ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 6 19

Northeast

Colonial #103Save these dates! The chapter

will host the Winter Audio Conf-erence on February 3 at sites tobe determined. Check with yourcharge nurse; free coupons forthis meeting were sent with theNephrology Nurses Week cards.

A $1,000 scholarship is avail-able to chapter members to helpdefray the cost of advancing theirnursing careers in nephrology.Details, including criteria anddeadlines, will be posted on thechapter Web site this December.The information also will befaxed to all units. March 2009will be the deadline to apply forscholarships. The scholarshipswill be presented on May 19,2009, during our Annual Meetingat Mohegan Sun Casino.

Three Rivers #104Our chapter, along with the

Renal Roundtable Committeeheaded by Mary Hrinya, cospon-sored the 29th Horizons inDialysis Conference at SevenSprings Mountain Resort inChampion, PA, on September 20-21. It’s hard to believe this wasthe 29th time that this fine day ofnephrology nursing informationand education has been offered toour regional nursing community.Our collective thanks for thisvery worthwhile tradition thatbrings us back to this beautifulmountain resort setting to learn,network, and have good timeswith our friends and colleagues.Let’s keep it going for another 30years at least!

We got “charged and tunedup” for transplant by participat-ing in the Fall Audio Conferenceon October 7. This excellent sub-ject matter was taken in by ourchapter members at West PennHospital in the Bloomfield area inPittsburgh. Thanks to RonBrown, who facilitated this event,along with help from the WestPenn Hospital nephrology nurs-

ing staff. Attendees were profes-sionally satisfied and enriched byparticipating in this event.

Chapter members participat-ed in the local annual NationalKidney Foundation (NKF) KidneyWalk at the Pittsburgh Zoo andPPG Aquarium on November 2.This fun event helps raise fundsfor the ongoing effort to spreadthe word and educate the greaterPittsburgh renal communityabout all aspects of early detec-tion, treatment, and support forthose affected by kidney disease.

Keep checking our Web siteat www.anna3rivers.org to stayup to date on chapter events andactivities. We hope to see somenew faces at one of our nextmeetings, which are held the firstThursday of each month.

Keystone #110The chapter celebrated

Nephrology Nurses Week with adinner at Maggianos in King ofPrussia. The event, generouslysponsored by Genzyme, featuredDr. Joseph Brezin who spoke onVascular Calcification: HereToday . . . Here Tomorrow. Thechapter presented each memberwith a wine glass imprinted withthe Keystone logo as a thank youfor their dedicated work.

The annual NKF KidneyWalk at the Philadelphia Zoo onSeptember 28 was a great success.Hundreds of walkers raised thou-sands of dollars for this cause soclose to our hearts.

On October 23 Christine Chuiof the American Access Centerhosted a 2.4 contact hour pro-gram on Access Adequacy andCannulation Techniques at theirsouth Philadelphia facility.

On November 6 the AnnualFall Symposium was presented atthe Crown Plaza Hotel in Trevose,PA. The all-day educational ses-sion enabled attendees to earnseveral needed contact hours forlicense renewal.

We are very proud ofTreasurer Marie Scutt-Mohamed

who was chosen as a volunteerparticipant for a 2008 GlobalHealth Ministry medical team toHaiti. The volunteers providehealth care to remote villageswhere people have little or noaccess to doctors or medical ser-vices. The chapter was privilegedto donate to her effort.

Mountain State #124We had a wonderful turnout

for the Fall Audio Conference onOctober 7. It was held at CAMCHealth and Research Institutewith catering provided by CaringHearts Catering. Participantsincluded nephrology and trans-plant nurses, chronic dialysisnurses, and technicians as well associal workers and dieticians.

Our November meetingfocused on Vitamin D and PTHLevels in CKD Patients. The guestlecturer was Dr. Andrew Thorpewith Abbott. Dr. Thorpe providedan interesting and up-to-date dis-cussion on bone and mineralmetabolism. Our meeting washeld at The Bistro, a very popularrestaurant in the area. Attendeesexpressed how pleased they werewith the entire experience.

