Renal Support Network

RSN’s 2022 Hope Week, 29th Annual Patient Education Meeting
October 18 – 22, 2022
Five Educational and Hope-Filled Days!

Registration is now closed. Stay tuned for presentation videos to be posted on the website!

For 29 years RSN has presented the Annual Patient Education Conference at no charge to people who have kidney disease and their families. Hope Week is a five-day national, virtual event. Each day will focus on a specific disease or treatment for kidney disease. Speakers will include healthcare professionals and people who have learned to live and thrive in spite of having kidney disease.

Raffle prizes are given away every day. Receive a complimentary gift package for attending and completing our scavenger hunt and event evaluation to help us learn and improve our online events. Information will be given during the event about the scavenger hunt and event evaluation.

Topics are subject to change. There are no fees to attend but registration is required. Full agenda and speaker information coming soon!

Tuesday, Oct. 18
Focus on Chronic Kidney Disease

10:00am: Opening Remarks (Virtual Exhibits Open)

10:05am: Using the Extraordinary to Live an Ordinary Life by Chad Allen, entertainer, speaker and teacher

10:45am: Know Your Vaccines by Crystal Grate, RN, CNN

11:30am: Take Charge of Osteoporosis by Debbie Drayer, PharmD

12:15pm: Kidney Kin Fitness exercise break

12:30pm: Pets and Kidney Disease, Kristin Brunstein, DVM

1:15pm: How to preserve your kidney function by Madeleine Pahl, MD, FASN

2:00pm: The Quest for a Life Free of Anti-rejection Drugs Following Living Donor Kidney Transplant:  FREEDOM-1 Clinical Trial Overview by Sara Douglas, RN of Talaris Therapeutics

2:15pm: Raffle (must be present to win) and Adjourn

Wednesday, Oct. 19
Focus on Dialysis

10:00am Opening Remarks (Virtual Exhibits Open)

10:05am: Why I Chose My Treatment Option by Dawn Edwards, Kidney Disease Survivor

10:45am: What to Expect with Home Dialysis Training, Lyndsay Crowson, MSN, RN, CNN

11:30am: Pantry Staples and Foods for Renal Diet, by Lubna Akbany, RD, CSR

12:15pm: Kidney Kin Fitness exercise break

12:30pm: What Keeps a Kidney Doc up at Night? by Yasmin G. Brahmbhatt, MD, FASN

1:15pm: Side Effects and Remedies Patients Experience with Dialysis, Gail Dewald, RN, CNN

2:00pm: Raffle (must be present to win) and Adjourn

Thursday, Oct. 20
Focus on Kidney Transplantation

10:00am: Opening Remarks (Virtual Exhibits Open)

10:05am: He said – she said!  A couple’s journey to and through transplant, Lacye and Sam Trevino, Husband & Wife and Living Kidney Donor & Recipient

10:45am: What is Involved with Donating a Kidney, Rafael Villicana, MD

11:30am: What is involved to Get a Pre-Emptive Kidney Transplant, Karol Franks, Family Kidney Disease Advocate

12:15pm: Kidney Kin Fitness exercise break

12:30pm: FAQ – What to Ask When You get The Call, Lana Kacherova, RN, BSN, MPH, CNN, CPHQ

1:15pm: Innovation Presentations

• Repairing Deceased Donor Kidneys, By Stanley Jordan, MD
• Xenotransplantation, A Patient’s Perspective by Mary Baliker, Kidney Disease Survivor
• Matching Kidneys by Joe Sinacore, National Kidney Registry
• The Quest for a Life Free of Anti-rejection Drugs Following Living Donor Kidney Transplant:  FREEDOM-1 Clinical Trial Overview by Sara Douglas, RN of Talaris Therapeutics

2:15pm: Raffle (must be present to win) and Adjourn

Friday, Oct. 21
Focus on All Stages of Care

10:00am: Opening Remarks (Virtual Exhibits Open)

10:05am: Caregiver Self Care Tips, by Vernon Silva, LCSW, NSW-C

10:45am: The Healthcare Shortage, All Hands on Deck. What Patients Can Do to Help with the Crisis, by Helen Curier, RN

11:30am: Staying Employed or Getting Back to Work, By Beth Witten, LCSW

12:15pm: Kidney Kin Fitness exercise break

12:30pm: Body Image and Kidney Care – Tips for Looking Your Best, Patient Experience Panel Moderated by Cher Thomas, RDH

1:15pm: Conversations with Lori-Find Hope, Health and Happiness by Lori Hartwell, RSN Founder and President

2:00pm: Raffle (must be present to win) and Adjourn

Saturday, Oct. 22
Youth with Have Kidney Disease

10:00am: Opening Remarks (Virtual Exhibits Open)

10:05am: Unlock your potential, Youth Workshop by Allison C. Dankner, M.ED, PSY. B.S

11:30am: Break

11:45am: Managing Your Life with Kidney Disease, Youth Patient Experience Panel

1:00pm: Raffle (must be present to win) and Adjourn

2022 Hope Week Presenters

2022 Hope Week speakers include healthcare professionals and people who have learned to live and thrive in spite of having kidney disease.

Sign up today!