NKF Patient Education Symposium- Sept. 2010

About a hundred participants showed up today to get out of the weather and learn about treatment options for end stage renal disease.  Troyce, co-chair of the Portland Kidney Group gave a moving keynote address and Craig Hostert sponsored by Astellas Pharma US spoke of his transplant experience in the education building of Meridian Park Hospital.  Since this was the first time for many of us in this space, we wondered how many people would make the trip.  As you can see from the photo below, we had a pretty good showing!

A yummy breakfast spread was generously provided by Gabriel's Bakery, Nancy's Yogurt, Liepold Farms and Michael Meo for congress.  Thanks to the Legacy Transplant team we had the donation of the conference space.  Thanks to Northwest Renal Network #16 and the National Kidney Foundation we had marketing and logistical support.  Also, this conference couldn't have been pulled off without the volunteer hours put in by the organizing committee of the Portland Kidney Group who shared their unique patient perspectives during their presentations.  During our patient panel we had a detailed discussion of buttonhole technique, Nx Stage, nocturnal dialysis, and peritoneal dialysis (PD).  Check out these masked bandits immediately following the live PD demonstration!

 

During our break for lunch, participants had a final chance to visit and ask questions of some notable organizations supporting kidney patients.  We had the pleasure of having representatives from the Fresenius Home Dialysis Unit, Legacy Transplant Team, The MIKE program, Northwest Kidney Kids Camp, Northwest Renal Clinic Access Center, NW Renal Network #16, NxStage, Oregon Dietitian Association, Ride Connection, and (of course) the National Kidney Foundation and the Portland Kidney Group.  Thank you so much finding the time in your weekend to come visit us and share with us what you have to offer!

Really, there are so many people to thank who helped make this event happen.  It was really a community effort, though a special thanks must be said for Yasuyo who has been instrumental in connecting with all of us and inspiring those of us in the Portland Kidney Group to walk a little outside of our comfort zone and grow as we learn to help others help themselves on their kidney paths.  We hope that you can join us for the next patient eduction symposium March 20th of next year!  In the meantime, come and visit us during one of our support group meetings.  We rarely bite!