Third Annual Renal Week Highlights
Join ASN at our Third Annual Renal Week Highlights Meetings taking place in February and March 2006 in a city near you! Expert faculty will summarize, critique, and put into perspective key presentations from Renal Week 2005 in Philadelphia. These “Renal Week Highlights” programs are perfect for those who could not attend Renal Week and for those November participants who were unable to attend these key presentations. Renal Week Highlights meetings are the best way to catch up on what you missed at Renal Week! Obtain housing and program information and register online at www.asn-online.org.
Join us in the city nearest you:
Chicago, IL, February 11 to 12, 2006
Washington, DC, February 18 to 19, 2006
Los Angeles, CA, February 25 to 26, 2006
Seattle, WA, March 4 to 5, 2006
New York, NY, March 11 to 12, 2006
Houston, TX, March 18 to 19, 2006
Toronto, Canada, March 25 to 26, 2006
CME Credits
ASN now provides an online record of CME credits. The ASN online transcript service allows you to review credit information and print a summary. All participants in our continuing medical education activities, including nonmembers, have access to their awarded category 1 credits by logging into the ASN web site with their user ID and last name. For ASN members, the user ID is your ASN Membership Identification Number. The user ID is available by contacting the ASN at email{at}asn-online.org.
Please note: The online transcripts module has replaced mailed certificates and should be used as the sole means of obtaining a record of your CME credits.
Renal Week Credits
Forms are being processed in the order in which they were received, beginning with forms that were submitted onsite in Philadelphia, forms mailed by the December 2, 2005 deadline, and finally, forms that were mailed after December 2, 2005. Credits for the postgraduate education courses will be posted, followed by the annual meeting credits. All credits will be posted no later than February 28, 2006.
ASN Editor-in-Chief Positions
JASN Editor-in-Chief Search
ASN is seeking an Editor-in-Chief for JASN. The new Editor-in-Chief will succeed Dr. William Couser and begin a six-year term on July 1, 2007. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the format and content of the journal and serves as a key leader in ASN′s educational mission. Broad experience in basic and/or clinical investigation, an editorial capacity, and postgraduate education are highly desirable. In addition, board certification (or its equivalent) in internal medicine or pediatrics and nephrology is preferred. Letters of interest/nomination and a curriculum vitae should be forwarded to Karen Campbell, PhD, Executive Director, The American Society of Nephrology, 1725 I Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006, or e-mailed to kcampbell{at}asn-online.org.
NephSAP Editor-in-Chief Search
In addition, ASN is seeking an Editor-in-Chief for the Nephrology Self-Assessment Program (NephSAP), with a three-year term beginning in July 1, 2007. Current board certification in Internal Medicine and Nephrology and a record of distinction as an educator are required. Prior experience as an editor, deputy editor, or associate editor of a peer-reviewed publication and with the design and delivery of postgraduate medical education programs is highly desirable, as is knowledge of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) policies.
Key responsibilities include selecting and evaluating editors and reviewers, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of the content of each issue, recommending improvements in editorial policies and procedures, ensuring fulfillment of NephSAP’s educational mission, reporting to the ASN Publications Committee, and working collaboratively with the Society’s staff and leadership. Applicants should forward a curriculum vitae and cover letter to the NephSAP Search Committee at the ASN address or e-mail this information to rfulcher{at}asn-online.org.
Membership—Time to Renew!
Membership renewal notices for 2006 have been mailed. If you have not received your membership renewal invoice for 2006, please email us at email{at}asn-online.org. Please remember to renew promptly to avoid the inconvenience of having access to ASN journals or other benefits interrupted!
ASN Grant Deadlines and Details
In 2005, ASN awarded more than $2.3 million in grant support, a four-fold increase over 2000. ASN is committed to increasing our research portfolio to the point that we can establish a consistent level of grant funding that is independent of the Society’s operations.
For the first time, ASN is offering a way for members to make voluntary contributions to the Society’s research endowment, along with payment of membership dues. The ASN Council strongly encourages you to consider a contribution to the Society’s research endowment when you renew your ASN membership.
Don’t forget to submit your grant applications soon! You will find each of ASN′s grant opportunities below, with the submission deadlines and descriptions of each grant. Additional information, including an electronic PDF application is available on the ASN web site at www.asn-online.org.
ASN thanks our newest partner, the Alaska Kidney Foundation, for their generous support, which has enabled us to add an additional grant, entitled the Alaska Kidney Foundation–ASN Scholar Grant, as outlined below.
Alaska Kidney Foundation–ASN Research Grant. (NEW!) Provides funding for young faculty to foster evolution to an independent research career by providing transition funding toward successful application for an RO1 grant—Due March 10, 2006.
ASN–ASP Junior Development Grant in Geriatric Nephrology. Supports developing academic subspecialists interested in careers focused on the geriatric and gerontologic aspects of nephrology during the early years of a first faculty appointment; cosponsored with the American Society of Subspecialty Professors—Due March 10, 2006.
