Dialysis Patient Citizens empowers end-stage renal disease patients to take action to improve their quality of life. Join DPC to find a community of ESRD patients and make your voice heard. Visit dialysispatients.org to learn more.

Thank you to state legislator Jennifer O’Mara for visiting a newly opened dialysis clinic in Pennsylvania! Visits like these give lawmakers a chance to hear directly from people affected by kidney disease and better understand the need for continued investment in dialysis care and education. 💙 #KidneyAdvocacy #DialysisCare

Your voice can make a difference, right in your own community. While DPC’s annual Advocacy Day fly-in to Washington, D.C. offers an opportunity to meet with lawmakers and advocate for dialysis patients, it’s not the only way to make an impact. If you can't join us in Washington, D.C., you can still make a difference right in your own neck of the woods. Connect with local and state policymakers, share educational resources, raise awareness about issues affecting dialysis patients, and use your personal story to help others better understand the challenges facing the kidney community. Advocacy can happen anywhere, and every effort to be heard matters. 👉 Find ways to get involved: dialysispatients.org/get-inv… #DialysisPatientAdvocacy #KidneyCommunity

Ready to advocate for kidney patients? Join DPC in Washington, D.C. for our 2027 Congressional Advocacy Day, May 10-11. Training provided, voices amplified, change made. Applications are open until November 20, 2026. Apply now!   dialysispatients.org/webform…

It’s National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week! 💙 This week, we’re celebrating the dialysis technicians whose skill, dedication, and compassion make kidney care possible. Thank you for the important role you play in supporting patients and keeping treatments safe! 💬 Give a shoutout in the comments to a dialysis technician who makes a difference! #DialysisTechnicians #KidneyCare #DialysisTechnicianRecognitionWeek

Kidney patients deserve better than to be written off. DPC Patient Ambassador Tracey Ann Bruen is calling on Congress to invest in the future of #kidneycare by supporting the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act (KCAPA) — S. 2730 / H.R. 6214. This legislation would help improve care for #dialysis patients, expand access to innovative therapies, address workforce challenges, and support continued access to the care patients and caregivers depend on. Investing in innovation is essential. The #kidney community is ready to advocate for a better future, and patients deserve leaders who will stand alongside them. 🎥 Hear Tracey’s message and learn why KCAPA matters. youtu.be/QWsrj3OCWS0?si=olcZ…

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we’re celebrating the strength, pride, and lived experiences of Hispanic and Latino voices in the kidney community. DPC Board Member Adrian Miller was raised by his mother, father, and grandparents in a proud Chicano family, who taught him to embrace his identity and never believe he was less than anyone else because of his background or heritage. That foundation of pride, resilience, and determination has helped shape Adrian’s outlook on life, including his journey with kidney disease. His story reminds us that our roots can give us the strength to overcome challenges and advocate for equal access and opportunities. Join us in celebrating Adrian’s story and the importance of representation in the kidney community! #HispanicHeritageMonth #KidneyHealth #HispanicHealth #KidneyDisease

Today, DPC remembers and honors the life and legacy of Dori Schatell, a passionate advocate for patient empowerment and a dedicated leader in the kidney community. For decades, Dori worked to improve the lives of people with kidney disease, championing patient education, informed decision-making, and a better quality of life. Her dedication made a lasting impact on the kidney community, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions. Our thoughts are with Dori’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. 💙 To learn more about Dori’s remarkable career and the impact she made, visit the Medical Education Institute’s website. A memorial service will also be held later this week, with an opportunity to attend via Zoom. Visit the link below for more information. 🔗mei.org/remembering-dori-sch…

Meet DPC Patient Ambassador Cassie Bertwell from Lincoln, Nebraska. 💙 At just 25, Cassie was diagnosed with renal failure caused by systemic #lupus. She was pregnant, undergoing chemotherapy, starting #dialysis, and facing the possibility of losing her health insurance—all while fighting for her life. After 14 months on dialysis, Cassie received a kidney transplant from her brother. Today, she’s nine years post-transplant and the proud mom of a healthy 6-year-old daughter, born on her third transplant anniversary. Cassie is now speaking out about the importance of protecting dialysis patients’ access to private insurance and urging the Nebraska congressional delegation to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act. Feeling inspired to make a difference? Join advocates like Cassie and help ensure #dialysispatients' voices are heard. 👉 To learn more about our Patient Ambassador Program and how you can get involved, visit our website. dialysispatients.org/get-inv…

Patient Ambassador Pesh Patel is using his voice to advocate for dialysis patients and bring attention to legislation that could help protect access to health coverage. In his letter, Pesh shares his perspective and helps raise awareness of the challenges dialysis patients face. Read Pesh’s letter and learn more about the legislation: dialysispatients.org/news/le… #PatientVoices #KidneyAdvocacy #PassRESTOREAct #CareWithoutBarriers #KidneyCommunity

