TAMPA, Fla. January 11, 2006 -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is proud to announce the selection of H. Keith Johnson, MD, of Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI), as the 2006 Medal of Excellence recipient.

The Medal of Excellence is an AAKP recognition program that honors a renal physician who has achieved outstanding success in caring for kidney disease patients, while also possessing extraordinary skills and devotion in the field of nephrology. A panel of renal community peers reviewed numerous nominations of well-deserving, qualified candidates and selected Dr. Johnson as this year’s recipient of AAKP’s most prestigious award.

Dr. Johnsonwill be honored at the Annual Medal of Excellence Award Dinner on Sunday, March 19, in Baltimore, at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. The event is hosted by AAKP in conjunction with the Renal Physicians Association’s (RPA) Annual Meeting.

For nearly four decades, Dr. Johnson has made significant contributions to nephrology and transplantation, while devoting his career to patients. He is the founding and principal nephrologist for DCI, the only large non-profit U.S. dialysis organization dedicated to the care of renal patients. Dr. Johnson’s legendary leadership has allowed DCI to commit more than $100 million to research, education and non-profit activities such as Camp Okawehna, a week long summer experience for children with kidney disease.

Founder of the Tennessee Donor Services, Dr. Johnson has worked diligently in local, regional and national efforts to increase organ donation. He has been president of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and the Southeastern Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF).

“It is with great pleasure that AAKP honors Dr. Johnson with this esteemed award. His devotion to patients reaches beyond research and academics to quality of life for kidney patients. Dr. Johnson has changed the world of nephrology and raised the bar for standards of quality and caring,” said AAKP President Brenda Dyson.

Individual tickets may be purchased for $135 and a 10-person table may be reserved for $1,350. Award Dinner Program Book advertisements and event sponsorship opportunities for this prestigious evening are still available. Current sponsors are as follows: Abbott Renal Care (Gold Sponsor); Genzyme (Silver Sponsor); American Regent, Inc., (Bronze Sponsor). For further information on the Annual Medal of Excellence Award Dinner, click here or contact the AAKP National Office at (800) 749-2257.

Past Medal of Excellence Award recipients include: John H. Sadler, MD, of the Independent Dialysis Foundation (2005); Morrell Avram, MD, of the Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn (2004); Willem J. Kolff, MD, of the University of Utah School of Medicine & Belding H. Scribner, MD, of the University of Washington 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 Northwest Kidney Center (2000); John Bower, MD, of University of Mississippi Medical Center and the 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 in Washington, D.C. (1997); and Eli Friedman, MD, of State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn (1996).

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.