UCI Health to hold public symposium about kidney health

World Kidney Day is a reminder that your kidneys can be key to a healthy life

Chronic kidney disease is fast becoming a public health crisis. UCI Health is observing World Kidney Day with a free public symposium about kidney health, featuring health screenings and leading experts in nephrology, urology, transplant and nutrition. The event is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 18 in the Auditorium/Building 53 at UC Irvine Medical Center, 101 The City Drive South in Orange.

Patients, families and interested members of the public may attend to enjoy lectures, health screenings and refreshments. This is a free event, but registration is required. Visit www.ucirvinehealth.org/worldkidneyday to register.

The UCI Health World Kidney Day Symposium will address chronic kidney disease, innovations in kidney surgery, considerations for kidney transplantation and living organ donation, the relationship between diabetes and kidney health and nutrition and kidney health.

With 26 million people in the U.S. having some form of kidney damage, there is a great need to raise awareness about the dangers of kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation, diabetes and high blood pressure cause two-thirds of chronic kidney disease.

Nearly 120,000 Americans are on transplant waiting lists to replace failing kidneys and the incidence of chronic kidney disease is predicted to increase by 17 percent over the next decade. The World Health Organization has recognized kidney disease as a global public health issue.

The symposium includes a health fair and screenings and attendees may choose to attend the following talks:

8 a.m. Registration and light breakfast

8:30 a.m. Welcome — “What is Chronic Kidney Disease?”

• Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, MD – Chief and professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, UC Irvine School of Medicine and President, International Society of Renal Nutrition & Metabolism.

9 a.m. “Contemporary Kidney Surgery: An Innovation Revolution”

• Jaime Landman, MD – Chair and professor, Department of Urology, UC Irvine School of Medicine and director, UCI Health Ablative Oncology Center.

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. “Introduction to Kidney Transplantation”

• Uttam G. Reddy, MD – Assistant Professor, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine; medical director, UCI Health Kidney Transplant Program.

10:15 a.m. “Diabetes and Kidney Disease”

• Connie M. Rhee, MD, MSc – Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, UC Irvine School of Medicine; Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, UC Irvine School of Medicine; director of UCI Health Dialysis Quality Improvement and associate director of UCI Health Outpatient Hemodialysis.

10:45 a.m. “Nutrition and Kidneys: Eating for Better Kidney Function”

• Vanessa Rojas-Bautista, RDN – Renal Dietitian, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine.

11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Health fair and screenings

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UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 417-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 16 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, the university has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.