The American Association of Kidney Patients’ (AAKP) 35th Annual Convention was a great success, as the Association reflected on its past and looked toward the future. An estimated 300 patients, renal professionals and friends of the kidney community joined AAKP in Washington, D.C., Aug. 28-31 at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The AAKP National Convention is the largest convention of its kind where patients can get valuable one on one contact with renal professionals and fellow patients.

The educational sessions were well attended. Sessions included, Considering It All: Your Dialysis Options, How Does the Transplant Waiting List Work?, I Have Chronic Kidney Disease, Now What? and Straight Talk about Diet: Explaining the Difference Between the Pre-Dialysis and Dialysis Diet.

Attendees received valuable information on kidney disease products and services from the more than 20 exhibitors who participated in the Annual Convention. Fun social events gave attendees the opportunity to meet fellow patients and win fantastic prizes.

Ironman® triathlete Shad Ireland surprised guests at the AAKP Board of Directors’ Welcome Reception. Ireland is the first dialysis patient to compete in and complete a triathlon. Through his foundation, the Shad Ireland Foundation and Team Ireland, he travels the country talking to kidney patients about the importance of exercise and encouraging patients to live their best life possible. Ireland has been a dialysis patient for more than 25 years. During the AAKP Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony, AAKP honored Ireland with the AAKP Patient Comeback of the Year Award. The award is given to a kidney patient who has overcome major obstacles and has gone on to live a productive life.

AAKP also recognized other individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to AAKP and the kidney community throughout the year. Nominations were received from across the country from both renal professionals and patients. Winners were selected by a panel of judges.

Kelly Mayo, MS –
Winner of the Samuel J. Orenstein Award
AAKP honored Kelly Mayo, MS, with this award for her extraordinary service toward the achievement of AAKP’s goals and objectives. Ms. Mayo has shown a vested interest in AAKP and in the kidney community at-large. She’s shown great leadership within AAKP, serving as Treasurer of the AAKP Board of Directors and has given talks at many AAKP patient centered events.

Carolyn G. Price –
Winner of the Josephine Berman Award
This award honors the first Treasurer of AAKP. It is given to a patient or family member who devotes much of his or her time to carrying out the mission of AAKP. Ms. Price is the newly elected Vice President of the AAKP Board of Directors, she chaired the 35th Annual Convention and works with kidney support groups in her community.

Amy L. Friedman, MD, FACS –
Winner of the Peter Lundin Award
The award honors one of the great Presidents of AAKP, who was both a long-term dialysis patient and nephrologist. It recognizes a physician who makes contributions to the care and welfare, and well-being of kidney patients over the course of his or her career. Dr. Friedman comes from a family of kidney patient advocates. She’s secretary of the AAKP Board of Directors, a member of the AAKP Medical Advisory Board and has contributed numerous articles to AAKP publications. Dr. Friedman was recently named Director of Transplantation and Professor of Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.

Jess Arceneaux –
Winner of the AAKP President’s Award
This award is given by the AAKP President to someone she believes embodies what AAKP stands for - patient advocacy, leadership, friend to the kidney community and strength. Mr. Arceneaux is a former AAKP Board Member. He’s helped raise thousands of dollars for kidney patients in South Florida, helped sponsor educational programs and is a supporter of AAKP.

FMQAI Network 7 –
Winner of the Dominick Gentile Award
Each year, AAKP presents the Dominick Gentile Memorial Award to an End Stage Renal Disease Network (ESRD) that has a history of providing patients with beneficial programs, important informational resources and an avenue to report grievances. This year, AAKP recognized the efforts of FMQAI Network 7. Network 7 is a leader in the development and promotion of disaster preparedness education and policies that directly enhance the lives of kidney patients nationwide. The Network tries to make sure patients understand how disasters can impact their lives, and how they must prepare for emergency events. In Florida, Network 7 is a member of the Florida Kidney Disaster Coalition and administrative lead for the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition.

Jennifer Weil, MD –
Winner of the Maureen Lundin aakpRENALIFE Award
This award recognizes a patient or healthcare professional who contributes to the official magazine of the Association, aakpRENALIFE. This award, named after one the magazine’s first editors, places a special emphasis on those talents. Not only has Dr. Weil made several contributions to aakpRENALIFE and Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine, she’s also encouraged several colleagues to contribute articles to AAKP publications. She has a passion for patient education and believes in AAKP’s mission of improving the lives of all kidney patients and their family members.

David Jacobs –
Patient Comeback of the Year Award
This award is presented to a patient who has overcome major obstacles and has gone on to live a productive life. David Jacobs battled polycystic kidney disease and its many complications for years. After receiving a kidney transplant he vowed to do what he could to make a difference in the lives of other kidney patients. So without saying a word to anyone, he created medical software called Matchmaker, which is designed to optimize matches for paired donations between willing families. The California Pacific Medical Center is using the software.

Elizabeth Jones, MS –
Winner of the Caregiver of the Year Award
AAKP created this award to recognize the very important role caregivers play in the treatment and healing process. Being a caregiver is a difficult job and takes a lot of patience. Elizabeth Jones has made a career of caring for others. She’s worked as a social worker for nearly 20 years and takes an active role in her patients lives, helping to get prescriptions filled, coordinating rides to dialysis facilities, making doctor appointments and being a counselor.

Kristine and Chelsea Berry –
AAKP Volunteer of the Year Award
AAKP honored two people with the AAKP Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is usually given to one person who has played a vital role throughout the year in AAKP activities. Kristine and Chelsea Berry are great examples. They attend every kidney support group meeting in their city promoting the activities and services of AAKP. They are even seen wearing their AAKP Convention t-shirts around town. No matter the obstacle, they support each other and spread the mission of AAKP.

Renee Bova-Collis, MSW, LCSW –
AAKP NOVA Award
The NOVA Award is presented to an individual who has played an important role throughout the year in the everyday activities of AAKP. This award is chosen by the AAKP staff for their appreciation of an individual’s commitment and responsiveness to the needs of the National Office. NOVA Award recipients are volunteers who have selflessly donated their generous services, support and time to the association. Renee Bova-Collis, MSW, LCSW, has gone beyond the call of duty on a number of occasions. Whether it’s driving 200 miles to speak at an AAKP educational program, writing an article for one of AAKP’s magazines or simply forwarding an email to colleagues, she never says no to the AAKP staff’s requests and she does it with a smile. Bova-Collis is also an AAKP Board Member.

2009 AAKP Convention
AAKP is excited to announce the 2009 AAKP Annual Convention will be held in the “Mile High City”, Denver, Sept. 3-6. The official Convention brochure will be available late spring 2009. To be placed on the Convention mailing list, call (800) 749-AAKP or send an email to info@aakp.org. To see pictures from the 2008 Annual Convention, visit www.aakp.org/events/convention/2008.

This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of aakpRENALIFE.

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