(March 15, 2024, New York, NY) — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) proudly announces Glenda V. Roberts as the recipient of the prestigious Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award. This award was established in honor of Celeste Castillo Lee, a longtime chair of NKF’s Patient and Family Council and a leading advocate for patient-centered care and empowerment. It is the highest honor given by NKF to a distinguished kidney patient who exemplifies the foundation’s mission and Lee’s legacy of putting patients at the center of all aspects of healthcare through their involvement with NKF and community partners. This award will be presented at the NKF 2024 Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM) in Long Beach, CA, in May.
Ms. Roberts’ unwavering dedication to advocating for those living with kidney diseases and her outstanding contributions to kidney health initiatives have earned her this esteemed recognition.
Glenda's journey with kidney disease spans four decades, during which she has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination in managing her health. Drawing from her personal experiences with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and ultimately receiving a transplant in 2010, Glenda has become a beacon of hope for countless individuals facing similar challenges.
"It is an honor to receive the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award from the National Kidney Foundation,” said Glenda V. Roberts. “My journey with kidney disease has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding to use my experiences to advocate for others. I am committed to continuing this important work and making a positive impact in the lives of individuals affected by kidney diseases."
Prior to her involvement in kidney health advocacy, Glenda enjoyed a successful career as an Information Technology executive at Fortune 100 companies. In 2018, she transitioned to a pivotal role at the University of Washington Center for Dialysis Innovation and the Kidney Research Institute, where she serves as the Director of External Relations & Patient Engagement. Her leadership extends to her role as the Chief Operations and Strategy Officer for UW's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center for Transformative Research.
As a fervent patient activist, Glenda has made significant contributions to regional, national, and international kidney health initiatives. She played a pivotal role as one of two patients on the groundbreaking NKF-ASN Taskforce Reassessing the Use of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease. Glenda's commitment to advancing kidney research is further evidenced by her involvement in projects such as the Kidney Precision Medicine Project and ApoL1 Long-term Outcomes in Kidney Transplant (APOLLO) study, as well as her membership in the Kidney Health Initiative Board of Directors.
“Glenda's tireless dedication and passion for improving kidney health make her a deserving recipient of the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award. I have been impressed by her commitment to bringing the patient voice to research projects and advocating for those unable to do so” said NKF President Sylvia Rosas, MD, MSCE. “The National Kidney Foundation congratulates Glenda on this well-deserved honor and looks forward to her ongoing contributions to the kidney community and kidney health equity.”
Recognized for her exceptional leadership and advocacy efforts, Glenda was named the 2022 ASN President's Medal recipient and has received the U.S. President's Volunteer Service Awards in both 2020 and 2022. Her contributions extend beyond accolades, with Glenda being both an author and co-author of over 35 publications in the field of kidney health.
In addition to her professional achievements, Glenda finds strength and support in her loving husband, Calvin Sturdivant, with whom she resides in Woodinville, Washington.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 32 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF’s Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings is designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams’ skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team.
About Kidney Disease
In the United States, more than 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics experience kidney failure at about double the rate of White people.
NKF Professional Membership
Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources for both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
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