RESEAR C H
UNMed
DCI Funds the Kidney Institute of New Mexico with $6 Million
“W
e need to figure out what will work in New Mexico. We have a social and moral contract to improve kidney disease outcomes in this state.” Internal Medicine Chair Pope Moseley, MD, offers words of hope and encouragement at the September 19 reception for the new Kidney Institute of New Mexico. The new comparative effectiveness research institute made possible through a $6 million partnership with Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI), is the nation’s largest nonprofit dialysis firm. Doug Johnson, MD, of DCI, states the emphasis of care is completely patient centered. “We started as a nonprofit. If we have the resources, we want to invest in our patients. We want the next 1,000 patients to receive more advanced care than the current 1,000 patients,” Dr. Johnson shares with UNM and DCI staff. DCI began with Dr. Doug Johnson’s father, H. Keith Johnson, MD, affectionately referred to by many as “Dr. J.” In the late 1960s, while pursuing nephrology training at the VA Medical Center in Nashville, TN, “Dr. J” realized a need for additional dialysis services. His commitment to his patients and their needs often kept him up into the early morning hours, performing dialysis on chronic cases.
While sharing his father’s story at the recent reception, Dr. Johnson spoke with a sense of pride, remembering his father’s dedication to Kidney Disease treatment and DCI’s commitment to patients around the country. “My father knew there had to be a better way,” explains Dr. Johnson. Over 50 years after its first clinic opened, DCI now has 200 clinics in 27 states, 11 of which are located in New Mexico. “As a non-profit organization, DCI funds education and research initiatives designed to improve the lives of those with kidney disease, and to prevent the disease for individuals who are at risk. Having worked with the talented physicians and staff at UNM School of Medicine for many years, we are honored to support the establishment of the Kidney Institute of New Mexico. We fully believe their research will have the power to yield insights that will help provide higher quality care to future generations with kidney disease,” states Ed Attrill, DCI President. The goal for the UNM Kidney Institute is simple: • Educate patients around the state • Allow them access to groundbreaking treatments regardless of their financial or geographic limitations • Continue the patient focus “Dr. J” started in decades past
L-R Internal Medicine Chair Pope Moseley, MD; Vice Chairman of Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Douglas Johnson; DCI President Ed Attrill
Visit http://medicine.unm. edu//nephrology/index.html for more information.
UNM Nephrology Chief Mark Unruh, MD
Mark Unruh, MD, the newly appointed Nephrology Chief asserts, “This new clinic is an example of how a small investment can snowball into something that can truly change lives. The challenge of care in New Mexico is accessing patients. Part of what we do is to find care for all New Mexicans and offer help where no dialysis care is offered.”
F a l l 2 0 1 2 U N M e d M a g a z i n e 13