Educating health professionals
Since its inception, ASN has committed resources and expertise to providing the best professional education in nephrology. In the last year, ASN:
Hosted the premier kidney meeting in the world in Philadelphia, helping more than 13,000 kidney professionals improve research and patient care.
Added new features to Kidney Week 2012, including
Continuing education credits for nurses, pharmacists, and physician assistants
Launching ASN Innovators Place
Adding an early program on dialysis facility management
Offering the In-Service Exam as an early program
Expanding the medical students and residents program at Kidney Week
Expanding the employment opportunities through a career fair ar Kidney Week and online at ASN Career Center.
Held regional meetings in Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Ouro Preto, Panama City, and Washington, DC, as well as held the Board Review Course and Update (BRCU) meeting.
Continued expanding efforts to help nephrologists generate Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points through the Nephrology Self-Assessment Program (NephSAP) and Practice Improvement Modules (PIMs).
Launched an onco-nephrology forum (http://www.asn-online.org/about/committees/committee.aspx?panel=OncoNeph) to encourage and promote the exciting advances in this field.
Expanded distance learning opportunities: ASN Highlights Online, BRCU Online, Kidney Week On-Demand, American Society of Transplantation/ASN Transplant Nephrology Core Curriculum, and the ASN Dialysis Curriculum.
Advancing research and advocating the highest quality care for patients
Research is essential to improving kidney health, and nephrology is forging the path for changes in patient care that will affect many other areas of medicine. In the last year, ASN:
Established the ASN Foundation for Kidney Research. The Foundation will raise funds to ensure continued support of innovative research in kidney disease. ASN created and funded the first fellowship, the Sharon Anderson Research Fellowship, in honor of the society’s first female president.
Launched a new program to foster the next generation of investigators who will help reach a cure for kidney disease. The ASN Research Fellowship Program funded nine new research fellows in 2012.
Launched the William E. Mitch International Scholars Program to offer key support to international nephrology fellows and fellows from underrepresented minority groups.
Launched the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI), an innovative program created in concert with FDA. Through KHI, patient advocates and kidney professionals will work with the FDA and industry groups to assess unmet needs in kidney treatment and evaluate the best options for developing new treatments that meet those needs.
Coordinated ASN Hill Day 2012. More than 30 ASN leaders visited 60 congressional offices, informing congressional leaders about kidney health disparities and key advances in kidney care that require a sustained investment in research.
Partnered with the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, the Urban League, and the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology to host congressional briefings on kidney health disparities and research in nephrology (see sidebar).
Sharing new knowledge
ASN produces the most referenced, read, and respected kidney publications in the world. The society continues to provide a host of innovative approaches to providing key information to its members and the entire kidney community and to raising general public awareness of kidney health. In the last year, ASN:
Participated in launching the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation’s Choosing Wisely campaign to help improve patient care. http://www.asn-online.org/policy_and_public_affairs/choosingwisely/
Selected the next Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN): Karl Nath, MD.
Increased impact factor rankings (JASN, 9.663; Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 5.227)
Added mobile apps for JASN and CJASN, and mobile-friendly journal sites.
Expanded ASN Kidney News readership to 41 countries.
Redesigned its website to improve resources and features for ASN members.
Produced educational films on geriatric nephrology care.
Launched monthly video updates from the ASN Executive Director to help keep the kidney community informed.
Developed resources to help physicians meet new meaningful use requirements regarding providing educational resources to patients.
Increased the number of social media followers fivefold.
ASN looks forward to a successful annual meeting at Kidney Week 2012 and to the opportunity to continue to advance the interests of its members and the global kidney community in order to improve the care and lives of millions of patients with kidney disease.