No meetings will be held inDecember so our members canhave time off to prepare for theholidays and attend familyevents.

On January 10, 2009, anotherbusiness meeting is scheduled.

Chapter Update

Keystone chapter members cele-brated Nephrology Nurses Weekwith a dinner at Maggianos inKing of Prussia. Pictured (fromleft) are Juliann Rostelli-Kent, JeanCaola, Todd Greco, and CharmainSingh.

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 620

We also plan to arrange an educa-tional meeting to start off theNew Year. More information willbe forthcoming and may berequested from President TammieMitchell at tlmitch100@gmail.com.

The Winter Audio Conferencewill be held at the CAMC Healthand Research Institute onFebruary 3. It will feature a con-test with prizes to be awardedduring the business meeting as away to increase our chapter mem-bership. Information may beobtained from Tammie Mitchell.

Jersey North #126The chapter held an educa-

tional/dinner chapter awardsmeeting sponsored by WatsonPharmaceuticals at the ValleyRegency in Clifton, NJ. The pro-gram offered 1.0 contact hour andfeatured Karen Robbins, whospoke on The Challenges ofAnemia. Congratulations to AliceCampanelli, who was awarded ascholarship to assist in the pur-suit of her MSN at RamapoCollege.

On September 20-21 a certifi-cation review course was held atHoly Name Hospital in Teaneck,NJ. There were 87 participantswho were preparing for the certi-fication exams or earning contacthours. On October 12 the certifi-cation exams were offered at HolyName Hospital. The chapter isproud of the dedication shown byour members in their pursuit ofcertification.

ANNA’s Fall Meeting inChicago was great. PresidentMarilyn Eilert, ChaptersCoordinator- Elect AliceCampanelli, and Secretary EdithLee attended the meeting. It wasa great experience to see membersfrom across the country gatheringtogether for fun and learning.

Welcome to our new chaptermembers, including KimberlyDavis, Susan Prieto, MariaNavida, and Ananda Williams-Gray. There are a total of 26 newmembers for this quarter! AsANNA grows, so does our abilityto improve nursing practice andquality patient care. Each mem-ber has a voice in achievingANNA’s mission every day atwork, in education, and political

activism. We can do togetherwhat we cannot do alone. Foranyone interested in gettinginvolved as a member with ourchapter, please attend our month-ly meetings at Que Pasta inSaddle Brook, NJ, on the thirdWednesday of every month at5:30 pm. Check out our Web siteat www.annajerseynorth126.comfor information, forms, andupdates; or contact Marilyn Eilertat marilyneilert@aol.com.

Northern New England #131Imagine walking into your

break room on September 15 andseeing “Happy NephrologyNurses Week” all over. Theposters showing “Carry theTorch” were particularly impres-sive. That is what the staff ofEastern Maine Dialysis inEllsworth, ME, saw, complimentsof Carol F., a former dialysisnurse who is re-entering the fieldand has since joined ANNA andis seeking certification. She isalso co-chairing a weekend semi-nar on Imaging and Nephrologyat Eastern Maine Medical Centerin Bangor, ME, in March 2009.She is quite an inspiration!

The chapter hosted the FallAudio Conference at several sites:Maine Medical Center, Portland,ME; Eastern Maine MedicalCenter, Bangor, ME; and severalareas in Vermont sponsored byFletcher Allen Medical Center.The Fall Renal Update was heldNovember 9 at the Frank JonesCenter in Portsmouth, NH.

Congratulations to DorothyDanforth and Linda Curren fromEastern Maine Medical Center forpassing the CDN exam.

The CNN, CDN, and CCHTexams will be offered at EasternMaine Medical Center onDecember 7.

