AAKP’S MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARDED TO FMCNA PHYSICIANS, SOCIAL WORKER AND DIETICIAN
CHANDLER, Ariz. — March 21, 2016 — Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the continent’s leading provider of kidney care products and services, and the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), announced today that AAKP has presented its 2016 Medal of Excellence Award to four FMCNA caregivers at the Renal Physicians Association Annual Meeting in Chandler, Arizona, the highest number of awards for a single organization.
Among this year’s Medal of Excellence Award winners, those associated with FMCNA include: Dr. Richard Gibney, FMCNA Medical Director in Waco, Texas (Physician category); Dr. Edward Jones, FMCNA Medical Director in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Physician category); Wendy Funk Schrag, LMSW, ACSW, of Newton, Kansas, who worked as a dialysis social worker prior to her current role as Vice President of State Government Affairs (Social Worker category); and, Rita Solomon-Dimmitt, RD, CSR, LDN of Nashville, Tennessee, who has worked as a dietitian for people with chronic kidney disease, dialysis patients across all modalities, and those who have received kidney transplants (Dietician category).
The AAKP Medal of Excellence is the Association’s highest honor for health care professionals. It recognizes visionaries whose insight and perseverance have led to dramatic advances that improve patient care.
Throughout our organization, our care providers are focused on how they can improve the quality of life of every patient, every day,” said Dr. Frank Maddux, Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America. “We are honored that the AAKP has recognized four of our outstanding caregivers, and we are proud to call them our colleagues. They are an example of how, through hard work and dedication, we can all improve the lives of the people with chronic kidney disease.”
“The American Association of Kidney Patients Medal of Excellence Award recognizes the extraordinary and unparalleled talents of individuals whose creativity and commitment to improving and extending the lives of kidney patients has left an indelible mark on the kidney community,” stated Paul T. Conway, AAKP President and a kidney transplant recipient and former dialysis patient. “This year’s honorees are dynamic leaders in treatment innovations, skilled clinicians and teachers, and staunch defenders of every patient’s inherent right to live, pursue aspirations and define themselves beyond kidney disease.”
A selection committee comprised of renowned renal community leaders, members of the AAKP Medical Advisory Board and past Medal of Excellence recipients chose the AAKP Medal of Excellence Award honorees.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius Medical Care North America is the premier health care company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities, outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, and urgent care centers, as well as the country’s largest practice of hospitalist and post-acute providers, Fresenius Medical Care provides coordinated health care services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world’s largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at www.fmcna.com For information about patient services, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.
About AAKP
AAKP is a voluntary non-profit organization founded by kidney patients, which for more than 45 years, has been dedicated to improving the quality of life of kidney patients through education, advocacy and the fostering of patient communities. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.
Media Contact:
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Jon Stone
Jonathan.d.stone@fmc-na.com
Office: 781-699-9704
Cell: 781-392-4680
or
American Association of Kidney Patients
Jerome Bailey
jbailey@aakp.org
Phone: 813-400-2394
