PKD Life - Summer 2021 - 3

THOUGHTS FROM ANDY
Moving to
a New Normal
As vaccinations increase and cases decline,
we're looking forward with optimism.
I f you're a regular reader of PKD Life, you probably
noticed that the magazine has been on a bit
We're back
to mor e
is sue s this
year.
of a break. (Our last issue was published in October
2020.) Like many other healthcare nonprofi t
organizations, the PKD Foundation was faced with
fi nancial challenges brought on by the COVID-19
pandemic, and that forced us to tighten our budgets
and reallocate funds.
Everything we do as a foundation is dedicated to
fulfi lling our mission to fund research, advocate for
patients, and build a community for all impacted by
PKD. By temporarily reducing the number of issues
of PKD Life, we were able to keep the rest of our organization's
operations consistent. We're especially
proud that we've been able to sustain our level of
funding for PKD grants and research, and not lay off
or furlough any staff members.
Now, as more Americans are vaccinated and rates
of infection and hospitalization continue to decline,
we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
We're looking forward to moving to, if not " normal, "
then whatever our " new normal " is going to be.
LIFE
PKD FOUNDATION
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Andy Betts
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Carmen Gleason, MHRM
CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER
Chris Rusconi, PhD
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT
OFFICER
Chad Iseman, MBA
BOARD CHAIR
Beverly Benson, PhD
BOARD VICE-CHAIR
Rob Roth, MBA
TREASURER
Christopher Wess, MBA
SECRETARY
Navin Manglani, MBA
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Michal Mrug, MD
ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS
Mary Karapetian Alvord, Ph.D.; Parker J Burns; Mary Beth
Callahan, APHSW-C, ACSW/LCSW; Arlene Chapman, M.D.;
Steven Cojocaru; Ellyne Dombro; Jacque English; Scott Flannery;
Ashley Garcia-Everett, M.D.; Erum Hartung, M.D., M.T.R.; Ashley
Heff ner; Elise Hoover; Scott Leezer; Sandra Molinas, D.D.S.,
M.A.; Kevin O'Connor; Frederic Rahbari Oskoui, M.D.; Chris
Rusconi, Ph.D.; Takamitsu Saigusa, M.D.; Shan Vincent; Laura F.
Wilson, R.D., C.D.N., C.D.E.; Nikki Wnuk; Nicholas Yee
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Lauren Winchester, MAOL; laurenw@pkdcure.org
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Elise Hoover, MPH; Nicole Harr
EDITORIAL, DESIGN &
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
MANAGING EDITOR
Donna Behen, donna.behen@manifest.com
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Tami Rodgers
SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR
Leah Rudolfo
VP, PRINT PRODUCTION
Laura Marlowe
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
SPECIALIST
Marilyn Bain
This material is provided for your general information only. You should not use the information in this magazine as medical advice, but should always consult your physician or local treatment center before pursuing or deciding to forgo any course of treatment.
PKD Life is published quarterly by the PKD Foundation (PKDF), 1001 E. 101st Terrace, Suite 220, Kansas City, MO 64131. 800.753.2873, toll free 800.PKD.CURE. The opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not represent the opinions, policies, or
position of the PKD Foundation, the Board of Trustees, the Scientifi c Advisory Committee, or editorial staff .
Acceptance of advertising for products and services in PKD Life in no way constitutes endorsements by the PKD Foundation.
©
2021 Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation.
By the time you receive this issue, PKDCON 2021
will be in the books. After having to cancel last year's
conference due to the pandemic, we were happy to
be able to resume the conference this year, and to
make it online and free for everyone in our community.
Looking ahead to summer 2022, we're planning
an in-person conference that will also give community
members the option to attend virtually if they're
unable to be there in person.
We're also looking forward to this year's Walk for
PKD, our signature fundraising and public awareness
event. To learn more about the " 10 Days. One
Goal. " event, see page 26.
As always, if you have comments about what
you've read in this issue, or ideas for what we should
cover in future issues, please send us an email at
pkdlife@pkdcure.org.
Andy Betts
President and CEO, PKD Foundation
READ AND SHARE THE DIGITAL ISSUE AT PKDCURE.ORG/PKDLIFE
3
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PKD Life - Summer 2021

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