Advocacy: The Patient Perspective

People with chronic kidney disease face many challenges. Treatment options need to be considered and chosen, employment may need to be paused or stopped, and dealing with the everyday issues that arise are just some of the realities that impact the life of a kidney patient. Patients can be in charge and empowered to make these decisions, supported by their care givers and healthcare teams. The patient presenters for this webinar have both received kidney transplants and have been active as patient advocates for themselves and the kidney community. They will share how they learned to be a voice for themselves and others.
 

Presenters 

Kate Chong

Kate Chong was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2011 at the age of 25. She was able to stay stable until September 2017 and was the fortunate recipient of a kidney transplant from a living donor (her amazing husband!).

She takes her passion for kidney health and works for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon branch as the Manager, Patient Services. Helping distribute numerous programs for kidney patients and living donors across BC. In her spare time, she loves to give back to the kidney community through the CAN- Solve CKD research community, BC Transplant and will be participating in her 6th Kidney March, which is 100 km walk over 3 days in the Kananaskis country raising funds for the Kidney Foundation!
 

Tom Meade

Tom retired in 2005 from Bell Aliant. His journey with Kidney Disease began in the 1990s with a diagnosis of impaired kidney function. He was followed by a initially followed by a Nephrologist on a yearly basis for a condition referred to as chronic renal insufficiency, then more frequently as the disease progressed. In 2005 his condition finally was called kidney disease. As his kidney function continued to decline, he received an unsuccessful pre-emptive transplant in 2008. 18 months later he received a successful transplant after 1 week of dialysis. The 10 years since have been amazing. Tom began volunteering with the Kidney Foundation as a door to door and walk fundraiser in 2006. He joined the Atlantic Branch Board in 2014 and became Atlantic Branch President and a member of the National Board of Directors in 2017. Tom is passionate about Patient Advocacy, seeing an increase in the number of organs for transplant and research.
 

Paul St-Germain

Paul St-Germain is a member of the National Communications Team at The Kidney Foundation of Canada. His career in communications, PR and marketing has included positions at The Children’s Wish Foundation, Warner Music, and Universal Music.
 

Lydia Lauder

Lydia Lauder is the National Director of Programs and Public Policy at the Kidney Foundation of Canada. She graduated from the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1994 with a Bachelor of Nursing. She has remained in nephrology throughout her career and has over 20 years experience in clinical practice and programs, with a special interest in home dialysis and CKD management. She has worked for CKD health charities in Australia and Canada. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and travelling.
 

Watch the webinar on Youtube

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, would like to thank our sponsors for providing unrestricted educational grants to make this webinar possible: