Hot Topics in Kidney Health

When it comes to kidney health, taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. Today, we’re exploring how mental health support can improve your overall well-being and breaking the stigma around therapy and medications.  In this episode we heard from: Lydia Johnson, MSW -Lydia is a social worker based in Massachusetts. They previously worked in direct care as a dialysis social worker and now serve at the national level as a leader in support of home dialysis social workers and the growth of home dialysis in the kidney care community. Malkia White -Malkia was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy when she was only 6 years old.  In 2017, she began doing nocturnal dialysis for 3 years, 3 nights a week from 9pm – 3am while maintaining a full-time job. In November of 2021 she received a kidney transplant. She celebrates life by continuing to advocate for kidney health and shares her story to encourage people and give others hope. Shannon Glynn -Shannon Glynn is committed to having face-to-face conversations and dialogue to champion the issues central to the National Kidney Foundation mission. She received her life-saving kidney from her friend Molly in March of 2009 after being on peritoneal dialysis for seven months. And while Shannon thinks that petitions championing the issues are important, she wants to meet with representatives to discuss the concerns surrounding kidney issues today so that they can take action. Shannon believes that care and coverage are essential for transplant patients. She is passionate about the intersection of mental health, kidney disease, and overall wellness.      Additional Resources NKF Cares  NKF Peers Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

What does it mean to design a study with patients, not just for them, and why does that shift matter for kidney care outcomes? Dr. Na'mah, Bethney Bonilla, and Jennifer McClung answer these questions and more with insights from their En-ROUTE Study, which explores transportation challenges through the lived experiences of dialysis patients.   In today's episode we heard from:    Bethney Bonilla-Herrera, MA, is a health researcher at the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research (CHPR), specializing in social risks and health policy. She conducts qualitative research, manages projects, fosters community-engaged research, and performs policy analyses. Prior to her role at CHPR, she worked as an investigative journalist, honing her skills in research and analysis.   Na’amah Razon, MD, PhD is a family physician, medical anthropologist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Razon’s research focuses the relationship of health and place and evaluating policies aimed to advance social care activities in the healthcare sector. Her current research explores the impact of transportation insecurity on chronic disease and cross-sector opportunities to improve health and mobility.   Jennifer McClung was 16 1/2 when she was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. She went from having what was believed to be a bad case of the flu to being told her kidneys had failed, her heart was double the size it should be and needed to be placed on dialysis in less then 48 hours. Jennifer did dialysis for over 17 years. She survived on peritoneal dialysis for just over 14 years and then had to be switched to hemodialysis for 3 and a half years more. She finally received her kidney transplant in Dec 2015. Since getting her kidney transplant Jennifer helps to run a kidney support group in her local community and has devoted her life to being kidney advocate. She uses her voice to educate the public about their kidneys, encourages people to be organ donors, and speaks to the different legislators in Washington D.C about bills and laws that need to be passed to help the kidney community. Jennifer continues to use her story to inspire others that with a positive mindset and a bit of humor, they can get through whatever challenges they may face.   Additional Resources EnROUTE Study Info NKF Cares    Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

