Hot Topics in Kidney Health

Most people who go to in center hemodialysis require lifestyle adjustments to help them get the most out of their treatment while enjoying life. In this episode of Hot Topics in Kidney Health, we visit a hemodialysis center to hear from patients and professionals about what it's like to live on dialysis. In today's episode we heard from: 

Michelle Massey, PCT Cassandra Watkins, Hemodialysis patient Reginald Gramling, Hemodialysis p...

There's a common misconception that people on home dialysis can't have pets. But that's just a myth. Professor Cameron Wolfe, a transplant infectious disease specialist at Duke University, along with Keith Plummer, a transplant recipient with home hemodialysis experience, and Brittany Dickerson, an in center hemodialysis patient with experience in peritoneal dialysis are here to share how you can safely manage treatments while livi...

In today’s episode, we're finishing up our series on kidney failure treatment options with a discussion on conservative care. What exactly is conservative care and who can benefit from it? Christine Corbett, Associate Chief Nursing Officer and nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care is here to answer that question and more. Sara Hicklin and Bobbie Reed who have firsthand experience with conservative care in their familie...

High phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) is a common complication caused by chronic kidney disease. Join us for this NKF Live to learn more about why this happens and how to successfully manage high phosphorus in CKD. During this program, you will hear a kidney doctor, a clinical pharmacist, and a person living with high phosphorus discuss important information to know about when managing high phosphorus.

Dr. Jay Wish is Professor of ...

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 of life to a stranger.  

Dan Emerson...

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 Assistant Professor in the Barbara ...

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, Davita's regional director of home 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, kidney patient Nupur Gupta, MD Elizabeth...

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 transplant education and is a dedicated ...

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 work focuses on improving access to k...

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 technical assistance and support related t...

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 Metro Area that provide training an...

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 Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illino...

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 Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital...

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 better monitor and help manage the sy...

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 important topic.

Dr. David Collister...

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. Wilder- My name is Joshua Wilder and I ...

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 for expanding global contact cente...

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 Abdominal Organ transplant department w...