San Diego Doctor Named Recipient of NKF’s Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture Award

 
NKF will present Dr. Ix the award at the 2020 Spring Clinical Meetings
 
New York, NY –  December 3, 2019 – Each year the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) considers the work of hundreds of specialists in the field of nephrology and selects among them those who most exemplify the relentless efforts of NKF to enhance the lives of patients through action, education and accelerating change.
 
Their work is vital to the 37 million adults who are affected by kidney disease and the 1 in 3 Americans who are at risk.
 
Among the prestigious awards that will be presented at NKF’s 2020 Spring Clinical Meetings in New Orleans, March 25-29, will be the Dr. Shaul G. Massry  Distinguished Lecture Award to Joachim H. Ix, MD, MAS, of the University of California San Diego.
 
“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” Dr. Ix said. “The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in our society and its relationship with risk of kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and death are staggering. Unfortunately, current tests to diagnose and monitor kidney disease are inadequate in facilitating insights into the cause of kidney disease, and risk for progression of kidney disease in individual patients. I look forward to discussing our research evaluating novel methods to monitor kidney disease during the Shaul Massry Distinguished Lecture.”
 
The lectureship was established to honor Dr. Massry for his scientific achievements and contributions to the kidney healthcare community and to the NKF.
 
“Dr. Ix has been a tireless leader in clinical research and his work is invaluable to advancing kidney care,” said Dr. Holly Kramer, NKF President.  “The breadth of his research is amazing, and his research has been widely cited. He is truly walking in the footsteps of Dr. Massry and his legacy of work.”
 
Dr. Ix has demonstrated the limitations of biomarkers for CKD and for the link between CKD bone and mineral metabolism and cardiovascular outcomes. He was also an investigator in the SPRINT trial and has received numerous NIH grants to study CKD and its link with cardiovascular disease.
 
Dr. Ix is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Nephrology-Hypertension at the University of California San Diego. He is also Staff Physician at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. His research focuses on two main areas: understanding the contributions of kidney tubule disease on CKD progression; and evaluating new approaches to treat CKD related mineral bone disorders.
 
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 28 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 are 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.  This year’s Spring Clinical Meetings will be held March 25-29 in New Orleans.
 
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. 
 
Kidney Disease Facts
In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and most aren’t aware of it.  1 in 3 American adults are at risk for chronic kidney disease.  Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history.  People of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease.  African Americans are 3 times more likely than Whites, and Hispanics are nearly 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanics to develop end stage renal disease (kidney failure).
 
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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