Mother of Noah Shird
Gitthaline Candie Gagne, American Kidney Fund Ambassador, Retired from USN as a Hospital Corpsman, Retired Certified Surgical Technology
Katie Hallum, Current junior at the University of Oklahoma, Host and reporter for NPR
Speakers:
Leigh Ann Saylor, Founder and Executive Director, Mulligans Living Kidney Donors – How to Share Your Story to Find a Living Donor
Ben Shlesinger, Associate Director of Government Relations, American Kidney Fund – How to Share Your Story for Policy Makers
Tamara Walker, American Kidney Fund Ambassador and Kidney Health Coach – How to Share Your Story to Promote Kidney Disease Awareness
Moderator:
Bobby Howard, Director of Multicultural Education Program LifeLink of Georgia
Speakers:
Velma Scantlebury, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery at Texas Christian University and Medical School
Tanjala Purnell, PhD, MPH, FASN, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Surgery at Johns Hopkins
Moderator:
Burgess Harrison, MBA, Executive Director, National Minority Health Association
Speakers:
Anika Lucas, MD, MTS, Nephrologist, Duke University
Richard Towne, PharmD, RPh, Senior Clinical Informatics Manager, Antidote
Curtis Warfield, Patient Advocate, American Kidney Fund
Moderator:
Carmen Peralta, MD, MAS, FASN, Chief Clinical Officer at Interwell Health
Speakers:
John R. Sedor, MD, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic College of Medicine Case Western Reserve University
Vineeta Kumar, MD, Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Incompatible Transplant Program at University of Alabama, Birmingham
Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD, Professor of Medicine, and Co-Director of Center for Dialysis Innovation at University of Washington
LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund
Closed captioning for all Kidney Action Week sessions will be available
on American Kidney Fund’s YouTube channel post event.
Last year, we had over 8,500 people tune in but don’t worry if you missed it, you can read a recap here.
AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with and at risk for kidney disease. From prevention to life after a transplant, AKF supports people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease.
Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions or need help registering.
These live interactive workshops will bring together chefs and dietitians to prepare a renal-friendly dinner. The pairs will give step-by-step instructions on how to make the dish while answering questions from participants. (This session requires separate registration.)
OPTIONS:
Seared salmon with strawberry salsa, arugula salad, and vegetable turmeric rice recipe
Moderator: Kellsey Reed, RDN, LDN, CKD Nutrition LLC
Speaker: Alana E Hunnicutt, Klean Plate Catering LLC
Sweet and sour chicken with vegetable stir fry recipe
Moderator: Carolyn Feibig, MS, RD, LD, CCTD, Thoracic Transplant and Advanced Heart Failure Dietitian at INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Speaker: Jennifer Krasilovsky, RD, Community Dietician, Food and Friends
Plantain tofu cups recipe
Moderator: Janelle E. Gonyea, RDN, LD, FNKF, Clinical Dietician
Speaker: Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, CPT, 360Girls&Women®LLC
Have you ever wanted to publicly share your journey with kidney disease, but were unsure of the next steps? Get your pen and paper ready and sign up in advance for this live workshop! You will have the opportunity to join one of three Zoom breakout rooms: sharing your story to find a living kidney donor, sharing your story for policy makers, and sharing your story to promote kidney disease awareness. In each breakout room, you will hear from seasoned instructors and learn about different methods for sharing your story and how to tailor it for different audiences. You will also be able to practice drafting your story, receive feedback from your instructor, as well as a helpful tip sheet for sharing your story. (This session requires separate registration.)
Options:
How to Share Your Story to Find a Living Donor
Speaker: Leigh Ann Saylor, Founder and Executive Director, Mulligans Living Kidney Donors
How to Share Your Story for Policy Makers
Speaker: Ben Shlesinger, Associate Director of Government Relations, American Kidney Fund
How to Share Your Story to Promote Kidney Disease Awareness
Speaker: Tamara Walker, American Kidney Fund Ambassador and Kidney Health Coach