The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), which for 45 years has championed patient progress in patient education and advocacy, today announced the winners of the 2014 Medal of Excellence Award: Alan Collins, MD and Richard Glassock, MD.

The AAKP Medal of Excellence Award is the Association’s highest honor for physicians. The award recognizes visionaries whose insight and perseverance have led to dramatic advances that improve patient care. “The impressive achievements of these pioneers in kidney disease care are what the AAKP Medal of Excellence program is about,” said AAKP President Sam Pederson. “We are grateful for their commitment to generating the scientific and technical advancements that will ensure patients continue to receive quality care.”

Dr. Allan Collins is the Director of the United States Renal Disease System (USRDS) and has more than 25 years of experience in nephrology and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment. His clinical experience and research have focused on acute and chronic care of ESRD patients and prospective and retrospective focused clinical studies on dialysis techniques and associated outcomes. He has also done extensive work with high-efficiency dialysis and therapy prescription, the technical elements of dialysis, billing systems of ICD-9 and CPT-4 claims elements, and computer systems and operations.

Dr. Richard J. Glassock is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles and one of the most preeminent physicians in the field of nephrology. Glassock is a graduate of UCLA School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School and Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Glassock is an internationally recognized expert in the field of glomerular diseases and clinical nephrology, and has lectured in over 95 countries throughout the world.

“These men join an esteemed group of physicians who have excelled in patient care,” stated AAKP Executive Director Gary Green. “Drs. Collins and Glassock inspire us with their empathy, use their skills to alleviate suffering, and pass their knowledge on to future nephrologists – showing how to provide quality care to those living with kidney disease. This is an honor which both men well deserve.”

AAKP is honoring Dr. Collins and Dr. Glassock during the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) 40^thAnniversary Gala March 22, 2014, at the Hilton Baltimore in Baltimore, MD. AAKP will also host a special event recognizing these men during the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week in November 2014. Please join us in recognizing these gentlemen’s’ achievements by attending a recognition event or sponsoring the Medal of Excellence program. For additional event and sponsorship information or to download a sponsorship application, please visitwww.aakp.org/community/programs-events or contact Diana Clynes at dclynes@aakp.org or (813) 400-2391.

AAKP is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for kidney patients through education, advocacy and patient to patient support. We are recognized as the leader for patient-centered kidney health education. We believe patients who understand their disease, and who work with their health care team, have a better quality of health and greater quality of life. We bring over 45 years of experience educating and advocating for kidney wellness.

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 40 years, has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of kidney patients through education, advocacy and the fostering of patient communities. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.