Founded in 1982, our parent organization, the PKD Foundation, a 501(c) (3) 509 (a)(1) public charity located in Kansas City, Missouri, is an internationally recognized leader in the fight against chronic kidney disease, focused on the leading genetic cause, polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Through community development and engagement, advocacy and awareness, the PKD Foundation has combined the passion of the 12.5 million people affected by PKD with hundreds of organizations worldwide to create a powerful force dedicated to research in PKD. In 2008, the PKD Foundation organized KidneyWise in response to the growing need of more than 50 million Americans affected by CKD for the same innovative approach to catalyzing the “crowd” to prevent CKD.
Dan Larson: As President and CEO of the PKD Foundation since 1993, Mr. Larson is a recognized leader in the chronic kidney disease arena. From Washington, D.C. to the halls of academia to the philanthropic community, he has been instrumental in developing a worldwide network focused on PKD. Dan serves on numerous boards and steering committees, including the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (part of the NIH); the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF); World Kidney Day; and others. Leigh Reynolds, KidneyWise Executive Director: Leigh Reynolds brings a wealth of experience to KidneyWise having served the non-profit arena in an executive capacity for more nearly two decades. Most recently Reynolds worked as National Director of Special Events at the PKD Foundation. Prior to PKD, Reynolds was Vice President of Development of the National MS Society. Reynolds gained the expertise of knowing how to motivate large numbers of volunteers for a cause, and brings this energy to the KidneyWise mission of re-thinking prevention of chronic kidney disease. No stranger to chronic kidney disease, Reynolds herself became a kidney donor in 2008 when a friend and volunteer from the PKD Foundation was in need. Reynolds graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Journalism.
The KidneyWise Advisory Panel is made up of leading experts from various fields that have a stake in the CKD Chain. Click here for a current lis of advisors.
The Advisory Panel plays the central role in KidneyWise's ability to fulfill our role as coordinator and catalyst.
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