South Jersey #133Our chapter sponsored the

Fall Audio Conference at severallocations on October 7. Weenjoyed a successful dinner pro-gram at Bucca DiPepe in CherryHill, NJ, on November 13. Thanksto Colleen Fosset of Abbott RenalCare for sponsoring the programentitled Creative Approaches toImprove Patient Adherence.

A program will be held at

American Access Care in CherryHill, NJ, in early December.

We continue to encouragemembers to send e-mail updatesto officers to keep our list updat-ed and allow us to maintain com-munication with you. We lookforward to another successfulyear in 2009.

Southeast

Cardinal #201The chapter participated in

the Fall Audio Conference onOctober 7. Chapter member ClaraNeyhart along with PatriciaWeiskittel presented GettingPatients Charged Up and TunedUp for Transplant. The meetingwas held at WakeMed Raleigh’sAndrews Conference Center. Adelicious dinner was provided byNovartis.

The Cardinal and DogwoodChapters collaborated with theSoutheastern Kidney Council toco-host a meeting on November19 on the new CMS Conditionsfor Coverage. There was a bigturnout at the meeting held inColumbia, SC.

The chapter once again willbe providing Christmas gift cardsto dialysis and transplant patientsin the area. In December mem-bers will be asked to nominatedialysis and transplant patientswith the greatest need. For moreinformation, contact ChapterPresident Lesley Dinwiddie at919-859-0994.

Our next chapter meetingwill be held in January. Detailswill be posted on our Web site atwww.annacardinal.com.

Greater Charlotte #202In the midst of soccer games,

football games, pumpkin patches,Thanksgiving turkey, andChristmas bells, the chapter metto learn about the Non-classicalEffects of Vitamin D. Dr. MonaTewari with Abbott was the pre-senter.

The annual holiday raffle wasa huge success, and we appreci-ate all the donated gifts frommany local patrons. We were ableto help five local children andtheir families.

Chapter officers wish mem-

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 6 21

bers a joyful holiday season. Wehope you are able to spend timewith family and friends and enjoymany blessings.

Officer elections are comingin January. Please consider hold-ing a position. If you are interest-ed, call 704-355-6649 and ask forDiane Derkowski.

Palmetto #203On August 14 chapter mem-

ber Jennifer Payton guided a dial-ysis clinic tour for two of SenatorLindsey Graham’s legislativeaides. Colin Allen and DeniseBauld were able to see the innerworkings of a dialysis clinic andlearn many of the challengesfaced by kidney disease patientsand their providers.

On August 26 we held aneducational dinner meeting atMcCrady’s Restaurant inCharleston, SC. The program washosted by Genzyme ClinicalScience Specialist, SeanGalbally. John Williams led thepresentation on How to ImprovePatient Compliance.

On September 15 the chapterheld another educational dinnerat RET’s Hall in Ravenel, SC.Cardian BCT, Inc., sponsored thismeeting. Dr. John Orak, a pedi-atric nephrologist from theMedical University of SouthCarolina (MUSC), presentedTaking the Mystery Out ofPlasmapheresis in the PediatricRenal Population.

On September 17 severalchapter members visited theMUSC School of Nursing. Inhonor of Nephrology NursesWeek, members spoke to the stu-dents about the many opportuni-ties in nursing within thenephrology specialty. The chapteralso presented the Caroline S.Counts Nephrology NursingScholarship to MUSC nursingstudent Jared Carter.

In October the chapter partic-ipated in the Fall AudioConference. Once again DeborahBrooks graciously offered to hostthis event at her home. We thankher for her hospitality.

On October 5 the NationalKidney Foundation (NKF) hosteda fundraiser called An EveningUnder the Oaks to benefit theLow Country area by providing

money to help patients with kid-ney disease. The event was heldat Charlestowne Landing inCharleston, SC, and featured foodprepared by chefs from localrestaurants as well as silent andlive auctions. Our chapter assist-ed by serving as volunteers forthis function. Everyone had agreat time and helped to raisethousands of dollars, which willhelp provide important servicesto the patients we care for eachday!

