ASN’s Yearlong Effort to Lead the Fight Against Kidney Disease

Releases new logo. The new logo and tagline “Leading the Fight Against Kidney Disease” embody ASN’s ever more active role in advancing clinical care, research, education, and public policy. The revamped visual identity is the culmination of an effort initiated in 2008 with a survey of members and other stakeholders to evaluate how the Society could better present its goals and achievements.

Expands distance learning opportunities. For the first time, ASN provides the complete board review course and update (BRCU) online, including all 2009 course audio and slides/materials and the opportunity for continuing medical education (CME) credits.

Launches the monthly edition of ASN Kidney News. ASN provides expanded information for the kidney community by moving ASN Kidney News to monthly publication.

Leads the U.S. nephrology community’s response to the devastating January 12 earthquake. The Society convened daily conference calls in collaboration with other organizations to identify and respond to needs for medications, supplies, and volunteers in Haiti. Among the groups working together: the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition, the International Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, the Sociedad Latino-Americana de Nefrologia e Hipertension, dialysis providers, and industry as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services.

Begins twice-monthly podcast episodes. Topics addressed in 2010 include the fellowship/residency experience, the Origins of Renal Physiology course, the intersection of medicine and literature, immunosuppressive drug coverage, chronic kidney disease and the urban poor, and writing for scientific journals.

Convenes Renal WeekEnds. In six regional meetings, ASN brings together expert faculty who condense and present highlights in acute kidney injury, transplantation, hypertension, ESRD, parenchymal disorders, and clinical nephrology from ASN Renal Week 2009.

Improves processes for members. ASN rebuilds its member directory to prompt users to update their data, expand member privacy options, and allow members to automatically download member contact information via vCards.

Testifies at a crucial CMS hearing on ESAs. ASN testifies at the first Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) meeting regarding use of erythropoeisis stimulating agents (ESAs) to treat anemia related to kidney disease. Information presented by ASN Public Policy Board member Wolfgang Winkelmayer, MD, ScD, FASN, helps influence future regulations and policies. In October, Dr. Winkelmayer testifies on ASN’s behalf at the Food and Drug Administration Cardiovascular and Renal Drug Advisory Committee Meeting on darbepoetin.

Nominates members for ESRD panel. CMS selects five members nominated by ASN to serve on the Clinical Technical Expert Panel on end stage renal disease.

Coordinates successful World Kidney Day events. ASN leaders and staff visit nearly 50 congressional offices to urge legislators to address health disparities, fund research, and support important transplant legislation.

Participates in NIDDK Network of Minority Research Investigators Workshop. ASN President Sharon Anderson, MD, FASN, presents an address on How to Develop a National Reputation.

Improves its grants process. ASN completely restructures its grants submission process, enabling a much improved submission process for applicants and significantly enhancing the efficiency of processing and tracking applications.

Provides grants to medical students and established investigators. Seven medical students receive ASN Student Scholar Grants, and ASN awards three James M. Scherbenske grants to established investigators.

Advocates for sustainable growth rate (SGR) changes to improve reimbursements and sustain high quality patient care. ASN successfully urges Congress to postpone SGR cuts. ASN continues to press Congress to replace the flawed formula.

Continues expanding distance learning opportunities. ASN Renal WeekEnds 2010 are available online, including all audio, slides, and materials plus the opportunity for CME credits.

Increases focus on geriatric care. ASN, the National Institute on Aging, and the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) hold a joint Conference on Acute Kidney Injury in the Elderly. ASN continues to advocate for greater attention to geriatrics-related issues in kidney disease.

Appoints new editor-in-chief. Capping a search process initiated in 2009, ASN appoints Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, FASN, as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) to succeed founding editor William Bennett, MD, FASN, starting in January 2011.

Processes 4515 abstracts submitted for presentation at Renal Week 2010. In the lead-up to the largest and most important kidney meeting in the world, thousands of contributors submit the results of important new studies for presentation at ASN’s annual meeting.

Increases awareness of chronic kidney disease. ASN ensures kidney disease is on the radar screen of HHS’s Multiple Chronic Conditions Strategic Initiative. Noticing that the initial draft of the initiative did not include mention of chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease, ASN provides critical feedback recommending their inclusion.

Garners recognition for its journals. Thomson Scientific releases new impact factor rankings. JASN maintains the highest rating in the field (7.689), and CJASN continues its impressive upward trajectory (4.844).

Broadens collaboration with NIDDK. ASN and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases initiate monthly discussions between NIDDK staff, ASN staff, and ASN Research Task Force members to discuss advances in kidney research through collaboration between NIDDK and ASN.

Improves communications to members. ASN transitions from twice-monthly issues of Renal Express to shorter, more focused e-mails, to improve timeliness and focus in communicating items of interest to members.

Purchases office space. On behalf of its members, ASN takes advantage of low commercial real estate prices, low interest rates, and favorable incentives from the District of Columbia (DC) government to obtain newly renovated space that will allow the Society to grow and to continue to accomplish its mission.

Provides additional comment on ESAs: CMS continues to review its coverage of ESAs because of emerging safety concerns. ASN builds on its March comments on existing evidence regarding the effects of ESAs on health outcomes in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (both pre-dialysis and dialysis).

