The American Association of Kidney Patients’ (AAKP) Medal of Excellence is one of the Association's highest honors for kidney healthcare professionals and is designed to elevate local, national and international figures who have been in the forefront of advancements in kidney care and patient empowerment. The award recognizes professionals who are committed to improving and extending the lives of all kidney patients through advocacy, research, technology and quality-driven treatments that protect patient dignity and fully align with patient aspirations. This prestigious award program recognizes a variety of professionals within the health care team including: nephrologists, transplant surgeons, transplant professionals, nurses, social workers, dietitians and dialysis technicians.
All nominations must be received by December 5, 2025 to be considered. Nominations will be reviewed by a selection panel.
2025 Award Recipients
Transplant Surgeon Category
PHYSICIAN CATEGORY
transplant professional CATEGORY
Kenneth A. Andreoni, MD
Alan S. Kliger, MD
Richard N. Formica, MD, FAST
dialysis technician category
dietitian category
nursing category
Kevin M. Burns, CHT, CHBT, FNKF
Annamarie Rodriguez, MS, RDN, LD, DipACLM, FAND
Nancy Colobong Smith, MN, ARNP, ANP-BC, CNN, FANNA
AAKP honors Medal of Excellence recipients throughout the year at various events. 2026 recognition events* include:
- American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) Winter Symposium | January 22-25, 2026
- DTX42 - Dialysis Tech ConneXion42 | March 10-13, 2026
- Renal Physicians Association (RPA) Annual Meeting | April 16-19, 2026
- American Society of Transplantation (AST) American Transplant Congress (ATC) | June 20-24, 2026
*Additional events will be added as they are confirmed.
Past Award Recipients
Click the button below for a list of past award winners.
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