[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2017[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Deborah Peleaz
Manager Marketing Communications
(800)749-AAKP(2257)
[email protected][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF KIDNEY PATIENTS ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR ITS ANNUAL AWARDS
RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN KIDNEY CARE
TAMPA, FL – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) announced today it is accepting nominations for its Annual Awards. The AAKP Annual Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to improving the lives of kidney patients. The Awards will be presented at the AAKP National Patient Meeting taking place September 8-10, 2017 at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort, St. Petersburg, FL. The AAKP National Patient Meeting is the largest kidney patient education and advocacy meeting held in the United States. This year’s program, themed Patient-Centered, Patient-Focused, will provide patients and their care partners the opportunity to learn the latest scientific research regarding kidney disease and treatment options; innovations in devices and medication; diet/nutrition; patient safety; public policy issues affecting their care; opportunities to engage with government agencies to increase the patient voice; and much more.
Paul T. Conway, President of AAKP stated, “AAKP has a long history of recognizing dedicated patient advocates and professionals who selflessly serve those who suffer from kidney disease. These awards are an excellent opportunity for any American to nominate a kidney patient advocate or a medical professional in this field for recognition by America’s largest and oldest independent and patient-lead organization.”
Currently, there are eight award categories and recipient criteria is defined per award category.
- President’s Award is presented to an individual who made a long-term commitment toward making AAKP a better organization. To be determined by the AAKP President.
- National Social Media Education and Advocacy Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a national level of excellence through social media to either educate or advocate on behalf of kidney patients and their loved ones in the areas of disease awareness, policy advocacy or the creation of online communities. This highly competitive award will recognize excellence on a variety of social media platforms and will include video, bloggers and social media content and sites that have grown large audiences through creative and effective use of social media.
- National Patient Engagement and Advocacy Award recognizes leaders in the field of kidney patient education and advocacy whose body of professional work and personal commitment to advance the interests of kidney patients through policy, education or activism. The award is open to patients, educators, policy practitioners and others whose commitment to kidney patient interests demonstrates a level of national excellence.
- National Journalism Award is presented to a reporter or journalist whose work in either the print, online, television or web arenas has brought the needs and interests of the kidney patient community to the national forefront through journalistic excellence. Presented either for a single compelling story with local, regional or national significance, or body of work, which over time has informed Americans of the critical needs and concerns of the kidney patient community.
- Samuel J. Orenstein Award is AAKP’s most prestigious Annual Award. It is presented to an AAKP member who consistently renders extraordinary service toward the achievement of AAKP’s goals and objectives.
- Peter Lundin, MD Award is presented to a renal physician who made contributions to the care, welfare and well-being of patients over a lifetime of devoted service.
- Dominick Gentile, MD Memorial Award is presented to an ESRD Network that maintained a developed program, which significantly benefited patients.
- Kidney Patient Support Group of the Year is presented to a kidney patient support group that has been active within their local community. This support group should have hosted community educational programs and activities to support its local patients and raise awareness of kidney disease.For more information on the 2017 AAKP National Patient Meeting, please visit https://aakp.org/national-patient-meeting/. For information on sponsorship or exhibiting opportunities, contact Diana Clynes,AAKP’s Director of Programs & Services at [email protected]. To download the Annual Award application, https://aakp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Annual-Award-Nomination-Form-2017.pdf.Founded in 1969, AAKP is the largest and oldest independent kidney patient organization in America. Governed by a patient-majority Board of Directors, AAKP conducts national education programs designed to better inform kidney patients, care-givers and policy-makers about the true impacts of kidney disease, prevention efforts and treatment methods. AAKP executes a national advocacy strategy in conjunction with allied kidney organizations designed to insert the patient voice into proposed policies, research efforts and care deliberations before the Executive Branch and the U.S. Congress.
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