Hot Topics in Kidney Health

Nearly 90,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant but there are not enough kidneys to meet this need. Altruistic kidney donors, or those who give anonymously, are relatively rare, but their numbers are growing and their impact is profound. Today we hear from one such remarkable individual, Daniel Emerson, Digital Marketing Director of National Kidney Foundation, who chose to give the gift o...

Cannabis or marijuana is becoming increasingly more popular in the United States for recreational and medical use. What is cannabis? Are there benefits to using it? Is it ok for someone with kidney disease or dialysis to use it? Learn all this and more in today’s episode. Joshua Rein, DO, FASN, is a board-certified nephrologist, kidney physiologist, and certified hypertension specialist. He is an...

Because of medical advances, kidney failure is no longer a death sentence. Today, those with kidney failure have treatment options like dialysis and kidney transplantation. Unfortunately, many aren't aware that home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis treatments are available. What is peritoneal dialysis and who can benefit from it? Today, Brittney Dickerson, dialysis patient, and Jennie Wilson, D...

Holidays can be difficult for individuals with CKD. Tune in to gain insight into the patient holiday experience and how professional teams can provide education for patients to ensure the best holiday outcomes.   In this reposted holiday episode we spoke with:   Dori Muench, LCSW, CCTSW, FNKF Osama El Shamy, MD Jesse Engelken, MPH, RDN, LD,CD Joyce Vergili, EdD, RD, CSR, CDN Malenia Alvarez, kidne...

Getting a kidney transplant before starting dialysis or with little time spent on dialysis is a preferred form of kidney failure treatment. Despite that, preemptive kidney transplants are under-utilized. In today’s episode Daniella Duke, a preemptive transplant recipient, and Bethany Cruz, an Outreach Coordinator discuss this and more.   Bethany Cruz has over a decade of experience in kidney trans...

Voting is a powerful way to influence the policies that impact your life. By participating in elections and advocating for change, you can help shape the future. Dr. Jesse Roach, NKF’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, and Lauren Drew, NKF's Congressional Relations Director, explain why your vote matters and how to get involved.   Dr. Jesse Roach is a strategist and clinician whose wo...

Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or electrical power blackouts can disrupt crucial healthcare services, like dialysis treatment. The good news? You can prepare for emergencies. Kidney Community Emergency Response Project Director Keely Lenoir is here to tell you how.   Keely Lenoir, BS, currently serves as the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Program Manager, providing technic...

Today, those with kidney failure have multiple treatment options like dialysis and kidney transplants; however, many aren't aware of treatments like home hemodialysis. What is home hemodialysis, and who could benefit from it? Learn all that and more on today's episode. Jennie Wilson, MSN, RN has been working in Home Dialysis for over a decade and currently oversees several centers in the New York...

Living with chronic kidney disease can feel like learning a new language. There are many tests, and the results may leave you scratching your head. Today, Andrew Thompson, a physician's assistant specializing in nephrology, is here to help you decode your lab values and navigate your kidney health. Andy Thompson is a nephrology physician assistant. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Olivet Nazaren...

On today's special episode of Hot Topics and Kidney Health we're sharing audio from a recent webinar hosted by National Kidney Foundation on kidney xenotransplantation. Stay tuned to hear from the experts and learn about the latest updates on animal-to-human transplantation.   Dr. Tatsuo Kawai is a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and the A. Benedict Cosimi Chair in Transplant Surger...

For people with kidney failure, hemodialysis is a life saving treatment. On average, people can live for 5 to 10 years on dialysis, but many have lived 20 to 30 years. Hemodialysis also comes with some distressing symptoms like muscle cramps, itching, and fatigue. Doctor Jennifer Flythe and Precious McCowan, a dialysis patient and kidney advocate, are here to talk about a new study that aims to be...

The most commonly used equation that determines someone’s kidney function includes a binary male-female sex coefficient. But what does this mean for the care of transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary people? Cameron Whitley, an associate professor with kidney failure experience, and researchers Keila Turino Miranda, a PhD student, and Dr. David Collister, a nephrologist, shed light on this imp...

Empowering the LGBTQIA+ community is important during Pride Month and beyond. Today we're speaking with Brian Sims, Living donor and former PA State Representative, and Josh Wilder, DPM, transplant recipient, podiatrist and former Survivor contestant, about how to empower the LGBTQIA+ community in kidney health and how to create an inclusive and affirming environment for all.    Dr. Joshua J. Wild...

Losing a kidney transplant can feel very overwhelming. Today we're here with Anthony Tuggle, a former NKF board member, to hear how he's coping with losing a transplant and learn what's next for him.   Anthony Tuggle is the Afiniti President of Customer Operations, and a former Board Member of the National Kidney Foundation and of NKF Serving Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Tuggle is responsible...

Everyone loves to talk about kidney transplant success stories but rarely do we talk about what happens if a transplant fails. On today's episode Dori Muench, a post transplant social worker, and Sue George, a kidney warrior with experience losing a transplant, are here to discuss the impact of losing a kidney and how to cope.   Dorothy Muench, LCSW is a post-transplant social worker with the Abdo...

When will the artificial kidney be ready for human use? Learn more about the progress of the artificial kidney and how it will affect someone's quality of life from expert Shuvo Roy, Ph. D.   Shuvo Roy, PhD is a bioengineer focusing on the development of medical devices to address unmet clinical needs through strong collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Roy is a professor at the Univ...

When a kidney from a deceased donor becomes available, it is scored on a system called the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI). How does the KDPI work and is it accurate at predicting possible transplant survival compared to a lower KDPI donation or a living donor? On this episode, we speak with experts to get the facts.   Nichole Jefferson is a kidney transplant recipient and active member of NKF’s...

It’s hard to keep up with all the new diets that cycle through news outlets and social media. Do you know which ones are right for you and your kidney health? On this episode, you will hear from experts on how to find the diet that's right for you and how to stick to it.   Amanda Hays, MS, RDN, LD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Austin, TX with over a decade of experience serving thousan...

Holidays can be difficult for individuals with CKD. Tune in to gain insight into the patient holiday experience and how professional teams can provide education for patients to ensure the best holiday outcomes.   In this episode we spoke with,   Dori Muench, LCSW, CCTSW, FNKF Osama El Shamy, MD Jesse Engelken, MPH, RDN, LD,CD Joyce Vergili, EdD, RD, CSR, CDN Malenia Alvarez, kidney patient Nupur G...

Coping with kidney disease and dialysis can be difficult. Sometimes you have to think outside the box! Have you considered music or art therapy? Today Social Worker Melissa Fry and patient Steve Light are here to share their experiences with using music and art as coping strategies. In this episode we spoke with,  Melissa Fry, MSW, CAPSW is a dialysis social worker at Mile Bluff Medical Center. Sh...

You may have heard the buzzword superfoods but what are they and do they have special qualities? Board-certified renal dietitian, Jen Hernadez is here to break it down.   In this episode we spoke with, Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN- Jen Hernandez is a registered dietitian and a certified specialist in renal nutrition. She has served the kidney community in dialysis clinics as well as with the Nation...

Clinical trials exist to help prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat diseases and other health problems. Without them, we would not have new treatments or other advances in health and medicine. But how are the clinical trial endpoints, or the preferred outcomes of these trials determined? Today, Anthony Gucciardo NKF’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, NKF’s...

You may have heard the term mindfulness before but what does it mean, what are the benefits, and how can you integrate mindfulness into your life? On today’s episode Gary Petingola a Social Worker certified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reductionexplains all this and more.   In this episode we heard from,  Gary Petingola MSW, RSW Gary has had a strong presence with the National Kidney Foundati...

At the National Kidney Foundation, we believe that everyone who needs a kidney should get a kidney. To make this dream a reality, we’ve launched the Transplants for All Initiative. What is this initiative and how will it make a difference in the lives of people with kidney disease? In today’s episode special guests Morgan Reid, NKF’s Transplant Policy & Strategy Director and Haley Jensen, NKF’...

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is incredibly common in patients with kidney disease. In today's special cross over episode from Kidney Commute, you'll hear why it is so prevalent, treatment options, and how to improve communication around this important but often neglected aspect of health.   Additional resources:  Sexuality and Kidney Disease Data from the CDC     Do you have comments, questions, or sug...