Your voice can make a difference in your local community! 💙 There are many ways to get involved with the dialysis community. Order materials to share with patients, families, and others in your community. Write a blog to share your personal story and help others feel less alone. Get involved in advocacy and help raise awareness about issues that matter to dialysis patients. Every voice and every story can help build a stronger, more informed community. 👉 Find ways to get involved: dialysispatients.org/get-inv…

This #HispanicHeritageMonth, we’re honored to share the personal story of DPC Board Member Cheri Rodriguez Jones and the connection between Hispanic heritage, kidney disease, and health equity. Cheri and her cousin both experienced #kidneydisease, but they had very different access to information, education, and financial resources. Sadly, Cheri lost her cousin to kidney failure. Their story is a powerful reminder that a person’s circumstances can shape their healthcare journey—and that access to the right information, resources, and support can make a meaningful difference. This month, we’re celebrating our community and the advocates sharing their stories, while highlighting why equitable access to healthcare matters and is important. #KidneyHealth #HealthEquity #HispanicHealth

What happens when someone who depends on dialysis speaks up? Leah Wright recently shared her perspective in a letter to the editor about why new dialysis patients deserve continued coverage. Her story reminds us that behind every policy discussion are real people whose lives depend on access to ongoing care. 🩵 Read Leah’s letter and hear her perspective: dialysispatients.org/news/ne… #KidneyAdvocacy #PassRESTOREAct #CareWithoutBarriers #KidneyCommunity

For more than 10 years, DPC Board President Quiana Bishop has relied on dialysis to stay alive. Over that decade, she’s worked with countless healthcare professionals who play a critical role in helping her receive safe, quality care and stay healthy. But across many communities—especially rural communities—rising costs, workforce shortages, and inadequate reimbursement are putting increasing pressure on dialysis clinics. When staffing levels decline, patients feel the impact directly, especially those who depend on skilled healthcare professionals and the resources they need to provide safe, effective care. Investing in innovation doesn’t just benefit patients; it also supports the professionals who give their all to caring for the kidney community. That’s why DPC is calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act (KCAPA) — S. 2730 / H.R. 6214. This legislation would help improve care for dialysis patients, expand access to new and innovative therapies, address ongoing workforce challenges, and help ensure patients continue to receive the care they depend on. Strengthening kidney care isn’t optional; it’s lifesaving. 🎥 Watch Quiana’s story and learn more about why KCAPA matters. youtu.be/f3jPXny-bbY?si=8bF4…

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures, traditions, stories, and advocates who make our communities stronger. It’s also an opportunity to talk about the health challenges that affect our communities—and the importance of making sure everyone has the opportunity to access the care they need. For Hispanic and Latino communities, kidney disease is an important part of that conversation. The journey through kidney disease isn’t shaped by medical factors alone. Where someone lives, whether they have consistent access to healthcare, language and cultural barriers, financial circumstances, access to information, and the support available to them can all influence how and when they receive care. That’s why access matters. Access to the right information.  Access to preventive care and early testing.  Access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources.  Access to treatment and support. Small differences in access can meaningfully affect someone’s healthcare journey. This Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s celebrate our communities while also continuing the conversation around health equity—and working toward a healthcare system where everyone has the information, resources, and support they need to protect their kidney health. For more information about kidney health and the experiences of Hispanic and Latino communities, explore the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health’s resources on kidney disease and Hispanics/Latinos. 🔗 minorityhealth.hhs.gov/kidne… Knowledge is an important part of health equity—and everyone deserves access to information they can understand and use.

Patient voices matter — and advocacy is one way to make sure they’re heard. Whether you’re an experienced advocate or just getting started, you can make an impact in many ways. Share your story, connect with your elected officials, join advocacy events, connect with others in the kidney community, or raise awareness in your community. Every conversation and every voice can help bring greater attention to the issues affecting people living with kidney failure. Ready to get involved? Learn more and find ways to take action with DPC: dialysispatients.org/get-inv… #KidneyAdvocacy #DialysisPatients #PatientVoices #KidneyCommunity #AdvocacyInAction

Last week’s hearing was an important moment for kidney patients—and now, we need to keep the momentum going. 💙 Take action today by visiting KidneyAction.org to learn more about the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (S. 2730 / H.R. 6214) and the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 2199 / S. 1173). From there, you can easily contact your members of Congress and ask them to support these important pieces of legislation. Together, we can continue elevating the voices of kidney patients across the country. 🩵 kidneyaction.org/