Tampa, Fla. - The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is pleased to announce its 37th Annual Convention will be held in Tampa, Fla., September 2 – 4, 2010. AAKP is seeking individuals interested in telling their story to serve on its Speakers Bureau for the 2010 Annual Convention. Patients, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and transplant, caregivers and health care professionals are encouraged to apply. For consideration, please complete the Speakers Bureau application by April 30, 2010.

In addition, AAKP is also seeking educational session topics and/or presentations for the 2010 Convention. AAKP is requesting presentations on topics such as living with CKD, dialysis therapy options, the kidney transplantation waiting list, diet and nutrition, and legislative issues. Patients, health care professionals and companies/organizations are encouraged to submit ideas. Applications are due by February 26, 2010.

The AAKP Annual Meeting is the largest event of its kind – bringing together patients, family members, health care professionals and members of the public concerned with kidney disease to learn about the disease, its treatment options, and share ideas on how to live productive lives with reduced kidney function.

“At the AAKP National Convention, we try to arm patients with enough knowledge so they can be the leaders of their health care team,” stated AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. “By allowing patients and health care professionals to submit ideas for the Convention, we learn directly from patients what their concerns are and we learn from health care professionals the issues they are hearing from patients.”

To submit your application to be a part of the AAKP Speakers Bureau or submit topic ideas/presentations for the 2010 AAKP National Convention, please visit www.aakp.org/events/convention/2010. For more information about the American Association of Kidney Patients and its National Convention, please call (800) 749-2257.

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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 conditions, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.