Creating a bioartificial kidney as a permanent solution to kidney failure
Dawn P. Edwards
A self-described 27-year Chronic Kidney Disease Warrior, Dawn P. Edwards has experienced first-hand every renal replacement modality including a kidney transplant and rejection. She is currently a Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis patient. As a result, she has a plethora of insight into the needs of people with Chronic Kidney Disease, always keeping in mind that patients need different things at different times in their lives. Dawn is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with kidney disease, and is also a resource to her community, sharing her story and educating people about the relationship between hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, especially among underserved communities.
Dawn has served the community for over 25 years through the IPRO ESRD Network of New York as a communicator, mentor and educator, she serves on many kidney disease related boards and has reinvented herself by working as a Patient Advocate for Fresenius/NxStage and a Wellness Ambassador for the Rogosin Institute. Dawn is also the Co- Chairperson of the Forum of ESRD Networks Patient Advisory Council (KPAC), is actively involved with the National Kidney Foundation and American Association of Kidney Patients, serves as Patient Advisor for Studies with the NIH/NIDDK and is the CEO of her own Advocacy and Education Organization, the New York State CKD Champions, whose motto is to Educate, Encourage and Empower. She believes that Faith Family and Education are the keys to her longevity, and every day is an opportunity to thrive, not just survive. Dawn recently co-authored an article in the January 2021 issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) titled, Personal Experiences of Patients in the Interaction of Culture and Kidney Disease.