The AAKP Veterans Health Initiative (VHI), based within the AAKP Center for Patient Engagement and Advocacy, is designed to advance research, innovation, and policies aimed at safeguarding the highest standards in kidney care and treatment for veterans managing kidney disease both inside and outside the VA medical system. AAKP utilizes sophisticated social media and grassroots technologies to engage patients, medical professionals, and the public and to voice their concerns among policymakers.
Veterans and their families face many unique challenges related to managing their healthcare, and this is especially true for veterans who suffer from kidney and other complex chronic diseases. AAKP is committed to making its fellow veterans have their voice heard, retain access to the care they have earned and are legally entitled to at the VA and elsewhere, and benefit from new research and innovations in biologics, diagnostics, and devices.
Edward V. Hickey, III, USMC (ret) AAKP President & Chair, Veterans Health Initiative
Are you a veteran, active military, or family member of a service member? Sign up and become a member of AAKP to receive information on AAKP’s Veterans Health Initiative and opportunities to support this community!
Become an AAKP Ambassador!
AAKP is expanding its National Ambassador Program to include more veterans and military family members! Click here to learn how to get involved or email [email protected].
Through AAKP’s Center for Patient Research and Education, AAKP’s Veterans Health Initiative remains involved in a number of VA research projects.
Project Title
Lead Institution(s)
Principal Investigator
Project Term
Website
Beta Blocker Dialyzability on Cardiovascular Outcomes (BRAVO)
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Manhattan Campus, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System
Areef Ishani, MD
James S. Kaufman, MD
January 2024 - December 2027
Medicaid expansion and quality, utilization and coordination of health care for Veterans with chronic kidney disease
VA Central Office
David Atkins, MD
Laura A. Peterson
April 2021 - September 2025
Diuretic Comparison Project (DCP)
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Memphis VA Medical Center
Areef Ishani, MD
William Cushman, MD
June 2016 -
October 2022
PARTNER RESOURCES:
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Veteran Kidney Disease Benefits
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Novel Coronavirus Disease webpage
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Mobile App: COVID Coach
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - eKidney Clinic
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Employment Services
- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs / U.S. Dept. of Defense - Clinical Practice Guideline (Management of CKD Patient Summary)
- Psych/Armor - A nationally recognized nonprofit leader and preferred training provider for military cultural awareness, they serve the military-connected community. Learn more about getting your organization Veteran-Ready.
- Canary Health - Offers online workshops and support programs for Veterans with chronic diseases and Caregivers of Veterans.
- VA S.A.V.E. - Developed by Pysch/Armor in partnership with the VA, this course presents a general understanding of suicide within the military and Veteran Community, how to identify an at-risk Veteran, and what to do to help.
AAKP VHI ONDEMAND:
- Toastmasters - AAKP and Veterans: A Path Forward, presented by AAKP President Edward Hickey (December 2024)
- Caregiver's Corner: Supporting those caring for military members and Veterans with chronic conditions (HealthLine, 2024)
- DOVE: A Veteran-centric Organization Increasing Access to Kidney Transplantation (National Patient Meeting, 2024)
- Advocacy & Engagement Training: Building a New National Veteran Ambassador Network (National Patient Meeting, 2023)
- Disease Management: Veterans Affairs Responds to Kidney Disease - (National Patient Meeting, 2021)
- America's Veterans: Kidney Health During COVID-19 - (National Patient Meeting, 2020)
- Coronavirus: Observations of Healthcare Systems Responses to Pandemic (Nonprofit, Private, and VA)- (Global Summit on Kidney Innovations, 2020)
- VA Kidney Program's Response to COVID-19- (May, 2020)
- Innovation, Patient Focus, and Care Improvement: Veterans Administration Leadership in Kidney Care - (National Patient Meeting, 2018)
- AAKP HealthLine Webinar - The Veterans Perspective: AAKP's Veterans Health Initiative (November 2019)
- Vets First Podcast S:1 E:7: Pioneer in Kidney Transplant: Dr. Christie Thomas (October 2020)
VHI ARTICLES:
- AAKP Patient & Veteran Profile: A Resilient Spirit – The Inspiring Story of AAKP Ambassador Susan Brown (aakpRENALIFE, 2023)
- AAKP Patient & Veteran Profile: Gitthaline “Candie” Gagne (aakpRENALIFE, 2022)
- AAKP Patient & Veteran Profile: Jennifer Jones, AAKP Ambassador (aakpRENALIFE, November 2019)
- 12 Tips to Nephrology Teams Supporting Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease – Reflections of a Marine (Patient Voice Editorial, The Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, July 2018)
PRESS RELEASES:
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Partners with Top Kidney Advocates
- U.S.M.C. Veterans Elected to Lead Top Kidney Patient Group
- Remote Job Fair for Kidney Patients Links Disease and Employment Issues
- Nation's Largest Kidney Group Honors Veterans
- U.S.M.C. Veteran Named to Lead National Kidney Health Effort
- AAKP Participates in Kidney Innovation Summit at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Letter in Support of Veterans Transplant Coverage Act (H.R. 1133)
