May 18, 2026
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Government Relations team traveled to New Orleans for NKF’s 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM26), where more than 3,000 kidney care professionals gathered at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for one of the nation’s leading kidney health conferences. Here, they presented important information about the growing role healthcare professionals play in shaping kidney health policy at both the federal and state levels.
Bringing Kidney Policy Conversations to the Clinical Community
On Friday afternoon, NKF hosted the session, “Updates from Washington, DC with NKF Government Relations,” chaired by Dr. Sri Lekha Tummalapalli, nephrologist, health services researcher, and longtime NKF volunteer.
Panelists included:
- Jesse Roach, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at NKF and pediatric and adult nephrologist
- Lauren Drew, Senior Director of Congressional Relations, and living kidney donor
- Miriam Godwin, Vice President of Health Policy, and a living kidney donor
- Carson Smith, Health Policy Analyst
- Kenny T. Kidney, Chief Kidney Officer
The packed session gave attendees a closer look at the current kidney policy landscape and the legislation shaping the future of kidney care in the United States.
Topics included:
- Value-based kidney care models
- Kidney disease payment reform
- The Living Donor Protection Act
- Modernization of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN)
- Medicare Advantage reform
- Dialysis innovation
- Kidney disease education legislation
- Emerging xenotransplant policy discussions
Speakers emphasized that kidney policy directly affects patient access, transplant outcomes, dialysis care, living donation protections, and innovation across the healthcare system. The message throughout was clear–change is happening every day, and everyone can be a part of it.
NKF Launches the Kidney Professionals Advocacy Committee (KPAC)
On Saturday, NKF hosted the lunch workshop, “From the Clinic to the Capitol: How YOU Can Shape Kidney Health Policy,” chaired by Dr. Syed Ali Husain, transplant nephrologist, health services researcher, and member of NKF’s Transplant Advisory Committee.
Featured speakers included:
- Lauren Drew, Senior Director of Congressional Relations, NKF
- Mary Baliker, Co-Chair of the Kidney Advocacy Committee (KAC), Co-Chair of the NKF Public Policy Committee, and transplant recipient
- Sri Lekha Tummalapalli, nephrologist, health services researcher, and NKF volunteer
The workshop gave kidney care professionals the knowledge and confidence to become active advocates.
Attendees learned:
- How the legislative process works
- How to prepare for Congressional meetings
- How to communicate policy priorities effectively
- How to tailor advocacy messages for lawmakers and policymakers
The session also marked the official launch of the Kidney Professionals Advocacy Committee (KPAC), a new initiative designed to unite kidney healthcare professionals in advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels. Attendees were invited to sign up for KPAC on the spot, and NKF staff were on hand to connect participants with their state’s advocacy activities and upcoming opportunities.
The committee will work alongside NKF’s existing Kidney Advocacy Committee (KAC), combining the lived experiences of patients and donors with the clinical expertise of kidney healthcare professionals.
Why Kidney Health Advocacy Matters
SCM is the premier educational event for the interprofessional kidney health team, and it’s exactly the kind of gathering where NKF's Government Relationship team’s work belongs.
As NKF President Kirk Campbell noted in his keynote address, there is “tangible success on the legislative and innovation front” — and building on that momentum requires clinicians who understand the policy landscape and know how to engage it.
Get Involved in Kidney Advocacy
Raise your voice to make a difference in kidney health policy. Become a Voices for Kidney Health advocate today.
