The National Kidney Foundation of Indiana’s mission is to prevent kidney and urinary tract disease, improve the health and well being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.
History
The National Kidney Foundation was established in 1950 to support kidney patients and their families.
The National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, Inc. (NKFI) was founded in 1970 to better serve Hoosiers by raising awareness about the dangers of kidney disease, funding research, advocating for kidney patients, and developing programs to make life better for kidney patients and transplant recipients.
Since the early 1990s, NKFI has made prevention a primary focus. The Computerized Assessment of Risk Evaluation – C.A.R.E. program was based on identifying and educating family members of kidney patients of their high risk for kidney disease. This program was adopted by the NKF national office and developed into an international program, Kidney Early Evaluation Program – KEEP. Currently, NKFI realizes the importance of prevention and/or early intervention and partners with the Indiana State Health Department and Managed Health Services to provide a prevention screening to the people of Indiana.
Currently, in the 2000s NKFI continues the fight against kidney disease and promotes organ and tissue donation and transplantation. NKFI has a three-prong approach with services to patients and transplant recipients; education and awareness for the general public; and continuing education for medical professionals.
Board of Directors
Casey Enzor, President
Nancy Baird, MD, President-Elect
Andy Arrendale, RN, BSN, CCM, Vice President
Mary Liddell, Vice President
Lori Bryant, MBA, Treasurer
Bethanne Johnston, RN, MSN, CPNP, Secretary
Amy Wilson, MD,
Medical Advisory Board Chairman
Jane Estes, Immediate Past President
Denice Damerau
Bob Donaldson
Jill Dusina, MPA
Kenneth Ewing
Islam Ghoneim, MD
Mahendra Govani, MD
Suzie Hedrick, BSN, RN
Deepak Jasuja, MD, FCCP, FASN
Dennis Mishler, MD
Jason Thomas
Jessica Tower
Curtis Warfield, MS
Honorary Board
William H. Dick, MD
Richard J. Hamburger, MD
Stuart A. Kleit, MD
Staff
Margie Evans Fort, Chief Executive Officer
Joy Araujo, Development Specialist
Noni Hoham, Development Operations Manager
Ashley Meyer, Office Manager
Janine Moore, Deputy Director
Patricia Ogbonna, Accountant
Brandon Spice, Program Manager
Glorious Taylor, Outreach Coordinator
2021 Annual Review
A new strategic plan, new programming, new ways of providing programs, and fundraising adjustments were all a part of the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana in 2021. As the world adjusted to living with COVID-19, NKF of Indiana found new ways to serve kidney patients and transplant recipients in the state of Indiana.
Some highlights of these new efforts were: digital education campaigns; a virtual The Big Ask, The Big Give program to teach about the need for living donors; and the virtual Stuart A. Kleit Symposium to educate Indiana medical professionals on advancement and issues in nephrology and transplantation. These virtual programs enabled NKFI to reach all corners of the state—and beyond! Additionally, these programs and others are inviting new collaborations, such as the return of the Indiana Kidney Check in 2021 which served another high-risk population of the Burmese community in Indianapolis. These collaborations built new partners who deserve special thanks in 2021, such as Dr. Irene Nunuk and the Chin Christian Church for their contributions in hosting this in-person Indiana Kidney Check screening.
2021 wasn’t without challenges but NKFI Board, staff, and volunteers came together to look at opportunities that arose from these challenges. For example, indoor congregation for fundraisers is not recommended in the pandemic world, therefore NKFI resurrected an outdoor event, the Indianapolis Golf Classic. The 2021 Indianapolis Golf Classic Planning Committee was chaired by Past President and past Fundraising Chairman, Tim Taber, MD, and included incredible new volunteers such as Greg Blitz. This outdoor event honored the memory of the first Indianapolis Golf Chairman, the late Charles Carter, MD and brought in new businesses to benefit those served by NKFI.
These new opportunities required NKFI leadership to be more inventive and adaptive than ever before. This meant more meetings and some difficult decisions, but also deep excitement. 2021 brought the team of NKFI board, staff, and volunteers to a new commitment level for service to Indiana in a new era. With a new strategic plan and commitment to developing new techniques, NKF of Indiana forges forward with renewed excitement for all the possibilities in 2022 and beyond!
Amy Wilson, MD — NKFI Medical Advisory Board Chairman
Jane Estes — NKFI Board of Directors President
Margie Evans Fort, MPA — NKFI Chief Executive Officer
