NKF Names Connecticut Congresswoman as Top Public Servant
April 4, 2022, New York, NY —The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) will honor Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) with the 2022 Public Service Award for her efforts to improve the nation’s health care, specifically her efforts to increase federal investments in kidney health and research initiatives.
Each year, NKF selects a person whose service rises above all others and presents the award at the annual Spring Clinical Meetings. The conference draws thousands of health care professionals and will be held this year both virtually and in-person in Boston, April 6-10.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the 2022 Public Service Award from the National Kidney Foundation,” Congresswoman DeLauro said. “This means a great deal to me. I do not take this as a reward for what I have done before. I take it as a call to continue fighting to help make a difference in the lives of families across our country. “
Congresswoman DeLauro serves as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee and sits on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She is the chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees our nation’s investments in education, health, and employment.
At the core of Congresswoman DeLauro’s work is her fight for America’s working families, much of which aligns with the needs of people with kidney disease. She champions polices that give all employees access to paid sick days and allows employees to take paid family and medical leave, as well as efforts to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.
“Congresswoman DeLauro fights for legislation that would improve the lives of those affected by kidney disease and improve the lives of patients who face chronic illnesses,” said NKF President Paul Palevsky, MD. “Her passion for families is evident and absolutely advances our mission for better access to kidney care and increased awareness about kidney disease risk. We need more public servants like Congresswoman DeLauro in Washington who put the importance of kidney health at the forefront.”
“Kidney health is something I think far too many people take for granted,” Congresswoman DeLauro said. “One in three Americans are at risk for kidney disease and millions of Americans do not know they have kidney disease. It is imperative that Congress invest in biomedical research and prevention activities to help those living with kidney disease and those at risk.”
“I want to thank everyone at the National Kidney Foundation for their tireless efforts to provide lifesaving tools and support to patients and their families,” she continued. “This work changes lives, saves lives, and helps me be a more informed and effective leader.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 30 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 event will be held in Boston, April 6-10.
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 kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black/African American people are more than 3 times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics/Latinos are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure.
About the National Kidney Foundation
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.