Florida To Host Largest Kidney Patient Meeting In America

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) announced the new date for its 43rd Annual National Patient Meeting. The meeting will be held on June 8-10, 2018 at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida and will feature up to nine continuing education credits for kidney healthcare professionals, including nurses, technicians, social workers and dietitians. Originally scheduled for September of 2017, the meeting was postponed due to Hurricane Irma and issues related to the safety of first-responders as well as vulnerable patients.

"The professional AAKP team, along with our national leadership, has planned an exciting and highly substantive meeting for both patients and kidney professionals. Our agenda will again focus on relevant information critical to those impacted by kidney disease and highlight the latest in research and innovations in the renal space," stated Interim Executive Director Diana Clynes. AAKP will host a diverse line-up of speakers crossing all sectors of the kidney community including the Federal government; the U.S. Congress; academia; industry; allied kidney organizations and associations; and other various stakeholders. The AAKP Annual Patient Meeting is the largest event of its kind in the United States, providing both patients and caregivers with access to the most accurate and timely disease information through direct interaction, educational sessions and an extensive exhibit hall.

Paul T. Conway, President of the American Association of Kidney Patients and a new Patient Voice Editor of the Clinical Journal of Nephrology stated, "Kidney patients, in consultation with their doctors, are fully capable of assessing how best to pursue their individual aspirations and which kidney disease treatment option(s) best aligns and supports their efforts to stay employed and engaged in life. Our AAKP Annual Patient Meeting speakers provide cutting-edge information to patients to better inform their decisions. We are very grateful to our speakers from allied organizations including the American Society of Nephrology and the Renal Physicians Association along with experts from HHS, FDA, CDC, CMS, NIH, the Clinical Trial Transformation Initiative team at Duke University, the Kidney Health Initiative, industry and academia for investing their time to educate kidney patients on how best to manage a very complex and life-threatening disease."

AAKP would like to thank the renal community for its support during the reschedule process and recognize this year's meeting sponsors: Arbor Research Collaborative for Health; Astellas Pharma US, Inc.; Baxter International Inc.; DaVita, Inc.; Dialysis Clinic, Inc.; Florida Hospital; Fresenius Medical Care-NA; Hansa Medical; Horizon Pharma; Mallinckrodt; Medical Education Institute; Merck; Nephrology Associates of Central Florida; NxStage Medical, Inc.; OPKO Health; and Proteon Therapeutics.

Registration begins at $99 for AAKP Life Members; $150 for Patient/Family Members; and $250 for Healthcare Professionals. One-day registrations are also available. For more information about the AAKP National Patient Meeting, to register or for sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, please visit www.aakp.org or contact (800) 749-2257.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Deborah Pelaez, AAKP Marketing
and Communications Manager
dpelaez@aakp.org; 813-400-2394

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SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients