Bringing the Patient Voice to the National Medical Association Conference

by Morgan Reid, NFK Director of Transplant Policy and Strategy

Amplifying the voices of our kidney patient community is a critical component of how the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) creates impact and change in kidney health. I recently received an invitation to the annual National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly to join two nephrology sessions as a roundtable discussion panelist on how to improve the patient experience and highlight how NKF is taking action to put patients at the center of their kidney health.

What is the NMA?

The NMA is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and patients, and each year they host a conference with informational sessions that span many areas of health, including nephrology. With the Black/African American population shouldering the most significant kidney disease burden, this was the perfect platform to spark illuminating conversations about the importance of proactive screenings, the positive impact of early CKD diagnosis, and the power of shared decision-making.

“Early detection and intervention of kidney diseases will help patients make informed decisions if they progress to kidney failure.”

K. Fowler, NKF Kidney Patient Advocate

Sharing my Patient and Professional Perspective

In a room with nephrologists, cardiologists, and primary care physicians, I shared the value of physician collaboration to enhance the patient experience and kidney health outcomes. One thing that we know for sure is that individuals, especially those from at-risk populations, deserve access to high-quality healthcare where they are routinely screened for CKD to receive a timely diagnosis and treatment to slow its progression to kidney failure.

This was our resounding message during the two nephrology sessions, especially because it is far too common for Black and African American people to find out about their CKD diagnosis once it is too late, and this is preventable. Highlighting NKF’s CKDintercept initiative, our endeavor to improve CKD testing, recognition, and testing, and our advocacy for early CKD screenings with the United States Preventative Services Task Force, proved that NKF is not just talking the talk but we are walking the walk to enhance the quality of life for kidney patients.

Read my kidney disease story.

Our Call to Action

Before the conclusion of the sessions, a call to action from NKF for the audience of clinicians was to center patients in their care by having transparent conversations that allow patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. I encouraged physicians to have early discussions about treatments, including communicating all dialysis modality options—not just in-center hemodialysis— and transplantation, and to have these conversations in culturally sensitive ways, acknowledging that everyone’s level of education and understanding can impact health outcomes.

Learn more about our patient-driven advocacy for Transplants for All.

“Educate patients where they are.”

J. Bayton, NKF Kidney Patient Advocate

We are grateful for the invitation from the NMA to present at the annual conference to discuss kidney health through the lens of the patient perspective while also demonstrating how we are actively working to make life-saving impacts for our kidney patient community. To learn more about our policy initiatives, please visit our regulatory advocacy page.