Tampa, FL; January 23, 2012 – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) announced that the AAKP Medal of Excellence Award Dinner will be hosted by WTTG FOX 5 News Weekend Anchor Will Thomas. The Award Dinner is taking place March 16 at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.

“Will Thomas has shown great compassion for those living with kidney disease and he has a strong passion to help the kidney community at large,” stated AAKP Executive Director Karen Ryals. “We are excited he is hosting our Medal of Excellence Award Dinner honoring two outstanding nephrologists.” Will Thomas joined Fox 5 in 1997. During his 15 years in Washington, he has reported on major stories including the September 11th attacks, the disappearance of Chandra Levy, and the search for the Washington area sniper.Will has also traveled around the world, bringing viewers the latest information from political conventions and the 1999 earthquake in Turkey where he was the only local reporter filing stories for viewers in Washington.

The AAKP Medal of Excellence is a prestigious award honoring a renal physician who has dedicated his or her career to improving the lives of kidney patients. The Medal of Excellence truly signifies a renal physician’s involvement, professional achievements, contributions and accomplishments within the renal community. The 2012 AAKP Medal of Excellence recipients are Dr. Charles McAllister, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Emeritus of Davita, Inc. and Medical Director of Bay Area Treatment Center in Florida; and Dr. Theodore Steinman, Professor of Medical, Harvard Medical School and Director, Dialysis Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Dinner tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.aakp.org/events/Medal-of-Excellence or by calling 1-800-749-2257. For sponsorship information, please contact Diana Clynes at dclynes@aakp.org.

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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.