Recognition & Awards
NKF Professional Council Awards
Each year, NKF Professional Councils recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of renal health. Individuals will be recognized at the NKF 2009 Spring Clinical Meetings.
CNSW
CNSW ROBERT W. WHITLOCK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The CNSW Lifetime Achievement Award is being renamed in honor of Robert W. Whitlock MSSW, MHA, LCSW, Director of the Missouri Kidney Program (MoKP) and leader in the kidney community, who passed away on July 20, 2008. Bob was a dedicated nephrology social worker and an outstanding contributor to research, teaching and clinical practice in nephrology social work. He will be missed by all in our community.
Judith Kari, MSSW, CISW
CNSW is especially pleased to present Judith Kari with this award. Her many achievements include involvement in the formation of CNSW, longtime efforts to communicate renal issues to CMS and, most recently, contributing in the development of the new Conditions of Coverage and Interpretative Guidelines for the surveyors. Judith has been a pioneer and indeed helped pave the road for us all.
2008 CNSW MERIT AWARD
Michelle Mayo, LISW, DaVita University, St. Paul, MN
Michelle is Chair of her local Chapter where she encourages networking and educational activities. She is active with the local NKF, including sharing her singing talent. Michelle has also served on the Committee for the Local Partners’ annual conference, and is also known for her willingness to go out of her way to help.
CRN
SUSAN KNAPP EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Laura Byham-Gray, PhD, RD
Dr. Byham-Gray is Associate Professor in the Graduate Programs in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Dentistry and Medicine of New Jersey. She was Co-Editor of A Clinical Guide to Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease and Nutrition in Kidney Disease, and she is on the committee that is writing the Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Dietitians in Nephrology. She has presented to professionals and students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Dr. Byham-Gray has also written articles for the lay community and participated as a faculty volunteer for the past five years at the Special Olympics in New Jersey. She was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the American Dietetic Association Renal Practice Group in 2007. Dr Byham-Gray feels the essential component of her teaching philosophy is the role of teacher as a mentor and coach in helping her students actualize their professional goals and instilling the importance of lifelong learning. In her letter of contribution, she elegantly quoted Pearl S. Buck in describing what she felt the Susan Knapp Excellence in Education Award meant: “The secret of joy in work is contained in one word–excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”
RECOGNIZED RENAL DIETITIAN
Deborah Benner, MA, RD, CSR
Debbie has been the National Director of Nutritional Services for DaVita, Inc in Irvine, CA, since 1999. Prior to that, Debbie was a renal dietitian for 16 years. In her current position, Debbie has worked to improve and standardize dietitian practices for over 1,100 renal dietitians across the country by developing a 50-member Area Dietitian Team. She led the development and implementation of extensive renal dietitian training programs within the company, including one for new renal dietitians, and worked closely with DaVita Clinical Research to encourage support for studies related to nutritional status in dialysis patients. She has been Secretary for the ADA-RPG and most recently served two terms as Region V Representative and Research Grant Committee Chair for NKF-CRN. Debbie is currently a member of the committee that is writing the Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Dietitians in Nephrology. She has authored numerous articles and has been an invited speaker in renal nutrition at both national and international conferences.
CNNT
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Diana Hlebovy, RN, BSN, CHN, CNN
CNNT is proud to announce that Diana Hlebovy, RN, BSN, CHN, CNN, is the recipient of the 2008 CNNT Distinguished Service Award. Diana is the Clinical Director of HemaMetrics and has been actively involved in the dialysis community since 1976. She has devoted the last ten years to research; developing protocols and training programs for blood volume monitoring; and presenting on the effects of fluids, oxygen and anemia management on hemodialysis patients. She is affectionately known to her colleagues as the “Mother of Blood Volume Monitoring” for her contributions to the field. Diana’s efforts working with the dialysis community and the U.S. government have ensured that blood volume monitoring and the importance of managing fluids are integral parts of the new CMS Interpretive Guidelines in two areas: that blood volume monitoring be mandatory for pediatrics, to identify the root cause of patient symptoms, and that “dry weight” should be defined by people who are normotensive with minimal hypertensive medications. CNNT congratulates Diana on her influence and education in these areas.