Physicians and Fellows are welcome to become members of the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California and Northern Nevada.

This is an exciting time to be involved on the Medical Advisory Board (MAB). The MAB is the medical arm of the NKF and its reach and importance in Northern California and Northern Nevada continue to grow. We have three MAB chapters: Sacramento, the Bay Area and Silicon Valley/South Bay.

The Sacramento Chapter is chaired by Vijay Rathore, M.D. Dr. Rathore is Chief of Nephrology at Kaiser Permanente in South Sacramento.

The Bay Area Chapter is chaired by Elizabeth M. Wrone, M.D., M.S. Dr. Wrone is a nephrologist with the Nephrology Medical Group in Walnut Creek, and is affiliated with the John Muir Medical Center and Sutter Delta Medical Center.

The Silicon Valley/South Bay Chapter is chaired by Jeffry H. Young, M.D. Dr. Young is a clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University Medical Center, and is the medical director of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Dialysis Unit.

The Board of Directors of the NKF of Northern California and Northern Nevada continues to seek greater involvement and influence of the MAB in the Foundation's program activities. As part of this, a structure of committees and other activities has been developed. We invite you to join a committee and help lead the Foundation's agenda within the medical community and the patients it serves.

MAB Committees include:

• Physician Outreach
• Continuing Medical Education Programs
• Scientific Review
• Medical Symposia
• Allied Health Professionals

Members also receive the following benefits:

• Invitations to Continuing Medical Education (CME) dinners, meetings and conferences scheduled throughout the San Francisco/San Jose, Sacramento and Reno areas.
• Newsletters regarding current Northern California Kidney Foundation Events and Research Information
• Listing on our Website (www.kidneynca.org) and applicable promotional materials
• Invitation to Medical Advisory Board Meetings where strategic decisions are made regarding Patient and Professional Programs

[Please note -- this is for membership to the NKF of Northern California and Northern Nevada MAB. Dues for MAB membership at the national level are separate -- visit www.kidney.org for more information.]

To become a member, click here.

For more information on committees and other activities, click here.

California physicians -- including nephrologists -- are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education in the subjects of pain management and end-of-life care by December 31, 2008. This requirement was established by AB 487 (Chapter 518, Statutes of 2001).

The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative, or K/DOQI, provides evidence-based clinical practice guidelines developed by volunteer physicians and health care providers for all stages of chronic kidney disease and related complications, from diagnosis to monitoring and management. Click here to learn more.