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About the Conference
“From Awareness to Action: Health Equity and Kidney Care in Black America” is dedicated to advancing health equity by empowering Black communities to take charge of their kidney health.
Through interactive workshops, actionable breakout sessions, and community-driven discussions, this conference seeks to bridge the gap in healthcare access and outcomes. We aim to equip participants with the tools, knowledge, and strategies to advocate for policy change, implement community health initiatives, and promote equitable care for all Black Americans affected by kidney disease.
Please contact mlucas@nephcure.org or bparris@nephcure.org with any registration questions.
Industry attendance at NephCure in-person events is available exclusively through sponsorship. If you are interested in sponsoring From Awareness to Action: Health Equity and Kidney Care in Black America, please email Britta Dornan, Executive Director of Strategic Relations, at bdornan@nephcure.org.
Note: After registering, all event participants need to sign up individually for their preferred breakout sessions.
Conference Agenda
Get ready for the event by downloading the official conference agenda! Stay informed about all sessions, speakers, and key activities so you can make the most of your time. Click the button to access the full schedule and plan ahead!
Sign Up for the Breakout Sessions
Don’t forget—if you’re attending the event, you must reserve the breakout sessions you’d like to join. These sessions foster meaningful conversations, share valuable insights, and offer actionable solutions to address health equity.
LEARN MOREThe Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City
As Arlington’s premier luxury hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City offers an experience that beautifully blends modern luxury and traditional touches.
1250 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA 22202
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Day 1
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00a.m. Opening Remarks and Meeting Goals – Opeyemi Olabisi, MD, PhD, Duke University
8:15a.m. The Power of the Church to Impact Health, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, D-GA
8:20a.m. Keynote
8:50a.m. Why NephCure: APOL1 History and an Overview of NephCure’s Health Equity – Joshua Tarnoff, NephCure
Fireside Chat: The Evolving Landscape of APOL1 – Martin Pollak, MD, Harvard University
9:00a.m. CKD and APOL1 in Black and African Americans – Keisha Gibson, MD, MPH, FASN, UNC at Chapel Hill
Frequently Asked Questions
Advocates are responsible for their own transportation. Uber, Lyft or taxis are available. Advocates have varied schedules based on their appointments. Most offices are walking distance from each other. The hotel where we have a room block (the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill) is located about a half mile from where meetings will begin on Capitol Hill.
Don’t worry! Each group will have a Team Leader who is well-versed in Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day and they will guide you each step of the way. You will be walking from one office to another for up to 8 meetings.
The dress code for Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day is business or business casual. The weather in July in DC can be very hot and humid, but indoors is air conditioned. We will also be doing a lot of walking so be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Most likely you will be meeting with congressional staffers. These staffers are important because the actions that they recommend are usually adopted by the members of Congress for whom they work. It is also possible that you may meet directly with your congressional representative, but this will be based on his or her availability that day.
NephCure will be providing a low-sodium dinner at the Rally Dinner at 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday and low-sodium appetizers and beverages during the Congressional Reception at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. All other meals will be your responsibility.
Hill Day is an opportunity for you to build relationships with your Members of Congress. They work for you and want to know about the issues that matter to you. This Hill Day, we hope to gain support for H.R. 6790 the New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act (the New Era Act). The New Era Act has the potential to bring about significant positive changes in how we understand, treat, and study RKD. This legislation aims to help people with RKD by finding and treating diseases earlier, enhancing education of doctors and patients, and conducting more research. This could lessen the impact of RKD on people’s lives and reduce costs for patients and the health care system in the long run. We may also ask for congressional support on other bills.
Advocacy is most effective when you build and maintain relationships over time. That is why it is important that you stay in contact with your members throughout the year. To help you stay in touch, join NephCure’s Action Network, or NCAN, if you haven’t already. That way, you will receive real-time action alerts, advocacy campaign updates, and educational information throughout the year.
Sponsors
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our cause.
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Volunteer
Discover the power of volunteering with NephCure through our Volunteer Hub, your ultimate destination for all things volunteering. Whether your passion lies in fundraising, advocacy, patient support, event planning, or outreach, there’s a meaningful role waiting for you. Check out our volunteer opportunities and be a part of making a difference.
Advocate
NephCure is committed to advocating for policies that improve the lives of rare kidney disease patients and their families. Learn more about our advocacy efforts and policy priorities, including our support for the New Era Bill and other legislative initiatives aimed at advancing research and access to care. Join the NephCure Action Network and be a voice for change.
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