According to a 2024 World Health Organization study, over the last 50 years vaccines have saved over 154 million lives worldwide from over 20 life threatening diseases. As vaccines are facing skepticism, we are here to cut through the noise and lay out the facts as to why staying up-to-date on vaccinations is especially important for kidney patients. This episode is supported by Moderna.  In today's episode we heard from:  Mary Baliker has been a dedicated healthcare advocate for the past 40 years, and is involved in several kidney initiatives regionally, nationally and globally. Mary was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease at the age of nine and since then has undergone hemodialysis and received four kidney transplants. As a result of this life-long journey, Mary cherishes her life and possesses a strong desire to help improve the healthcare experience, health outcomes and quality of life for patients with kidney disease. In addition to publishing multiple peer reviewed articles related to the kidney patient experience, Mary is the author of Maria Never Gives Up, a story written to help children and families facing chronic illnesses. Her book is distributed across transplant and dialysis centers nationwide and is available for purchase online William Werbel, MD, PhD is a transplant infectious diseases physician and scientist at Johns Hopkins focused on optimizing protection against infections in immunocompromised persons. He completed clinical and research fellowship in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins following MD training at the University of Michigan and internal medicine residency and chief residency at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. He is the current Associate Director for Epidemiology and Quantitative Sciences in the Johns Hopkins Transplant Research Center and principal investigator of the national Emerging Pathogens of Concern in Immunocompromised Persons (EPOC) cohort study. He receives NIH funding to study the landscape of infections in transplant recipients and evaluate the real-world impact of vaccination using a combination of epidemiological and laboratory approaches. Additional Resources: Vaccines for CKD Patients Vaccine Integrity Project IDSA Immunization Resources Emerging Pathogens of Concern in Immunocompromised Persons (EPOC) Study   Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Discover expert insights on kidney stone prevention and management in this podcast episode featuring a physician, dietitian, pharmacist, and patient. Learn about key kidney stone risk factors and explore how dietary adjustments can reduce stone recurrence. Experts discuss fluid intake strategies, medication considerations, surgical indications, and even unconventional questions about roller coasters’ impact on stone passage. Tune in for actionable advice, myth-busting discussions, and interprofessional perspectives.   On today's episode we heard from: Melanie Betz, MS, RD, CSR, FNKF, FAND is a nationally recognized renal dietitian and the Founder & CEO of The Kidney Dietitian. She is a Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition and a Fellow of both theNational Kidney Foundation and the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Melanie has published extensively on kidney stone prevention and nutrition, and has presented at numerous state, national, and international conferences on the topic. Through her clinical work, research, and educational outreach, she is dedicated to helping patients and professionals understand the critical role of diet in kidney health. Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE, CTTS is a Clinical Associate Professor at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy and a Clinical Pain & Addiction Pharmacist. With expertise in painmanagement, substance use disorders, and geriatric care, he brings both clinical and personal perspectives to kidney stone discussions. Mark has shared his experience through the Pain Pod podcast, PAINWeek presentations, and a published article detailing his own kidney stone journey. Mary Raines, CRA is a retired clinical research associate with more than 30 years ofexperience in medical research. After learning she needed a kidney transplant, shededicated herself to advocacy and now serves as a Patient Advocate with the NationalKidney Foundation and other kidney health organizations. Mary brings both professionalexpertise and personal experience to her work, amplifying the voices and needs ofpeople living with kidney disease. Andrew Rule, MD, MSc is a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist at the MayoClinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He divides his time between clinical care, research, andeducation, with a particular focus on kidney stone disease and its link to chronic kidneydisease. Dr. Rule has published extensively on the epidemiology of kidney stones andprovides specialized care in the Mayo Clinic’s nephrology stone clinic. Bryan Tucker, DO, MS, FASN is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Nephrology at Baylor Collegeof Medicine, where he serves as a clinician educator teaching medical students,residents, and fellows while caring for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.He holds a master’s degree in nutrition from Columbia University and completed hisnephrology fellowship at Yale. A Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology, Dr.Tucker has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is anactive contributor to The Kidney Commute podcast.   Additional Resources: Kidney Stone Information Earn CME Credit Here Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.  

This NKF Live crossover episode features a discussion on shared decision making on medical treatment options for people with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Our faculty includes a patient expert and advocate -- the actor and Substack author, Taylor Coffman, as well as two nephrologists, Holly Koncicki, MD and Ramy Hanna, MD, an expert on aHUS. They’ll cover a range of topics, with a focus on how to work with your medical team to achieve the best outcomes in aHUS. This discussion provides valuable tips and information not only for people with aHUS, but for all others who wish to gain insight into how to work with the most effectively with their medical team.   In today's episode we heard from: Taylor Coffman is an actor, writer, podcast-maker, and mother with pregnancy-triggered aHUS. As a performer, she can be seen in Silicon Valley, Feud: Bette and Joan, and Life In Pieces, among others. Following her remission, Taylor also started work as a patient advocate helping those with life-changing diagnoses. She’s a patient expert and the author of Rare Disease Girl substack, sharing her journey and life-navigation tools weekly Dr. Ramy Hanna ia an Associate Professor of Medicine and Nephrology at the University of California Irvine. He’s a clinician-educator who’s devoted to patient education and research on kidney diseases like aHUS. Dr. Hanna is focused on working with underserved communities, as well as improving the diagnostic process and treatment outcomes for patients. Dr. Holly Koncicki graduated from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Palliative Medicine and Hospice. She is one of a few physicians who has trained in an integrated program of Nephrology and Palliative Medicine and is part of a small group of experts in this field. Though she cares for patients with all types of kidney problems, her specialty is caring for older patients with kidney impairment. She is widely published and has spoken nationally on topics including decision making in advanced kidney disease and symptom management. Her research focuses on communication tools to improve communication between patients and providers around discussion of treatment options for kidney disease. In 2020, she was honored by receiving the Cullman Family Physician Communication Award.  She prides herself in learning each patient’s narrative that she treats, so she can best understand how to care for them.   Additional Resources: Learn More About aHUS   Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.