TAMPA, Fla. August 17, 2005 -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) recently elected its 2005-2006 Board of Directors. The newly elected members will begin serving a two-year term on Sept. 1, upon being instated at AAKP’s 2005 Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

In keeping with the bylaws of the Association, more than 50 percent of the Board is comprised of patients. Board members represent dialysis patients, transplant recipients and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as medical professionals.

The 2005-2006 officers include President, Brenda Dyson, transplant (Mississippi); Vice President, Donald Dowe, MSW, transplant (Florida); Vice President, Stephen Z. Fadem, MD, FACP, professional and CKD (Texas); Treasurer, Kelly M. Mayo, MS, professional (Florida); and Secretary, Mary Heisick, MSW, transplant (California).

The remainder of the Board consists of Jess Arceneaux, transplant (Florida); Vera Coleman-Foreman, hemodialysis (Texas); Joseph Cooperstein, transplant (New Jersey); Ellie Durrett, home hemodialysis (Tennessee); Amy L. Friedman, MD, professional (Connecticut); Richard S. Goldman, MD, professional (New Mexico); Edward T. Gray, MSW, MS, professional (Florida); Alice McCall, transplant (Texas); Mark Meier, MSW, LISCW, professional (Minnesota); Jason Mikles, transplant (Oklahoma); Carl Nettleton, hemodialysis (Louisiana); Sam Pederson, transplant (Washington); Thomas Peters, MD, professional (Florida); David O. Stapel, hemodialysis (Texas); Roberta Wager, MS, RN, transplant (Texas).

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.