What a night for the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) and Robert S. Fennell, III, MD! On Sunday, March 11, 2007, AAKP honored Dr. Fennell with the 2007 Medal of Excellence Award. Dr. Fennell joins a long line of distinguished renal professionals who have received this award which recognizes a renal physician for his or her extraordinary achievements in the kidney community. Each year, the dinner is held in conjunction with the Renal Physicians Association’s (RPA) Annual Meeting.

For 35 years, Dr. Fennell, Professor and Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at the University of Florida, College of Medicine, has distinguished himself as a well-respected pediatric nephrologist who takes a keen interest in patient care, better quality of life for all kidney disease patients and scholastic productivity. His colleagues describe him as the “consummate hands-on physician and teacher.”

Dr. Fennell has served as the Medical Director of the Children’s Chronic Kidney Failure Center at the University of Florida since its inception in the 1970s and single handedly developed the area of pediatric dialysis at Shands Hospital. Hundreds of pediatric patients with ESRD have benefited from his expertise and commitment. His research on neurocognitive defects in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is considered the definitive work in this area and he is currently listed as one of the Best Doctors in America .

“He is very deserving of this award,” says AAKP President Bobbi Wager, RN, MSN. “Dr. Fennell’s tenure in the renal community is extensive. His devotion to his young patients and their wellbeing is an inspiration to all.”

During the dinner, AAKP celebrated Dr. Fennell’s advancements in pediatric care and transplantation. Ms. Wager opened the dinner by welcoming attendees, thanking this year’s generous sponsors and recognizing the 2007 award nominees. Alan Kliger, MD, President of RPA, spoke on the importance of RPA’s and AAKP’s missions and thanked Dr. Fennell for his devotion to patients. A touching moment was felt by all as Kris Robinson, AAKP Executive Director/CEO, gave special recognition of Dr. Fennell who was her pediatric nephrologist at Shands Hospital. Dr. Fennell concluded the evening by thanking AAKP for this recognition, stating this award is especially important to him because it came from a patient organization.

After years of dedicated service, Dr. Fennell plans for retirement in the summer of 2007. AAKP was pleased to present him with the Medal of Excellence Award at the end of such a prestigious and fulfilling career.

Past award recipients include: H. Keith Johnson, MD, of Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (2006); John H. Sadler, MD, of Independent Dialysis Foundation (2005); Morrell M. Avram, MD, of Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y. (2004); Belding H. Scribner, MD, of University of Washington School of Medicine & Willem J. Kolff, MD, of University of Utah School of Medicine (2003); George E. Schreiner, MD, of Georgetown University (2002); Garabed Eknoyan, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston & Nathan Levin, MD, of Renal Research Institute, New York (2001); Christopher Blagg, MD, of the Northwest Kidney Center (2000); John Bower, MD, of University of Mississippi Medical Center & Renal Physicians Association (1999); A. Peter Lundin, MD, of State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn (1998); Clive O. Callender, MD, of Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C. (1997); and Eli A. Friedman, MD, of State University of New York, Health Science Center, Brooklyn (1996).

This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of aakpRENALIFE.