Report on the 2007 RSN National Patient Meeting -

Health, Happiness & Hope!

                        Click on Program to download PDF
 

Renal Support Network National Meeting Draws Applause from Renal Patients

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—The Renal Support Network’s Fourth Annual Patient Leadership Meeting, “Health, Happiness & Hope,” gave patients a leg up on community building and advocacy for kidney patients’ quality of life. In the three-day conference, attendees received a crash course in leadership issues, from understanding personality differences and impactful ways to communicate, to connecting with your elected officials and impacting change as well as how to work as a team using effective leadership communication skills.

Conference attendees composed of renal patients, caregivers and health care professionals responded with ideas, stories and questions to the speakers, many of whom are themselves kidney patients. The conference tone was upbeat, positive, and often humorous.

Expert public speakers and writers Michael Josbena and Jack Barnard attacked the fears of presenting oneself publicly as speaker and/or writer, and how to get yourself heard by those you want to impact. Focusing on how to communicate inspirational, motivational and influential messages, Josbena and Barnard workshopped the participants as they learned the best practices of public speaking and editorial writing.

One of the liveliest sessions included the entertaining and informative “KidneyTalk” format which the Renal Support Network employs on their podcast. Led by actor-transplant recipient
Stephen Furst (Flounder in “Animal House”) and RSN Founder-Director Lori Hartwell, 3-time kidney transplant recipient, the interviews focused on whether care of physical appearance was important in feeling well and leading a full, active life

Bill Gallagher gave attendees a personality quiz  and interpreted revealing information about individuals, stressing that understanding personality types was key to recognizing and relating to others as a team leader. Painting in broad strokes the personality characteristics which identify a place on the “team,”  Gallagher stressed the need for leaders to understand an individual’s natural role as they build teams to educate, inform and advocate for kidney patients.

Mark E. Neumann, Executive Editor of Nephrology News & Issues, brought into focus some of the hot topics in the news today which can be impacted by leadership in the kidney patient community. SCHIP and CHAMP were first on the list of major issues as well as challenges to the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship in determining modalities of medicating the patient.

Martinlow Spaulding and Kathe LeBeau, head of the RSN WeKAN Advocacy Program, together with Mandy Trolinger, who organizes RSN Regional Patient Lifestyle Meetings, spoke about setting up, planning and organizing regional meetings.

Patient panels described their own journeys as they learned strategies for impacting their own communities, getting involved and making a difference, demonstrating to the audience that everyone has something to contribute as they seek a better quality of life.

In a fortunate, if unexpected, artistic pairing, Broadway singer-kidney patient Aaron Battle, accompanied by Candace Wang, a trained concert pianist and Medical Director in Medical Affairs at Roche Laboratories, entertained a large audience after dinner with show tunes and popular songs.

The national meeting was held in conjunction with the National Renal Administrators Association, which presented RSN Founder and President Lori Hartwell with the Mark Zawiski Memorial Award and presented RSN with a $30,000 contribution marking the 30th anniversary of NRAA.

Congressional Representative Adam Schiff, represented by William Syms, his Congressional Aide, presented Hartwell with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition of her work on behalf of kidney patients in the United States.

“The talks they both [Martinlow Spaulding and Kathe Lebeau]gave about organizing events, pulling together their communities and making a difference for other kidney patients were inspiring!”

“Lori's events always have such a personal touch and an optimistic view. She is a wonderful motivator-she can really pump you up!”

“Yes, it was inspiring and even brought tears to me and much laughter! All I know is that I have a wonderful extended family!”

“If you couldn't be there this year... Plan to sign up early for wherever it will be next year, or go to one of the RSN regional meeting in your area. You will be so glad you did...”

“The presentations were, to a one, terrific, and I left inspired and energized.”

“Also, the "build a car" exercise that showed the "parts" necessary to run efficiently - was a great demo in teamwork. I hope to see this diagramed in a future Live & Give newsletter”.

For further information about the Renal Support Network and its programs, log on to RSNhope.org
 

2006 Program (PDF File)

2005 Program (PDF File)

2004 Program (PDF FIle)