During the 10th Annual Medal of Excellence Award Dinner, AAKP honored John H. Sadler, MD, with the 2005 Medal of Excellence and The Honorable Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Staff of CMS with the 2005 Public Service Medal. The recipients were recognized for their outstanding and remarkable achievements on Sunday, March 20 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. More than 170 patients, family members, physicians and other healthcare professionals attended the event, which was held in conjunction with the Renal Physicians Association’s (RPA) Annual Meeting.

“This year’s Medal of Excellence Award Dinner was truly an extraordinary event in which AAKP honored influential individuals in the healthcare community,” said AAKP President Brenda Dyson. “Dr. Sadler, Dr. McClellan and the CMS Staff have dedicated their careers to improving and optimizing the quality of healthcare for kidney disease patients throughout the United States.”

The Medal of Excellence, one of AAKP’s most prestigious awards, honors a renal physician who has achieved outstanding success in caring for kidney patients. Through a unique and sincere interest in his patients’ lives, Dr. Sadler continues to raise the quality of life for thousands of kidney patients.

In presenting the 2005 Medal of Excellence, Ms. Dyson said, “Dr. Sadler has strived for optimization of quality patient-centered care. He has proven to be an effective advocate with a ‘patients come first’ approach.”

Attending the event were many of Dr. Sadler’s family, friends and colleagues, who joyfully clapped as he shared that there was no greater award than recognition by patients and AAKP.

AAKP also presented the 2005 Public Service Medal to Dr. McClellan and the Staff of CMS. CMS has shown outstanding leadership to improve the quality of healthcare for kidney patients. Dr. McClellan and his staff were selected for their valiant efforts to improve quality of patient care, in addition to their longstanding and dedicated commitment to healthcare for Americans. Through desire and dedication, Dr. McClellan and his colleagues demonstrate that quality of care for kidney patients is the number one priority.

In bestowing the award to Dr. McClellan and top CMS staff members, Ms. Dyson stated, “AAKP welcomes Congress’ and CMS’ pay-for-performance agenda and appreciates the dedication to improving the lives of patients, as well as their strong leadership to improve healthcare for all Americans.”

In accepting the award, Dr. McClellan stressed the importance of the AAKP patient voice, as well as his enthusiasm in working with the Association to enhance patient outcomes and empower patients for better healthcare.

AAKP would like to thank all those who attended the 10th Annual Medal of Excellence Award Dinner for their dedication and support.

AAKP would like to thank its Medal of Excellence sponsors!

PLATINUM SPONSOR
Amgen, Inc.

GOLD SPONSORS
Abbott Renal Care
Shire

SILVER SPONSORS
Genzyme
Watson Pharma, Inc.

BRONZE SPONSORS
American Regent, Inc.
Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
Fresenius Medical Care
Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.
Gambro Healthcare, Inc.

PATRON SPONSOR
Renal Physicians Association

This article originally appeared in the May 2005 issue of aakpRENALIFE, Vol. 20, No. 6.