Patient & Family Council
What is the Patient & Family Council?
Patient and Family Council Executive Committee Members, April 2008 Committee Meetings (From left back row clockwise - Laura Weber, Celeste Lee, Chair, Duane Sunwold, Todd Theobald, Sheila Weiner (NKF staff), Norma Knowles, Dori S. Gully and Merribeth Pentisuglia)
The Patient and Family Council (PFC) was founded in 1995 by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their families. It provides an avenue for patients to express their concerns and identify problems so that the NKF can help address those concerns and problems in an effective way. The Patient and Family Council is the fastest growing and largest patient organization dedicated to issues affecting individuals with kidney disease and their families. The Council acts as a liaison between the NKF and the kidney community, and as a voice within the NKF on patient issues.
Laura Weber and Celeste Lee, April 2008 Committee Meetings
Mission Statement:
PFC serves to strengthen patient and family involvement in all National Kidney Foundation activities and guides the Foundation's work in accomplishing its ultimate goal...the total eradication of all diseases of the kidney and urinary tract.
Goals:
Constituent Council Executive Committee Members at NKF CM-08 Hope Street Booth
- Education -- to educate and empower individuals and families affected by CKD to make informed decisions about the quality of care they or their loved ones receive
- Legislation -- to provide a stronger and more unified voice on local and national legislative issues
Government Relations Office - Advocacy -- to give patients and families a vehicle by which they can express their concerns and identify problems so that the NKF can address those issues
- Programs and Services -- to increase the number of NKF volunteers who will bring information and new ideas for programs and services
- Communication -- to increase communication between council members and the NKF on both a local and national level
- Awareness -- to provide members with information about local and national programs and services within the NKF and the kidney disease community.
Patient and Family Council Executive Committee Members Merribeth Pentisuglia, Norma Knowles and Dorie S. Gully
Click here to learn more about our educational and supportive resources.
Membership Benefits Include
- Opportunity to participate in national patient education programs
- A toll-free information hotline available weekdays for questions and concerns
- Access to all current NKF educational brochures, publications and videos
- Opportunity to participate in legislative activities
- An e-mail listserv to receive updates about important kidney disease topics
- A message board to communicate with others affected by CKD
- A website www.nkfkidneypatients.org with information and resources
People Like Us Constituent Councils are now taking nominations for the Executive Committees!
Meet the PFC Executive Committee.