ASN–AST John Merrill Grant in Transplantation. Designed to foster the independent careers of young investigators in biomedical research related to transplantation; cosponsored with the American Society of Transplantation—Due March 10, 2006.
Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant. Provides funding for young faculty to foster evolution to an independent research career by providing transition funding toward successful application for an RO1 grant—Due March 10, 2006.
KUFA–ASN Research Grant. Cosponsored with the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America, provides funding for young faculty to foster evolution to an independent research career by providing transition funding toward successful application for an RO1 grant—Due March 10, 2006.
Halpin Foundation–ASN Research Grant. Provides funding for young faculty to foster evolution to an independent research career by providing transition funding toward successful application for an RO1 grant; this grant is directed toward researchers studying membranous nephropathy—Due March 10, 2006.
New Directions Grant for Established Investigators. Provides an established investigator with funds for pilot studies in a new area of research, which will likely lead to NIH funding—Due March 10, 2006.
Student Scholar Grant. Enables selected medical students with an interest in either basic or clinical research to spend 10 to 52 weeks engaged in continuous, full-time research—Due February 9, 2006.
M. James Scherbenske Grant. Provides bridge funding for investigators from RO1 to RO1 whose application was scored, but not funded—Quarterly deadlines of March 15, 2006, June 15, 2006, & November 15, 2006.
ASN's “Newest” Staff Addition
ASN is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Chernow recently joined the Education Team as ASN′s Administrative Assistant for Education. Elizabeth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The George Washington University this winter and has been employed with ASN since 2004 as our Communications Intern. Her contributions have been invaluable, and we are delighted she has decided to join our team on a permanent basis.
Policy and Public Affairs Update
ASN Establishes Policy Board
The newly established ASN Policy Board is fully constituted. ASN is fortunate to have such a talented group of leaders who have collective expertise in all the important facets of public health related to kidney disease as members of the Board. The Policy Board will be chaired by Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD, and members will include Donald Wesson, MD; Brian Pereira, MD; Norman Siegel, MD; Connie Davis, MD; and Eric Neilson, MD.
The Policy Board mission is to develop and build a platform for ASN in the public health arena related to the importance and consequences of kidney disease. The Board will be guided by three principles: (1) assist on a policy level to assure the best possible medical care for patients with kidney disease; (2) support the practice and profession of nephrology in a time of change; and (3) advocate for resources to support kidney disease research.
The arenas for Board activity include chronic kidney disease (including the roles diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, and other factors play in progression), end-stage renal disease (including dialysis and transplantation as therapeutic modalities), acute kidney injury (especially with new data emerging on the increasing prevalence of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury and recognition of the consequences associated with small changes in GFR), and broad-based research advocacy. The Board will be structured to receive input from a variety of ASN′s advisory groups, committees, and other stakeholders. The ASN Council is committed to work closely with the new Policy Board and provide the necessary resources and internal organizational support to act quickly and decisively on important public policy issues on behalf of our members.
Disaster Preparedness Meeting
In the wake of the tragic events resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Society, in cooperation with the National Kidney Foundation, Renal Physicians Association (RPA), American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) presented a special session at Renal Week 2005 to discuss lessons learned from efforts to facilitate the care of dialysis patients by nephrologists and other providers during a crisis. The session ended with an open discussion directed at defining the scope of a disaster plan and appointing a working group to make recommendations to the renal community. The renal community intends to work closely with the Florida ESRD Network (NW7), which has been awarded a special project from CMS on disaster preparedness and response. The Florida Network also plans to assist in the formation of a National Renal Coalition on Disasters.
Research Guidelines Conference
ASN, in cooperation with NKF and RPA, is sponsoring a research guidelines conference in March 2006 to develop and define the parameters that will guide clinical research in patients on dialysis and with chronic kidney disease over the next decade. The consensus conference agenda will focus on issues related to patient access, reimbursement for research, regulatory barriers, and overall guidelines that should govern the conduct of research in these patients whether initiated by industry, the dialysis providers, the NIDDK, or individual investigators. To facilitate such a process, the sponsoring organizations will invite renal community stakeholders including NIDDK, CMS, Kidney Care Partners (KCP), and industry to participate. ASN believes that the outcome of this dialogue will result in facilitating the conduct of research in the kidney disease patient population with the ultimate goal of best serving their interests. These patients, perhaps more than others, are likely to benefit from interventions designed to improve survival rates and quality of life. We intend to develop an outline of guiding principles and a template for a (legal) Master Agreement to deal with this important area of research. We look forward to the consensus conference and appreciate the enthusiastic support for this undertaking.
New CMS Web Site
The CMS is pleased to announce the new and improved CMS web site located at www.cms.hhs.gov. The new web site employs a user-friendly design to get visitors the information they need with the least amount of clicks. It introduces one-stop “shopping centers” targeted to specific professionals, such as providers and partners, who frequent the site. CMS will continue to evaluate the new web site to provide the best organization and navigation, so users can continue to retrieve the information they are looking for in the most efficient way possible.
- © 2006 American Society of Nephrology
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