By Stephen Z. Fadem, MD, FACP, FASN

Kris Robinson is a renal community icon and a true champion and advocate of patient care. Her strength, executive skill and charisma were her landmark attributes.

While many of us have had the good fortune to know her personally, and work closely with her, the real winners have been the thousands of patients whose lives she touched through her 18 years of unconditional service to the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). Here, she guided the organization with a strong sense of principle - always vetting policy and commitment for what was fair and in the best interest of patients. Through her leadership, AAKP continued its tradition of being the credible voice of kidney patients. Wherever she went, her message that issues related to kidney care must benefit patients resounded.

Her ability to defend a stance with research and background information, to be both convincing and pleasant, and to stick with her principles won her admiration from those whom she served and from those with whom she disagreed.

During the past 18 years, she was able to substantially grow AAKP into a major patient centered organization that publishes four magazines, several electronic newsletters and a host of other educational brochures. The Annual AAKP Convention is a national event patients continue to look forward to attending. Under her guidance AAKP made significant contributions to policies that have shaped renal health care, fostered local and telephonic seminars and developed a personal information online manager that is being looked at as a standard throughout the renal community. This, she did not do alone, but with a team that adored her as well as a Board of Directors and volunteers that respected and admired her.

When Kris walked into a room, it lit up. She always had a smile on her face, and if she had any underlying illnesses or problems, they were well concealed from public view. Foremost is making the person whom she was addressing feel important, and behind this is her unconditional love and attentiveness to AAKP.

No matter who you are; staff, a Board Member or a volunteer, in the presence of Kris you felt important, and if she requested of you a task, you did your best. She possessed the gift of being able to motivate people and, to the benefit and appreciation of AAKP, she used it wisely and effectively.

AAKP benefited greatly from having Kris as its leader during the past 18 years. She leaves behind a great legacy and the greatest tribute her followers will ever give to her is the continued success of AAKP as the steward of high quality patient care, the provider of first class education and the champion of policy that benefits patients.

In years to come, our health care system will continue to feel the pressures of a shaky economy and expensive medical costs. The new leadership of AAKP faces many challenges. True champions of quality patient care are very hard to find, but it is fervently hoped that in remembering Kris as a role model, others from AAKP will emerge and continue to carry on her legacy. It is of utmost importance that going forward AAKP never forget what Kris stood for or let slip the tremendous gains she made.

Stephen Z. Fadem, MD, FASN, FACP, is Co-Medical Editor of aakpRENALIFE. He serves as a member of the AAKP Medical Advisory Board and is Vice President of the AAKP Board of Directors. Dr. Fadem is a practicing nephrologist in Houston.

This article originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of aakpRENALIFE.