Tampa, Fla., January 7, 2009 – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is proud to announce the selection of Robert W. Schrier, MD, as the 2009 Medal of Excellence Award recipient. The Medal of Excellence is an AAKP recognition program honoring 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. This year, it is with great pleasure we bestow this honor to Dr. Schrier.

Dr. Schrier is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His vast contributions to the renal community include patient-oriented research in acute kidney injury; autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; hypertension and diabetic nephropathy; renal sodium and water retention in heart failure and cirrhosis. He has published over 900 scientific articles in these areas of clinical research. This important research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 35 years.

Dr. Schrier’s presence in the field of nephrology is felt both nationally and internationally by his development of the world class nephrology unit at the University of Colorado, which is ranked in the top 10 of 126 medical schools by the US News & World Report. He has trained more than 200 nephrology fellows and has lectured and educated physicians in renal and hypertension patient care in more than 75 countries. He served as President of the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, and the International Society of Nephrology. Dr. Schrier is the Editor of three major kidney text books and Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology.

“Dr. Schrier’s commitment to excellent patient care and his innovative research is unsurpassed,” stated AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. “AAKP is extremely proud to honor his extraordinary dedication to the renal field.”

Dr. Schrier has cared for kidney disease patients for more than 40 years and AAKP is privileged to honor such a remarkable physician for his continued devotion to both patients and the field of nephrology.

AAKP will pay tribute to Dr. Schrier at the Medal of Excellence Award Reception on March 22, 2009, in Baltimore, MD, at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. The reception is held in conjunction with the Renal Physicians Association’s Annual Meeting. Please join us in sharing this special evening of recognition as we present this honor on behalf of the renal community.

For more information about the AAKP Medal of Excellence Award, call (800) 749-AAKP or visit the AAKP Web site, www.aakp.org. To learn more about ticket prices, and sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please contact Diana Clynes, Program Manager, at dclynes@aakp.org.

_{^{Past award recipients include: Todd S. Ing, MD, of the Dept. of Medicine at the Veterans Affairs Hospital (2008); Robert S. Fennell, III, MD, of the University of Florida (2007); 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).}}
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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for 40 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.