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Featured Speakers
	Jim Ohio Find out more about Jim.		Lori California Find out more about Lori.
	Renae Illinois Find out more about Renae.		Deborah Illinois Find out more about Debby.
	Aaron Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2002 Aaron says that having renal failure has heightened his interest in his own health and helped him to more sharply focus on how his body feels. His main goal, he believes, is a "very important one": it is "to educate patients and family members about CKD [and] to help others realize that their life does not have to end." Aaron defines a good speaker as someone who is clear in his/her presentation, has the ability to listen to others, and is knowledgeable about the subject matter. He also wants people to realize the importance of finding ways to prevent the progression of CKD.
	William (“Bill”) Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1977 Bill was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was 18. His kidney function declined until he began home hemodialysis in 1977 when he was 35. He dialyzed for 18 years and has been a transplant recipient for the past 12 years. Bill has been employed as a data systems project leader, management analyst, and in public relations. "Healthy living is a wonderful gift," he says. "I appreciate each morning I wake up as an opportunity to learn and to be of service to others." He says: "There are few things I enjoy more than helping other kidney patients have an active, healthy, wonderful life."
	Bobby Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2002 “Overall, chronic kidney disease has made my life better,” says Bobby. “My focus now is on the more positive things in life. Now I can give back the experiences I went through.”  He is eager to keep himself updated on renal disease and renal-related issues, with one of his primary goals being to help others in his situation. Says one of his supporters: “I have attended several workshops where Bobby has spoken, and he presents a frank and honest reflection of living life with chronic kidney disease and all that it encompasses. He has always managed to keep an extremely positive outlook, and this comes through in the talks he has given. The patients respect and communicate well with Bobby.”
	Bonita Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1979 "I want patients to take charge of their own health and become a team member with their healthcare team. More than anything it is important to STAY POSITIVE! Life is not over when you have kidney disease, it is just another chapter in your life", says Bonita. Her goal is to encourage patients and help them to become positive or remain positive during this time in their lives. As an advocate for organ donation, transplantation and kidney patients, she serves on many committees and Board of Directors that help people with kidney disease, as well as in her community.
	Cher Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1997 Cher is a dental hygienist and renal transplant recipient. Cher is a national speaker and published author who educates and inspires patients and healthcare providers regarding the special needs of people who have kidney disease. By using both her personal and professional experience, Cher teaches audiences positive techniques that lead to improving patient/provider communication. In addition, Cher instructs patients and health care providers on the key to optimal oral health during chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and after transplantation.
	Dale Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2006 Dale’s approach to health care was mostly to stay as far away from hospitals and doctors as possible and hope for the best. This worked well for him until he started having debilitating headaches in the fall of 2006. Five months later he received a kidney from his friend and ABC news anchor Phillip Palmer. The story received worldwide media coverage and brought much needed awareness to organ donation. Since then Dale has been very active in educating and raising awareness on organ donation. In his prior life Dale won two Emmys as a broadcast journalist in Texas and Los Angeles and toured the US and Canada for HBO doing standup comedy. As an actor he's been seen in such shows as ABC soap opera Port Charles as "Dr. Derek Dean", JAG, Chicago Hope, the recent hit television movie "Amish Grace" and many more. He also starred in last year’s critically-acclaimed stage production of "Who Lives" presented by Renal Support Network."
	David Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2002 Consultant on kidney patient education; author and former communications executive. Previously on in-center HD and home HD; successful transplant 2008. In 2009 David published a memoir, Becoming Me, a remarkable story of perseverance and optimism, relating his odyssey from the loss of his one working kidney to six years on dialysis and ultimately a successful organ transplant. Since his transplant, he has devoted himself fulltime to kidney patient advocacy. David has had formal training in mentoring both pre- and post-kidney transplant patients, and has mentored patients for several years. He is currently working with the kidney transplant team at a local hospital to establish a formal patient education and mentoring program. He was recently re-invited to lecture 2nd year medical students at the USC Keck School of Medicine. He blogs regularly on Dialysis from the Sharp End of the Needle on matters concerning compliance and patient empowerment.
	Denise Husband diagnosed with kidney disease: 1967 On HHD from 1980-2004. Denise feels that she is in a somewhat unique position to understand both patients and professionals since she is not only a nurse but was also her husband's care partner for nearly 25 years. Denise enjoys educating both groups about the "real life of a care partner." Because of her husband's very active, normal life while on home hemodialysis, she is a strong proponent of patient centered care, rehabilitation and shared decision making. As a member of the Network 5 Kidney End of Life Coalition, she is an advocate of advance care planning and likes to address this issue, as well.