Testifies at FDA hearing. Public Policy Board Chair Thomas Hostetter, MD, FASN, testifies on behalf of ASN members on the implications of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for care of patients with dialysis.

Releases a NephSAP issue on Clinical Pharmacology. NephSAP continues to build on its sustained excellence as a venue for continuing education, presenting a special issue focusing on Clinical Pharmacology for the Practicing Nephrologist.

Launches its Facebook page. ASN’s facebook page provides a forum for participants to stay informed and comment about advocacy and public policy, educational opportunities, breaking news, current research, grant funding, and ASN services.

Releases its first film, commemorating the 20th anniversary of JASN. ASN launches a YouTube channel (Kidney Tube) and commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) with a filmed interview of all four editors of the journal since its inception.

Expands options for Renal Week planning. ASN revamps the annual meeting itinerary builder to include a range of new features and download options.

Plans ASN Annual Meeting. The ASN Program Committee meets to select and schedule 477 oral (free communication) abstract presentations and organize 3067 poster sessions for Renal Week 2010.

Meets the 12,000-member milestone. More than 12,000 members now contribute to ASN and its fight against kidney disease. More than 200 members volunteer to fill 62 available positions on one of the Society’s 31 committees, advisory groups, and other panels.

In her role as ASN President, Dr. Anderson leads the members of ASN Council in a three-day meeting to discuss how ASN will set priorities to ensure it helps members address and resolve the most important issues and challenges in kidney care over the next five years.

Assists with NIDDK strategic goals. ASN submits nominees for new planning committees to the Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (KUH) at NIDDK in their strategic planning process.

Supports travel to Renal Week. ASN provides travel support to 267 established and young investigators, fellows, residents, and medical students.

Pens a guidance letter on remaining areas of concern in the ESRD Bundled Payment System. The ESRD bundled payment system will monumentally impact the practice of nephrology and patient care. While many of the concerns ASN conveyed in 2009 were addressed in the Final Rule, the ASN ESRD Task Force identifies additional points of concern and submits to CMS a letter of guidance.

Submits suggestions for the proposed Quality Improvement Program (QIP). Besides influencing patient care practices, QIP—the first-ever pay-for-performance program in Medicare—will serve as a model for other areas of medical practice. An ASN task force analyzes the QIP Proposed Rule and submits a comment letter to CMS outlining the Society’s insights about various elements of the proposal.

Advocates for changes to the standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). ASN supports HHS proposals that adjust HIPAA standards to ease the collection of data for research while continuing to protect patients’ health information.

Begins planning for ASN Renal Week 2011, which will take place November 8–13 in Philadelphia. For the first time ever, ASN invites members to recommend topics for early programs, clinical nephrology courses, and basic and clinical science symposia. Also, for the first time, the ASN Program and Postgraduate Education Committees meet together to initiate the planning process.

Updates its online course offering. ASN provides the complete board review course and update (BRCU) online for 2010, including audio and slides/materials presented at the 2010 meeting, as well as awards and the opportunity for CME credits.

Receives recognition for new logo. PR News recognizes ASN as a finalist for a major award for successful rebranding initiatives; other finalists include Kimberly Clark and Shell.

Expands its association with Women in Nephrology. ASN continues to expand its collaboration with Women in Nephrology, providing support for a website redesign and providing member support services for this important organization.

Continues to ensure transparency in relationships with commercial interests. ASN launches a Conflict of Interest Management Committee, charged with managing conflicts of interest to ensure the ethical conduct of ASN affairs, and serving as a resource to advise leadership related to potential organizational conflicts. The society continues its leadership role in this area by adding news updates, articles, and policy statements to its Conflict of Interest Initiative website (http://www.asn-online.org/coi/).

Finalizes annual meeting, with new offerings for 2010. Two new early programs will be offered (Assessing and Managing Acid-Base Disorders and Polycystic Kidney Disease), as well as an expanded professional development seminar, new abstract category (bioengineering and informatics), a fellows’ lounge, and a medical student and resident program.

Enhances services for Renal Week press briefings. ASN offers media training for those presenting their work to the media during Renal Week.

Hosts the largest and most important kidney meeting in the world. ASN presents the most important scientific and medical advances, the premier educational opportunities, and essential professional networking opportunities in Denver. Highlights include: Epithelial Transport and Cell Biology, Renal Immunology and Transplantation, New Insights into Glomerular Structure and Function, and Kidney Development and Stem Cells.

Holds a summit on increasing interest in nephrology careers. Concerned that the number of graduates of U.S. medical schools who select nephrology has dropped approximately 25 percent since 2005, ASN holds a summit during ASN Renal Week 2010. Program directors, division chiefs, other academic leaders, and physicians-in-training discuss the recommendations of the ASN Task Force on Increasing Interest in Nephrology Careers and plan next steps to address this potential crisis in the nephrology workforce.

Launches new websites for CJASN and JASN. New features include expanded search options, reference links, and options for personalizing the reader’s experience.

Launches an important new online learning opportunity. ASN captures approximately 300 hours of Renal Week educational content, including several early programs, basic and clinical science symposia, clinical nephrology conferences, educational symposia, and plenary sessions available to registered participants without charge as added value to their learning experience at Renal Week.