Kidney Patient Summit

Kidney Patient Summit

Each year, advocates from kidney organizations across the country join together for the annual Kidney Patient Summit, organized and led by the National Kidney Foundation.

Advocates at the US Capitol
Advocates gathering at the Kidney Patient Summit in D.C.

#MyKidneyVoice

Voices for Kidney Health advocates educate Members of Congress and their staff about the importance of protecting living organ donors; increasing funds for federal kidney disease awareness, education, and research programs; and increasing access to home dialysis.

Why We Advocate

I advocate because it's time to change the narrative.

I advocate because I saw firsthand that transplants save lives.

I advocate to lower the cost of kidney disease.

Richard K. Salick Advocacy Award Recipient Beth Burbridge

2022 Advocate of the Year: Beth Burbridge

Richard K. Salick Advocacy Award

Each year, NKF presents the Richard K. Salick Advocacy Award to an outstanding kidney patient advocate. This prestigious award is given to an individual who embodies the spirit of NKF’s dear friend and former colleague, Rich Salick, who underwent three kidney transplants and faced cancer but still put the needs of other kidney patients ahead of his own.

 

In February 2019, Beth began testing to be a kidney donor for a neighbor’s son. During the process to be confirmed as a donor match, she found that her home state of Kentucky lacked any bills for living organ donors. She has been fighting to improve both state and federal policy for kidney patients ever since.

2022 NKF Congressional Award Recipient: Jason Smith (MO)

Honoring our Congressional Kidney Champions

Congressional Honorees

Our Congressional Awards Reception is held in conjunction with our Patient Summit. Last year’s event honored two outstanding champions in the fight against kidney disease: Reps. Bobby Rush (IL) and Jason Smith (MO). Our honorees are leaders in the fight against kidney disease, consistently championing legislation to improve the lives of kidney patients and living donors nationwide.

Thank You to Our 2023 Partner Organizations

Alport Syndrome Foundation Logo
Home Dialyzors United Logo
IGA Nephropathy Foundation of America Logo
Nephcure Kidney International Logo
Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation Logo

Thank You to Our 2023 Corporate Sponsors

Bayer Logo
Boehringer Ingelheim Logo
CareDx Logo
Eurofins Logo
Merck Logo
Travere Therapeutics Logo