	Diana Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1974 Diana grew up with Chronic Kidney Disease since the age of 11; it became a way of life for her. Two previous transplants and now in her eleventh year of in-center nocturnal hemodialysis, it has given her a gift to empathize with those taking their journey with CKD. She sees the emotional aspect that many face in the disease. She finds patients talking to other patients has been a wonderful way of giving back to the renal community. Diana strongly believes in education for patients, not just at the onset of CKD, but educating those that are at high risk before it happens.
	Andrew (Drew) Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1979 Drew, after two unsuccessful kidney transplants (1993 & 1994), made a pledge that he would be the very best dialysis patient he could be. Drew has kept that pledge and is now going on his 18th year on dialysis. He encourages and educates those patients who are about six months from starting dialysis. Drew stresses the importance of being disciplined, compliant and knowledgeable about the dialysis process. He also stresses that being successful on dialysis requires a lot of hard work. Drew enjoys life to its fullest. He continues to work full time at the University of VA as a Grant Manager and is active in his church.
	Heather Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1981 Living with kidney disease was my "normal life" as I was diagnosed as a child. As I grew up around the hospital setting I knew I wanted to encourage hope in others. It seemed that many lost hope upon being diagnosed with kidney disease. Losing hope can send you spiraling downward quickly. My favorite statement is "attitude is half the battle". I have experienced the various forms of treatment and though each has its challenges you can live a fulfilling life. I like to share this message with others going down the same road I have traveled. I want others diagnosed with a chronic illness to realize their full potential. I love getting to play a small role by sharing my own experience, educating on options and encouraging knowledge to help people make the best decisions.
	Kathe Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2004 Kathe was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism, which caused calcification of her kidneys. She is on the transplant waiting list and is on home dialysis. Currently she is the weKAN project manager for RSN's weKAN program. Kathe has also led a busy life as an aerobics instructor, a crisis counselor, a community educator, and craft class teacher. She says that "the single best thing that my husband and I have done through this whole thing was to get involved in the Renal Support Network and attend [RSN's annual meeting]. I would simply love the chance to do for other patients what RSN has done for me. [This involves giving] an experienced voice and a unique perspective to all the nuances of this disease that only fellow patients have."  She believes the key to being a good speaker is to be informative with doses of entertainment and humor as well as to know precisely what it is the audience hopes to take away from the presentation.
	Mandy Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1979 Mandy was a renal dietitian before she became a physician assistant. She loves sharing her first hand knowledge as a professional and a patient to help inspire people to be a partner for quality outcomes. She loves to work out and spend time with her husband and pets. She attributes her “rather normal life” to a strong support system of friends and family, as well as to realizing the importance of being involved in one’s own care plan. “To say the least,” says Mandy, “I love to constantly be on the go and enjoy life to its fullest."
	Marissa Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1986 Marissa watched her father go through all the stages of chronic kidney disease, beginning with his diagnosis of PKD through his almost 22 years on dialysis. She has experienced 6 years of dialysis and a successful transplant. "I watched my father get through the difficult times with his positive attitude, especially when dialysis was in its infancy." Additionally she feels that "a positive attitude has helped me tremendously through the difficult times, both through my health issues and in life in general." She feels that in addition to a positive attitude, the better informed a patient is, the better a patient will be able to manage their health care and in turn feel better overall.  Marissa was inspired to help her fellow patients and their loved ones when she saw how her positive attitude and knowledge could make a difference.
	Martinlow Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1992 "I believe patients are the most powerful motivators for both fellow patients and professionals," says Martinlow. He has been a member of patient advocacy councils, patient leadership committees, patient-to-patient programs, rehab programs, and medical review boards for 10 years. He also has taken part in health fairs at hospitals and community centers, given patient services updates at meetings and conferences, and presented educational in-services for the renal departments at hospitals. Martinlow believes: “To the best of their abilities, fellow patients should put their health first in order to continue with their hopes and dreams."
	Oliver ("Chef O") Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1983 "Chef O" is an award-winning professional chef with his own award-winning television cooking show. While on hemodialysis, he suffered a heart attack, and his doctor indicated he may not live much longer if he didn't get a transplant. He quickly went on the transplant list, where his wait was only a little more than two months. Since his transplant in 1985, he has "hit the ground running and [has] not stopped yet." Oliver has spoken about healthy cooking and eating and kidney disease to numerous groups both locally and nationally.
