Hot Topics in Kidney Health National Kidney Foundation

Losing a kidney transplant can feel very overwhelming. Today we're here with Anthony Tuggle, a former NKF board member, to hear how he's coping with losing a transplant and learn what's next for him.
 
Anthony Tuggle is the Afiniti President of Customer Operations, and a former Board Member of the National Kidney Foundation and of NKF Serving Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Tuggle is responsible for expanding global contact center operations, accelerating business development, overseeing product deployment and engaging clients to generate value for enterprises, customers and employees. Prior to joining Afiniti, Tuggle served as Vice President – Customer Care, Sales and Service Centers at AT&T where he led more than 30,000 sales leaders and has built a culture that fosters a passion for winning. He models a "find-a-way" mindset in his approach to leadership and inspires his team to embrace the importance of agility. Tuggle is the acclaimed author of I'm Better Not Bitter: My Personal Journey - Kidney Transplant Recipient's Story of Winning in Business & Life and Moving Forward, which shares how he has overcome obstacles, is self-motivated, and creates a work culture of success. Notably, Tuggle led efforts in his local community as the 2018-2020 Chairman of the Atlanta Kidney Walk, which raised more than $500,000 for NKF. He also has partnered with AT&T to raise more than $200,000 to date.
 
Additional resources:
NKF Peers
 
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Everyone loves to talk about kidney transplant success stories but rarely do we talk about what happens if a transplant fails. On today's episode Dori Muench, a post transplant social worker, and Sue George, a kidney warrior with experience losing a transplant, are here to discuss the impact of losing a kidney and how to cope.
 
Dorothy Muench, LCSW is a post-transplant social worker with the Abdominal Organ transplant department with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for the past 7 years. In this capacity, she works with numerous individuals who have received a kidney or pancreas transplant and works to provide concrete and emotional support. Before this, Dori worked in dialysis for close to 10 years and has seen and heard the effects people have while on dialysis. She works hard to advocate for people to be transplant and find living donors so they can decrease as much time on dialysis as possible. Dori lives in North Carolina with her husband, 2 daughters and golden retriever.
 
Sue George is a kidney patient, with 27 years of experience who started on dialysis in 1997. She received a transplant in July of 1999 but had many setbacks. In October of 2000 she lost her transplanted kidney. Sue went back on dialysis and has been ever since. She now works with NKF as a Peer Mentor and work with KCM of Lincoln as a Mentor and try to improve how dialysis is introduced into patients' lives. She feels she has a lot of understanding of dialysis and transplant to help patients deal with the emotional side of the process. Sue is married to her husband Marty of 17 years, and they have 3 wonderful grown children. They also have 1 dog and 1 cat. She works as a secretary at St John Lutheran Church.  In her free time she loves to read and garden.
 
Additional resources:
NKF Peers
 
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.

When will the artificial kidney be ready for human use? Learn more about the progress of the artificial kidney and how it will affect someone’s quality of life from expert Shuvo Roy, Ph.D.

When a kidney from a deceased donor becomes available, it is scored on a system called the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI). How does the KDPI work and is it accurate at predicting possible transplant survival compared to a lower KDPI donation or a living donor? On this episode, we speak with experts to get the facts.

It’s hard to keep up with all the new diets that cycle through news outlets and social media. Do you know which ones are right for you and your kidney health? On this episode, you will hear from experts on how to find the diet that’s right for you and how to stick to it.

Holidays can be difficult for individuals with CKD. Tune in to gain insight into the patient holiday experience and how professional teams can provide education for patients to ensure the best holiday outcomes.
 
In this episode we spoke with,
 
Dori Muench, LCSW, CCTSW, FNKF
Osama El Shamy, MD
Jesse Engelken, MPH, RDN, LD,CD
Joyce Vergili, EdD, RD, CSR, CDN
Malenia Alvarez, kidney patient
Nupur Gupta, MD
Elizabeth Shanaman, RD, CD, FAND
Candria Denzmore, patient advocate 
 
Do you have comments, questions, or suggestions? Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. Also, make sure to rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts.