The American Kidney Fund Health Equity Coalition
American Diabetes Association
The moving force behind the work of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a network of more than 565,000 volunteers, their families and caregivers, a professional society of nearly 16,000 health care professionals, as well as more than 250 staff members. The ADA leads the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes. They fund research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes, deliver services to hundreds of communities, provide objective and credible information and give voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.
American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA)
The American Nephrology Nurses Association improves members' lives through education, advocacy, networking, and science. Since it was established as a nonprofit organization in 1969, ANNA has been serving members who span the nephrology nursing spectrum, with a membership of over 8,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals at all levels of practice. Members work in such areas as conservative management, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapies, transplantation, industry, and government/regulatory agencies. ANNA achieves these goals by providing the highest quality educational products, programs, and services.
Dr. Anika Lucas MD; Nephrology Fellow, Duke University (Fellow, AKF Clinical Scientist in Nephrology)
Dr. Anika Lucas is a nephrology fellow at Duke University. Her current research focuses on racial differences in adverse pregnancy and postpartum outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a goal to more accurately identify women who are at particularly high risk for adverse events. Dr. Lucas conducts studies on an international cohort of women with SLE from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Italy — one of the largest reported multi-ethnic cohorts of pregnant women with SLE in the world — and evaluates the relations between maternal second trimester estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal loss, and small size for gestational age. Additionally, she explores the potential role of APOL-1 genetic mutations on these important outcomes.
Dr. Ashte Collins, MD
Ashté Collins, M.D., FASN is a physician and director of outreach practice in the Division of Kidney Disease & Hypertension at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He graduated from the Xavier University of Louisiana with a B.S. in Biology and received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and the medical director of the Fresenius NxStage Lanham dialysis center. His research interests include cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease, medical education, health disparities in patients with kidney disease, and outcomes in end-stage kidney disease patients.
Association of Black Cardiologists
Founded in 1974, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., (ABC) is a nonprofit organization with an international membership of over 2,000 health professionals, lay members of the community (Community Health Advocates), corporate members, and institutional members. The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ABC is dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease in all people of color.
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated is a professional organization of more than 8,000 registered professional nurses and student nurses representing many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds. The organization has a rich legacy which started in 1932 with the vision to impact communities through healthcare education and services. The organization continues to identify and develop nursing leaders to affect change in the numerous communities within its service areas which are found throughout the United States.
Crystal Scott, AKF Ambassador
Crystal is a kidney disease warrior committed to contributing to the fight against kidney disease and regularly speaks to anyone and everyone about the importance of protecting your kidneys. Crystal was on in-center dialysis for about three months before transitioning to peritoneal home dialysis for 6.5 years. She received a deceased donor transplant in December 2018 and has been advocating for kidney disease patients as an AKF Ambassador for over six years before elected officials at the local and federal level on various occasions. She is especially passionate about expanding coverage for immunosuppressant medication to protect the precious gift of a donated kidney.
Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program at the University of Southern California's (KDSAP USC)
University of Southern California's Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program chapter is dedicated to preventing chronic kidney disease through screening and educational initiatives. We host monthly free health screening in the Downtown and South-Central Los Angeles area, taking vital signs of participants and connecting them to on-site nephrologists for consultations. We also host educational events at local schools, senior homes, and community organizations. Through these efforts, we hope to improve knowledge about the kidneys in general, as well as specific ways to prevent CKD.
Velma Scantlebury-White, MD, FACS; Professor of Surgery at TCU and UNTHSC; Medical Director
Dr. Scantlebury-White is a Barbadian-born American transplant surgeon. She was the first African American woman transplant surgeon in the United States. She has received many honors in her career, having been named to both the "Best Doctors in America" and "Top Doctors in America" lists multiple times. Dr. Scantlebury has been passionate about educating minority communities regarding the need for more organ donors and the rising number of patients in need of transplantation. As a board member of the National MOTTEP (Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Educational Program), she continues to promote education regarding the higher incidence of renal failure and the need for dialysis within the African American community.
Leigh-Ann Williams MPH, MS; AKF Ambassador & Research fellow, Dillard University
Leigh-Ann is a lifelong resident of the greater New Orleans area. Her educational background includes a B.S. in toxicology from University of Louisiana Monroe, an M.S. in toxicology from the University of Florida, and a MPH from Louisiana Health Sciences Center New Orleans. Leigh-Ann is the program coordinator for the federal 340B drug pricing program at West Jefferson Medical Center and is a Post Masters research fellow at Dillard University. In additional to her other roles, she is also a patient ambassador for the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) and a certified Kidney Health Coach and an ambassador with the American Kidney Fund. Leigh-Ann is a 2021-2023 board member for the Kidney Health Initiative's Patient and Family Partnership Council (PFPC). Leigh-Ann's hope as an ambassador is to continue the work she has been doing with her foundation, The LeighWilli Foundation, to advocate, educate, encourage, and empower people with kidney disease.
National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF)
The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) is the nonprofit arm of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), dedicated to advancing health equity for Hispanic communities. Through scholarships, leadership development, and community-focused initiatives, NHHF strengthens the pipeline of Latino health professionals and supports evidence-based efforts to improve access, prevention, and wellness nationwide.
National Minority Organ Tissues Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP)
At National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), their mission is to reduce the rate and number of ethnic minority Americans needing organ and tissue transplants through disease prevention and education. National MOTTEP is the first program of its kind to include a two-fold strategy in addressing the problems minorities face when searching for organ and tissue transplants. First, they venture to increase the number of persons becoming organ/tissue donors. Secondly, they increased awareness for disease prevention and the behaviors that lead to the need for transplantation in the first place. MOTTEP is excited to bring even more change and support minorities in the coming years for disease prevention, and the ongoing focus on living kidney donation.
Nichole Jefferson AKF Ambassador
Nichole Jefferson, who currently resides in Dallas, TX, was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in 2003 and experienced both forms of dialysis (HD and PD). On June 12, 2008, she received the gift of life, a kidney transplant. Due to a series of medical challenges, she faced following her transplant, Nichole realized that a transplant was simply another form of treatment and not a cure. This realization initiated her enthusiasm for advocacy. Nichole shares her story with her community and underserved populations and speaks with legislators regarding the need for early detection and other issues relating to chronic kidney disease.
Renal Physicians Association
The Renal Physicians Association (RPA) is a national nephrology specialty organization whose mission is to empower the kidney community through education and advocacy in the pursuit of optimal kidney care for all. RPA is the trusted voice and advocate for nephrology practice, equipping kidney care professionals with unmatched expert guidance in reimbursement policy, clinical operations, and practice sustainability. In addition to RPA's professional society, RPA serves, supports, and expands its reach to the kidney community through the RPA Political Action Committee and the RPA Dale Singer Leadership and Education Foundation. The RPA Singer Foundation promotes kidney disease awareness, equitable access to care and resources, mentorship, and professional excellence. Through education, leadership development, and policy-driven advocacy, RPA drives innovation and promotes access to the delivery of patient-centered kidney care.
Reverand Leroy Miles MDiv; Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Rev. Leroy Miles is a public health expert, mental health counselor, certified health coach, and community health consultant dedicated to improving access, education, and resources for communities in the U.S. and abroad. As associate pastor of pastoral care and counseling at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, he leads ministries addressing mental health, HIV/AIDS, addiction recovery, sexual abuse, and Black maternal health through a newly launched doula training program. Rev. Miles has organized large-scale charitable health initiatives, including city-wide wellness events and multimillion-dollar fundraisers. A strong advocate for equitable health policy, he has led COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts, completed a chaplaincy internship at CHOP, and serves on the board of the American Heart Association. Rev. Miles continues to champion holistic health and community health engagement.
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