Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships

American Heart Association 

This collaboration is raising awareness and knowledge about the connection between kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, two parts of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. 

AKF and the American Heart Association are working together to improve quality of care for patients at risk for or living with CKM syndrome, addressing unmet needs for individuals managing their overall CKM health and helping people live healthier lives. Learn more. 
 

American Diabetes Association® 

This collaboration aims to increase awareness and inform communities about the intersection of kidney disease and diabetes, the leading cause of kidney disease. 

AKF and the American Diabetes Association are working together to build awareness of the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) test, improve clinical outcomes of diabetes and kidney disease care management and expand education efforts related to kidney disease and diabetes. Learn more.

The MAVEN Project

This partnership amplifies AKF and the MAVEN Project's shared commitment to addressing challenges surrounding the early identification and treatment of kidney disease. Through this collaborative effort, AKF is increasing its reach to community, primary care and rural health care physicians, providing educational resources and materials for the MAVEN Project's network of community health centers and safety net clinics. 

Together, the two organizations aim to strengthen kidney care in underserved communities. Examples of the MAVEN Project's work to connect primary care physicians with veteran specialists — including nephrologists — are listed below.  

• A steady approach — and a new partnership — are transforming kidney care in underserved communities
• Providing confidence to frontline clinicians  

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated ®

AKF and Alpha Phi Apha Fraternity, Incorporated® share the focus of improving quality of life for underserved communities and together aim to address kidney disease inequities through prevention and awareness initiatives. 

Through this partnership, AKF will engage in virtual and in-person programs and provide access to educational materials to the estimated 300,000 members of Alpha Phi Alpha utilizing AKF's signature Kidney Health Coach® program and APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) resources. These initiatives will increase kidney disease educational opportunities for this group of multi-generational professional men who endeavor to support and empower the communities they serve across the country. 

Chamberlain University

This innovative partnership offers nursing students the opportunity to delve deeper into kidney care through the integration of AKF's signature community health education program, Kidney Health Coach ® into Chamberlain University's Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. ™ Nurse Education Model (PRSF). The PRSF Model offers third-year senior level pre-licensure students the opportunity to focus on specific specialties of nursing through a structured 16-week online course followed by an eight-week on-site clinical experience in collaboration with healthcare organizations and professional nursing organizations.

Together, AKF and Chamberlain aim to:

• Increase interest in kidney care to address the ongoing workforce shortage in nephrology
• Offer real-time experience for nursing students to educate patients and the community on kidney disease
   

Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated®

AKF and Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated® have a shared goal of raising kidney disease awareness through health education and initiatives that promote better health outcomes and health equity. 

Through this partnership, AKF will increase its reach to registered nurses and nursing students of Chi Eta Phi, by providing resources and programmatic opportunities to the sorority membership of over 8,000 members across 33 states. AKF will collaborate on activities using AKF's signature Kidney Health Coach® program and AMKD tools to amplify the kidney disease awareness messaging throughout communities that the Chi Eta Phi members reach through their professional roles and community service activations. 
 

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated®

This partnership aims to engage the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated® and the communities they serve though education and awareness efforts. AKF will collaborate with the fraternity's membership on virtual and in person programming and provide access to educational materials utilizing AKF's signature Kidney Health Coach® program and AMKD resources. These initiatives will amplify kidney disease prevention and awareness messaging within the fraternity's memberships and the communities, supporting AKF's mission in fighting kidney disease and helping people live healthier lives.

Metropolitan (D.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated®

AKF and the Metropolitan (D.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated® share alignment in our commitment to supporting individuals affected by kidney disease. This partnership offers AKF the opportunity to provide educational resources to support the prevention and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and engage directly with community members through the chapter's signature events held throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.