#MyKidneyVoice
Why We Gather
On March 2nd, 2022, advocates from kidney organizations across the country will our virtual 9th Annual Kidney Patient Summit, organized and led by the National Kidney Foundation. These Voices for Kidney Health advocates will educate Members of Congress and their staff about the importance of protecting living organ donors, increasing support for kidney research and programs, increasing access to home dialysis and addressing health disparities.
Why We Advocate
Dr. Aparna Padiyar
Dr. Padiyar cares for over 2,200 transplant recipients at Cleveland Medical Center and serves as the Medical Board Chairwoman for NKF serving Northern Ohio. She is a leader in advocacy and policy, helping NKF host educational briefings and meetings with policymakers.
Beth Burbridge
In February 2019, Beth began testing to be a kidney donor for a neighbor’s son. During the process to be confirmed as a donor match, she found that her home state of Kentucky lacked any bills for living organ donors. She has been fighting to improve both state and federal policy for kidney patients since then!
Maria Grijalva
During the 33 successful years after her brother John donated his kidney, Maria has been passionate in involving herself with educating others about kidney disease. She is involved in her community to not only improve kidney policy but educate minority communities in her area in an effort to reduce health disparities.
Advocacy Award
Richard K. Salick Advocacy Award
2021 Advocate of the year Armand Halter
Each year, NKF presents the Richard K. Salick Advocacy Award to an outstanding kidney patient advocate. This prestigious award is given to an individual who embodies the spirit of NKF’s dear friend and former colleague, Rich Salick, a former pro-surfer who underwent three kidney transplants and faced cancer, but still put the needs of other kidney patients ahead of his own.
Evening Reception
Congressional honorees
Honoring Kidney Champions In congress
Our Congressional Awards Reception is held in conjunction with our Patient Summit. Last year’s event honored two outstanding champions in the fight against kidney disease: Senator Bill Cassidy (LA) and Rep. Donald Payne (NJ-10). Our honorees are leaders in the fight against kidney disease, consistently leading on legislation to improve the lives of kidney patients and living donors nationwide.
Thank You to Our 2022 Partner Organizations
Thank You to Our 2022 Corporate Sponsors
