Patient Edition

Summary: Mike was just seven years old when he lost his father to kidney disease, and many years later he learned that he was at an advanced stage of the inherited condition called polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and his kidneys were slowly failing. In this episode he shares how before he asked for a kidney, he had to ask for help and navigate the pandemic at the same time.

Featuring:
‣ Transplant recipient, Mike
‣ Living donor, Andrea

Summary: In the previous episode we heard Darryl’s story, how he needed a kidney transplant because of kidney cancer. This week we meet Jim, who responded to “The Big Ask,” and donated a kidney to his close friend Darryl. Plus, Dr. Adam Bregman joins us to talk about his experience with kidney transplant patients and why a kidney from a living donor tends to last longer. 

Featuring:
‣ Living donor, Jim 
‣ Healthcare provider, Dr. Adam Bregman

Summary: In this episode we meet military veteran Darryl Shaw, a kidney cancer survivor who also served multiple tours of duty. Darryl’s family members helped champion a successful campaign to raise funds for a kidney transplant. He can offer perspectives from the point of view of an ESKD patient who received a kidney from a friend and colleague, as well as being someone who opted for home dialysis and overcame many medical challenges.

Featuring:
‣ Transplant recipient, Darryl Shaw

Summary: For kidney transplants, living donation offers the best possible outcomes for recipients, but asking someone to give a kidney can be daunting. This week, Jennifer Martin from the National Kidney Foundation tells us all about their program “The Big Ask, The Big Give”, a comprehensive resource which includes webinars and workshops, and makes mentors available by phone.

Featuring:
‣ Jennifer Martin from the National Kidney Foundation

Summary: Our first guest on this episode is counseling psychologist Dr. Nonterah, who discusses the importance of understanding and supporting transplant patients from both biological and psychosocial perspectives. We also hear from Barbara, John and Ed from the Florida Organ Transplant Association, who share with us their observations and concerns about the challenges of living alongside COVID as a transplant recipient.

Featuring:
‣ Healthcare provider, Dr. Camilla Nonterah, counseling psychologist
‣ Barbara, John, and Ed from the Florida Organ Transplant Association

Summary: 20 years ago, a young Benji Lafitte had his promising basketball career cut short by kidney failure, and he would go on to depend on dialysis for the next two decades. Benji shares with us his long journey to a kidney transplant.

Featuring:
‣ Transplant recipient, Benji Lafitte
In memory of Chris Osbourne

Summary: We talk with kidney transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery about his own experience of receiving a heart transplant three years ago. This led him to a new understanding of the challenging “new normal” for patients after a transplant, which involves multiple medications and many new responsibilities.

Featuring:
‣ Healthcare provider, Dr. Robert Montgomery, kidney transplant surgeon

Summary: We are joined by history-maker Dr. Scantlebury, who became the first Black female transplant surgeon in the US in 1989. In a wide-ranging discussion we ask whether all the current talk about health equity is resulting in real action, and we explore several current examples of intentional change. 

Featuring:
‣ Healthcare provider, Dr. Velma Scantlebury, kidney transplant surgeon

Summary: Not everyone lives close to a hospital. In this podcast we discuss two potential challenges in managing chronic kidney disease and kidney transplants: the first is care when you live a long distance from specialist care, and the second is potential financial barriers. 

Featuring:
‣ Healthcare provider (nephrologist), Dr. Silas Prescod Norman, M.D., M.P.H

Summary: Dr. Trompeta discusses how disparities are impacting Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latino populations; her work in Hawaii; how younger Latinos with kidney disease are facing unique challenges relating to immigration; and her travels to Japan, where stigma and cultural beliefs have limited organ transplantation, but where the younger generations are now leading change.

Featuring:
‣ Dr. Joyce Trompeta, A Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializing in transplantation, and an Associate Professor in the school of medicine, at the University of California, San Francisco where she conducts outcome research in the department of surgery.

Summary: Transplant social worker Daniela Matz and transplant clinic founder Dr. Pablo Serrano look back on Jose and Xiomara’s story (from Episode 2), share insights into how the clinic works, and how they have been able to reduce renal transplant disparities.

Featuring:
‣ Healthcare provider, Dr. Pablo Serrano, who established the Latino Transplant Clinic at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Division of Abdominal Transplantation in Chapel Hill, NC
‣ Transplant social worker, Daniela Matz

Summary: In this episode we hear from José (a patient) and Xiomara (his wife and donor) as they describe the challenges they experienced in their quest for a kidney transplant, and the joy they have felt since then. 

Featuring:
‣ Kidney transplant recipient, José Flores
‣ Living donor, Xiamara Flores
‣ Transplant social worker, Daniela Matz

Summary: In this episode we discuss the impact of the pandemic, talk about masks and vaccines, and how the pandemic is impacting people with immunosuppression.

Featuring:
‣ Living donor recipient, Risa Simon
‣ Healthcare provider, Daryle Blackstock PA-C