	Peter Year diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy: 1998 Peter is an outspoken advocate for optimal dialysis access for all patients in America. He developed IgA Nephropathy at the age of 40 in the midst of a busy internal medicine practice. Peter's years as a devoted physician opened his understanding to the challenges most patients face with chronic kidney disease in a unique manner as both a home dialysis patient and an internal medicine physician. He combines his intimate knowledge of medicine with a keen ability to champion the cause of chronic kidney disease as a blog writer for Dialysis From the Sharp End of the Needle and the Renal Support Network, reaching out to patients and professionals alike with a message of hope and encouragement. As a speaker, Peter is passionate about home dialysis solutions that offer the hope of a renewed life.
	Shari  Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1976 Shari has many years’ experience as a kidney patient, beginning HD in 1977 as a child, and enjoying a total of 19 years with two transplants. After five years on CCPD, Shari had to return to HD, at which point she trained to be a patient care technician, then self-administered her own HD treatments in-center. In 2004, she and her husband moved from New York to Oregon, where she trained to do nocturnal home HD and then received a transplant, her third. “I enjoy doing whatever I set my heart to do,” says Shari. “I don’t want anyone to feel pity for me because I’m ‘sick,’ so I stay as healthy as possible. My goal is always to work dialysis into my life, not to focus my life around dialysis.” Shari especially enjoys sharing her personal knowledge, both publicly and one-on-one, about how to excel while living with kidney disease.
	Shawn Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1977 Shawn is a CPR Instructor/Trainer for the American Red Cross. She began dialysis treatments one month after her 13th birthday. She has had 4 kidney transplants, the 4th one lasting 14 years. The last kidney rejected in January 2007 and she went back on dialysis again. Shawn wanted to be a PEPP speaker so she could share her knowledge and experience in order to help other chronically ill kidney patients. Shawn thinks that a good speaker should be "enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and funny." She also definitely believes that dialysis patients should be proactive in making decisions with their renal healthcare team about their treatment regimens. Shawn has spoken to a number of other patients about dialysis and transplantation.
	Suzanne Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 1981 "I was working two jobs, preparing to buy a car and was looking forward to my future. One evening I went out with friends and was drinking for the first time. So, I expected to wake up with a hang-over. There I was, sick with the symptoms of a hang-over, but I was actually having kidney failure. I discovered from there on my life would be filled with hospital stays and surgeries. That is exactly what happened, with 15 years on dialysis and two kidney transplants. But through everything, I never lost hope or had the desire to give up. I always had or discovered reasons to go on living. Being a single mother, I had to fight. Through sharing me journey I want to inspire others to live successfully with chronic kidney disease."
	Tom Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2000 Tom considers himself to be a "Dialysis Patient Extraordinarius”, and he proudly states that on his business card. He believes that when it comes to being educated about kidney failure, a "patient to patient" perspective is invaluable. Tom has had articles published in KidneyTimes, as well as Dialysis and Transplantation Magazine and Nephrology News and Issues. He has a plethora of experience in the public arena and brings a frank and also sometimes humorous voice to the stage. He is well known for his motivational presence and sincerity. "Whether I'm speaking to new patients and their loved ones or Nephrology Professionals and Administrators or even one patient that is having a bad day, I make it clear that we are all in this situation together and on the same team with the same goals".
	Valerie Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2004   Valerie admits that, while she has had the usual difficult time adjusting to the fact that her kidneys were in total failure, she also feels her life has been blessed by the presence of some very special people who have helped her realize that "each day is a gift to be lived." As soon as her mind began to clear from merely focusing on getting better, she wanted to learn and understand everything she could about her condition. This included learning all she could about the function of her kidneys, how the dialysis process worked, and what she could do to help manage her chronic condition. "I wanted to know that I was in control, and educating myself gave me a level of accountability for my own healthcare," Valerie explained. She feels that, once she knew more than most other people about her disease, she was more easily accepted by her renal healthcare team as "a knowledgeable peer."
	Wendy Year diagnosed with kidney disease: 2000 "I received my diagnosis of CKD with my diagnosis of lupus. I transitioned my treatment in the hospital to in-center hemodialysis with compliance and for years, thought I was coping very well. When I connected with other patients during an RSN meeting, I realized---I had simply been surviving. For the first time, I found myself laughing again about simple things, and I was most shocked to be laughing with kidney patients! Despite the hurt, fear, anger, depression and uncertainty, I learned that the connection and inspiration of another patient can be a powerful, soothing touch that can encourage you to live each day with purpose and gratitude."