Tampa, Fla., January 24, 2011 – Join the many that have already showed their support toward the American Association of Kidney Patients’ (AAKP) Medal of Excellence Award Dinner and its 2011 award recipients – Drs. Raymond Hakim and Allen Nissenson. Dr. Raymond Hakim serves as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Executive Vice President, Clinical and Scientific Affairs for Fresenius Medical Services North America. Dr. Nissenson is Chief Medical Officer of DaVita, Inc.

“Both gentleman are visionary leaders in the renal community and have a passion to continually improve a patient’s access to quality care,” states Carolyn G. Price, President of AAKP Board of Directors, “Their work falls right in line with everything AAKP has been working for and achieving during our more than forty years of existence.”

AAKP is offering a variety of ways to support this year’s program and its award recipients – all opportunities are listed below:

• Sponsorship: Numerous sponsorship levels are available. Each sponsorship level includes an advertisement in the dinner program book, dinner tickets and recognition during the event and all publicity materials. Sponsorship applications may be requested or downloaded online.
• Program book advertisements: Company/organization advertisements and/or congratulatory messages to the award recipients may be placed in this year’s dinner program book. Available advertising sizes and insertion rates may be requested or viewed online.
• Dinner tickets: Tickets to attend the award dinner are available for purchase for only $125/ticket. Tickets may be purchased online or by contacting (800) 749-2257.
• General Donation Support: AAKP is accepting general donation support for this year’s program. Please contact AAKP to make a donation.

For additional information on any of these opportunities please contact Jerome Bailey, Special Projects Director, at (800) 749-2257 or jbailey@aakp.org or visit www.aakp.org/events/Medal-of-Excellence/2011-Medal-of-Excellence to download sponsorship and advertising forms or to purchase tickets online.
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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 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.