April 30, 2026, New York, New York – The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has awarded Lindsey Fuller, MS, rare kidney disease advocate, patient, educator and founder of C3G Warriors, the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award. The distinguished honor will be presented at the 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings in New Orleans, LA, May 6 – 10.
This award was established in honor of Celeste Castillo Lee, a longtime advocate for patient-centered care and empowerment. It is the highest honor given by the National Kidney Foundation to a distinguished kidney patient who exemplifies NKF’s mission and Celeste’s legacy of putting patients at the center of all aspects of healthcare through their involvement with NKF and community partners.
Fuller has spent her life navigating the challenges of kidney disease. She lives with familial C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and turned her family’s experiences into a force for change with the creation of C3G Warriors, an online community where people affected by C3G find connection, information, and hope.
“Winning this award means so much to me, because it represents the impact I have been able to have for patients and families who are living with rare kidney disease”, said Fuller. “I strive to improve the lives of C3G patients, as well as to give them the support they need to advocate for themselves. To have the work I am doing recognized means a great deal to me”.
Fuller’s family history with C3G runs deep: her father underwent four kidney transplants; her mother is a living donor, and both her brother and her young adult son live with the same diagnosis. After decades without clear answers, Lindsey herself was correctly diagnosed in 2013 at the age of 33.
“I believe it is so important for patients to have a seat at the table and have their voices heard, especially when it is their own care and their own future that is on the line”, said Fuller.
“We are deeply honored to celebrate someone who has turned personal experience into powerful advocacy,” said Dr. Kirk Campbell, President of the National Kidney Foundation. “Lindsey’s passion, authenticity, and tireless efforts have strengthened our community and advanced our shared goal of improving the lives of those with CKD and rare kidney disease. This recognition reflects the profound impact one individual can have on so many.”
With 18 years as a public-school educator, Lindsey combines her gift for teaching with her passion for advocacy, empowering others with knowledge, support, and hope.
“It has also meant support and encouragement as I learned how to use my voice and my story to create positive change for kidney patients. Meeting,” said Fuller.
Lindsey also collaborates with advocacy organizations and pharmaceutical companies to ensure patient perspectives shape research and care. She currently serves as a patient advisory lead for the SEISMIC Summit, a collaborative effort to improve diagnosis and treatment access for C3G and IC-MPGN patients.
For more than a decade, she has worked to elevate the patient voice in advocacy and research. She has served on the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Advocacy Committee, contributed to NKF working groups, and participated in the C3G Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD)
“To me, the NKF is a trusted source of information and resources, as well as a facilitator of opportunities to do something productive that helps both my family and the greater kidney disease community. Those opportunities are incredibly fulfilling for me, and participating in NKF activities has enriched my life”.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For more than 30 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to the NKF 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 and interprofessional 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 in New Orleans, LA, May 6 – 10, 2026.
Kidney Disease
In the United States, more than 35 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. About 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 or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics experience kidney failure at about double the rate of White people.
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.
Visit https://www.kidney.org/membership to learn more and join our community today. You belong here.
Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence
For 75 years, The National Kidney Foundation has been a leader in advancing kidney health, working to ensure that every person has access to high-quality, patient-centered care—from prevention and diagnosis to transplantation.
As we celebrate this milestone, NKF has launched its 75th Anniversary campaign - a bold initiative aimed at transforming kidney health and patient care by 2030. Our goal is to impact 75 million lives by raising funds to help fulfill the NKF mission, drive innovation, empower patients, and advocate for systemic change in kidney health. To make a difference in the fight against kidney disease, visit DONATE TODAY!
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about kidney disease, please visit www.kidney.org/ .
Media Contact:
Jade Rivera-McFarlin
413-537-1155
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