Ron Wald, MD will be recognized at NKF 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings for dedication to kidney health
February 5, 2026—New York, NY — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has awarded Dr. Ron Wald, nephrologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, Medical Director of the hospital’s Hemodialysis Program and member of the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel with the J. Michael Lazarus Distinguished Award.
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.
This lectureship honors Dr. J. Michael Lazarus for his major contributions to the clinical science and care of dialysis patients and recognizes individuals whose research has yielded novel insights related to renal replacement therapy.
“Winning this award is truly humbling,” said Dr. Wald. “I am honored to be recognized with an award named for a nephrologist who played a fundamental role in shaping contemporary dialysis care. I am privileged to be counted among past award winners who have made profound contributions to the field of dialysis through clinical leadership and research excellence.”
Dr. Wald’s research areas are in critical care nephrology and maintenance dialysis. He served as co-principal investigator of the STARRT-AKI trial, an international trial on the timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). He is co-leading other trials looking at fluid management in patients with AKI (Probe-Fluid) and the optimal RRT dose in AKI (WISDOM). In the realm of maintenance dialysis, he is on the leadership team of the multinational PHOSPHATE trial that is evaluating whether intensive lowering of serum phosphate reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
“By bridging clinical science with compassionate care, Dr. Wald has made a lasting impact on how dialysis patients are treated and supported,” said Dr. Kirk Campbell, President of the National Kidney Foundation. “This recognition reflects both his scientific contributions and his unwavering commitment to high quality patient-centered care.” [JC1]
Dr. Wald is a global leader in nephrology whose work in critical care and maintenance dialysis is shaping the future of kidney treatment through landmark international trials. He served on the Program Committee of the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings from 2016-2018. He is also on the Editorial Board of Kidney Medicine, and serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
“The NKF is my ‘go to’ organization for all things related to kidney health,” said Dr Wald. “I am immensely grateful for the tireless efforts of the NKF in advocating for patients with kidney disease. Though they focus on their work in the US, its impact is global. The NKF has developed wonderful educational tools that are indispensable to my patients.”
A native of Montreal, Dr. Wald completed undergraduate and medical degrees at McGill University and continued his clinical training in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Toronto. This was followed by a Master of Public Health at Harvard University and a research fellowship at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. In addition, he is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.
NKF will honor all award winners at the NKF 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings, which will be held in New Orleans, May 6 - 10, 2026.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For over 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 is designed for meaningful change in the interprofessional and 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 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings will be held in New Orleans, May 6 to 10, 2026.
Kidney Disease
In the United States, more than 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. 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 become NKF members 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. Learn more and join today at kidney.org/membership. 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
Jade.riveramcfarlin@kidney.org
413-537-1155
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