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Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovation in End Stage Kidney Disease and Transplantation

2026-06-10T15:39:22-04:00June 10th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dr. Velma Scantlebury, MD, FACS, GCM, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant Over 90,000 patients sit on dialysis awaiting kidney transplantation, and thousands more are on some form of dialysis modality, with the hope of maintaining life without a kidney transplant. From chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end stage kidney disease (ESKD) there are significant challenges for both patients and healthcare providers, including delays in the onset of dialysis, complications associated with dialysis, limited access to donor organs and the need for lifelong immunosuppression following transplantation. Additionally, socioeconomic disparities and geographic barriers often impact the quality and availability [...]

Innovation, Hope, and the Gift of a Second Chance – A Gift That Rewrites a Life

2026-06-10T14:50:39-04:00June 10th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Mental Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

C. Andre’ Daniels, DPC Patient Ambassador Hope is not passive. It is not a soft sentiment or wishful thinking. For patients living with End-Stage Renal Disease, hope is often an act of discipline. It is the decision to keep going through the fatigue, the uncertainty, the appointments, the waiting, and the fear. It is the choice to believe that even in the face of illness--innovation, faith, and human generosity can come together to rewrite a life. I know this because I have lived it. When I woke up after my kidney transplant, I knew immediately that my life had [...]

High-Volume Hemodiafiltration: Understanding a Dialysis Treatment Approach

2026-06-10T14:25:45-04:00June 10th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dr. Stefano Stuard, MD, PhD, Nephrologist Dr. Michael Anger, MD, Nephrologist   Overview: Hemodiafiltration (HDF) is a type of dialysis that cleans the blood using two cleaning processes: diffusion and convection. Standard hemodialysis mainly relies on diffusion alone. Diffusion and convection remove waste in different ways. Diffusion helps remove smaller waste products, while convection helps move larger waste substances out of the blood. Using both processes allows for a broader range of waste removal during treatment. High-volume hemodiafiltration refers to HDF treatments that use a larger amount of clean, sterile replacement fluid during the dialysis session, [...]

Living with Purpose: My Journey of Strength, Advocacy, and Hope

2026-06-10T14:27:08-04:00June 10th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Quiana Bishop, DPC Board President Ten years ago, I found myself stepping into a dialysis center for the first time. I was uncertain, overwhelmed, and scared. Kidney failure had suddenly become part of my story. But from day one, I made a decision: this diagnosis would not define me. I was going to keep living and keep finding joy wherever I could. I was raised in Chicago and now call Detroit home. My journey with kidney disease is deeply personal - not just because I live with it, but because I watched my father battle it too. He [...]

What Treatment Option Do You Use?

2026-05-14T12:11:46-04:00May 6th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Treatment|

A kidney transplant is the best possible treatment option for patients with kidney failure. If you aren’t eligible for a kidney transplant though, or if you are awaiting a kidney from a living or deceased donor, you will need dialysis. When it comes to treating kidney failure with dialysis, you have certain options. From dialyzing at home to getting treated at a center, research which one could better suit your lifestyle. DPC does not endorse treatments, practitioners, medicine, or brands; however, we aim to provide an overview of dialysis treatment options, both in and out of a treatment center. The [...]

How Do You Do This?

2026-03-12T09:22:05-04:00March 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nutrition, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Treatment, Uncategorized|

Ann stood in front of the dialysis center with a big smile on her face. She just had a dialysis treatment, and was waiting with another patient, Lydia, for transportation to get home. She felt good, kept a smile on her face, and spoke to people who did not speak back. Finally, Lydia, who did not speak to anyone, said, “How do you do this three times a week and still smile?”. Ann replied that: she woke up with enough strength to get another treatment to see another day; she is able to kiss her children before she leaves for [...]

2025 State Medigap Wins & 2026 Priorities

2026-01-09T14:31:53-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Resources, The Kidney Citizen|

Elizabeth Lively, DPC Eastern Region Advocacy Director Pamela Zielske, DPC Western Region Advocacy Director DPC will continue to build on this momentum in the state Medigap arena in the 2026 legislative session. Our state advocacy directors are currently planning on advancing Medigap legislation in Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Utah. How can you help? We are always looking for DPC Patient Ambassadors to share their stories by writing letters to legislators, testifying at committee hearings, and participating in Action Alerts that are emailed to our members. Building strong relationships with legislators through the legislative process [...]

January is National Blood Donor Month

2026-01-08T09:59:11-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Kidney Transplant, Treatment|

Every blood donation is a lifeline, especially for dialysis and transplant patients who depend on a reliable blood supply for treatment, surgery, and recovery. During National Blood Donor Month, we’re reminded just how critical donated blood is to patient care, particularly as supplies often run low at this time of year. By donating blood, you can make a direct and immediate impact. One donation can help save multiple lives and ensure patients receive the care they need without delay. This National Blood Donor Month, DPC is encouraging everyone who is able to step up and be the reason someone gets [...]

Living Fully: My Journey with Peritoneal Dialysis

2026-01-09T14:20:35-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dwan Dobson, DPC Patient Ambassador When I was first diagnosed with kidney failure in 2005, it felt like my life had been turned upside down overnight. One day I was working two jobs as a teacher and tutor at a detention center, and the next, I was in the hospital learning that my kidneys had stopped working. Like so many others, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was determined to stay positive and keep moving forward. At first, I began emergency dialysis through a chest port. Once I adjusted, I transitioned to peritoneal dialysis (PD) at [...]

Choosing the Right Path: My Journey with Home Hemodialysis

2026-01-09T14:01:19-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Amber Gardner, DPC Patient Ambassador When I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023, it came as a shock. I had gone to the doctor for high blood pressure, but soon learned that my kidneys were failing. Suddenly, I was faced with decisions that would affect every part of my life – which treatment option to choose, how to adjust my routine, and what this diagnosis meant for my future. With a background in journalism, research has always been second nature to me. I spent hours learning about dialysis – comparing hemodialysis (HD), done through the arm or [...]

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