Kidney Research Institute

SU Researcher Aims to Create Portable Artificial Kidney Shen Ren, PhD, of the College of Science and Engineering, is collaborating with the University of Washington and Northwest Kidney Center to transform dialysis treatment.

Join ASN in welcoming the new JASN Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editor-in-Chief for the ASN Journal Portfolio, Rajnish Mehrotra MD, MS, FASN. Dr. Mehrotra’s work has appeared in more than 250 publications, and he looks forward to helping "develop a shared vision for advancing kidney disease care."

Learn More: https://bit.ly/3otRChw

University of Washington Division of Nephrology Northwest Kidney Centers Kidney Research Institute

I wanted to respond to the incredible outpouring of messages that have come in since my song, "Just Like That," won the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs award last Sunday night for Song of the Year.

I’ve been so deeply moved, often to tears, reading the personal stories of hundreds of you, some of whom have had no familiarity with me or my music before I won that GRAMMY, and were curious why this song had won. After listening, many of you wrote that you were moved to tears, even inspired to share your own heart-wrenching stories of either having your loved one’s life saved by an organ donation, or having decided at the height of the terrible shock and loss of losing a beloved, that you would donate their organs so that others could live.

These stories and your responses to my song have moved me as much as anything I can remember and I want to thank you so much for this gift. So many messages from nurses and doctors in the field involved with transplants as well as people who were tragically not able to get an organ in time to save their loved one’s life. There are messages from the family members of people who wanted their organs to be donated, but are now living with the guilt when that wish, for whatever reason, was not able to be fulfilled.. These stories run the gamut and I’m just blown open by the vulnerability and power of each of them.

I am so honored that my song and the original news story that inspired it, are eliciting such a deep emotional response for so many. The story behind the song is this: A few years ago I saw a segment on the evening TV news where they followed a woman who was meeting the man who had received her son’s heart for the first time. It was very emotional, but when he invited her to put her head on his chest and listen to her son’s heart, I just lost it. I knew after it stayed with me for weeks, that I wanted to write my own story, inspired so much by John Prine’s music and his beautiful "Angel From Montgomery," which I’ve sung every show since hearing it in the early 70’s. I wrote about a fictional woman, Olivia Zand, torn by grief and guilt at the loss of her young son, who finds redemption and grace through the loving act of another.

May the song bring about even more awareness and motivation for more of us to support organ donation registration and infrastructure — removing obstacles that have hindered helping thousands connecting to facilitate this miraculous gift of life and help bring comfort to those suffering such tragic loss. I’ve included a link here to organdonor.gov to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor in an effort to more directly connect to and support the 104,085 men, women, and children currently on the national transplant waiting list.

Thank you all so much again for your incredible responses and sharing your beautiful stories. More than any award, fame or commercial success, knowing what my song means to so many may be the greatest gift of all.

Blessings to you,
Bonnie

Photo by Ken Friedman

P.S. To read these many responses, please visit the "Just Like That" lyric video at the following link and read the comments below the video. https://youtu.be/Skd0XR3twCA

www.linkedin.com

Congratulations to Glenda V. Roberts, our Director of External Relations and Patient Engagement! She will receive the President’s Medal at ASN’s Kidney Week.

“The medal … recognizes individuals who have made contributions, broadly defined, to the kidney community, and who are unlikely to be eligible for ASN's other five awards. As a result, patients, members of Congress, and other advocates have received the ASN President's Medal in the past.”

Three Patient Advocates Will Receive President's Medals "Three Patient Advocates Will Receive President's Medals" published on Oct 2022 by American Society of Nephrology.

Congratulations, Dr. Ian De Boer, Kidney Research Institute, and Jesse Brix, CC's Seattle, winners of our Discovery Gala Muddlers & Shakers contest! As team "Release the Shakin,” Ian and Jesse mixed the winning "Diamond Fizz" cocktail with their signature 12-shake method, helping raise money for kidney research and equitable care. Cheers!

Diversity in KRI: Welcome Evelin Jones, Research Coordinator.

Learn more about Evelin at bit.ly/3RLLgUb

Our UW nephrology fellows LOVE Seattle! We asked them to tell us why. Meet Dr. Christine Limonte, Clinician-Researcher.
UW Medicine Northwest Kidney Centers Kidney Research Institute

Ultra-talented Dr. Leah Haseley continues to make the in nephrology list every year! Congratulations on earning this distinction in 2022. So well-deserved!
UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center Kidney Research Institute Northwest Kidney Centers

We are thrilled to share that Dr. Bryan Kestenbaum is the next holder of the David S. and Nayda Utterberg Endowed Professorship in Nephrology. Congratulations!

Our heartfelt thanks to the Utterbergs for their generosity.

UW Medicine Kidney Research Institute Northwest Kidney Centers

Invite your friends and family to attend the gala and support Ian. Can’t make, you can still support Ian by giving online. Go, Ian! Muddle, muddle!!!

We're thrilled to have Dr. Ian de Boer, MD, Director of the Kidney Research Institute, as one of our Muddlers & Shakers contestants! To help raise $1 million for equitable care and kidney research, Dr. de Boer will compete against his fellow contestants to mix up a winning cocktail at our Discovery Gala on October 15.

Dr. de Boer has kidney research chops like no others! As Director of the Kidney Research Institute, he is recognized for collaboration and high-impact clinical trials. Curiosity is his superpower—and while sporting his KRI cape, there will be no stopping him!

Donate directly to Dr. de Boer's fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/iandeboer

Join us at the Discovery Gala on October 15! Register today: https://nwkidney.ejoinme.org/2022DiscoveryGala

Please join us at the NKC Gala for research.

Thank you to our 2021 Signature Event Sponsor, Kidney Research Institute! Our annual Discvery Gala would not be possible without your support and dedication to the kidney community. We look forward to seeing you (virtually!) at our on October 9!

Join in the fun! Register for the Discover Gala here: https://www.nwkidney.org/2021-discovery-gala/