We are busy planning severalofferings for the winter. Membersshould watch their e-mail forinformation on upcoming offer-ings. Anyone wishing to receiveinformation on meetings, mem-bership, or volunteer opportuni-ties should contact Michele Rootat michele.root@dciinc.org.

South Florida Flamingo #206The chapter has been actively

planning meetings for members.In August we held two meetings.Lissette Rivera-Jorge fromGenzyme reviewed the needs ofpatients concerning hyperphos-phatemia at a meeting in the Ft.Lauderdale area. Also in AugustWatson sponsored a meeting inthe Miami area. Dr. Jorge Busse, alocal nephrologist, offered anexcellent presentation on theimportance of correctly assessingiron status in patients.

In September AmericanAccess Care graciously sponsoreda celebration for NephrologyNurses Week. At the meeting Dr.Gohel reviewed vascular accessinterventions. The chapter wasproud to celebrate the exception-al care that is provided topatients by our nurses.Congratulations nephrology nurs-

es, and thank you for your hardwork and dedication!

In October and NovemberWatson again assisted in provid-ing information to our members.

Upcoming events include aChristmas dinner meeting thatwill be sponsored by Amgen;watch for more information. Alsoin December the chapter will hostthe certification exams for nursesand patient care technicians(PCTs) who are interested inbecoming certified. The chapterwill hold elections in December;anyone interested in serving as achapter officer should contactPresident-Elect Janie Sapp atjanesw@baptisthealth.net.

Suncoast #213The reception our chapter

held to celebrate NephrologyNurses Week was a great success.This was our third annual eventat the Castaways Restaurant,which is convenient to memberson both sides of the bay. Onceagain we had a drawing for amembership as well as ANNA T-shirts. In addition, ANNA keychains were given to each nurse.

Our chapter hosted anephrology review class. Thiswas a collaborative effort withNetwork 7. There were over 50attendees who were preparing totake the exams offered at theannual Network 7 meeting at theend of October. Our chapter alsohosted the exams.

The annual Network 7 meet-ing gave us an opportunity to setup a booth to display and talkabout ANNA as well as upcomingchapter activities and meetings.Our chapter provided a basket ofgoodies for a drawing. We hadmany visitors at our booth, pro-

South Florida Flamingo chapter members celebrated Nephrology NursesWeek.

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 622

viding us with a wonderfulopportunity to meet and greet ournephrology colleagues.

Upcoming events include aholiday event, elections, and our2009 offerings. For more informa-tion regarding our chapter, con-tact President Stephanie Hull at813-872-0933 or Secretary DonnaMcDuffie at 813-265-9733.

Dogwood #224On September 20 the chapter

celebrated Nephrology NursesWeek with an EffectiveCommunication EducationalWorkshop in collaboration withthe Southeastern Kidney Council(SKC). The titles for the eventwere The Road to Nurse andPatient Success: Driven toward aTeam Approach and DecreasingDialysis Patient-Provider Conflict(DPC) Toolbox: ConflictManagement for NephrologyProfessionals. The workshop washeld at Emory Crawford LongHospital. Thank you to speakerSammy Bailey and AmyWilliams from SKC for participat-ing in our event. Thank you alsoto speakers Loretta JacksonBrown, Marina Villano, LindseyPedley, and Becky MckeeWaddle. Thank you to our spon-sors Fresenius Medical Care,Teleflex, Atlanta Access Care,and National Renal Alliance andto volunteers Shelitta Mentoreand Sheila Waltrip. JoanWokpara and Juanita Connorprovided participants with keep-sake gifts in celebration ofNephrology Nurses Week.

On October 7 the chapterhosted the Fall Audio Conferenceat two locations. This is the chap-ter’s first audio conference as partof our “Expand to your Area”project. We had a good turnout atboth locations. Our hosts for eachsite, Norma Heard and GwenTaylor, invited participants outfor a night of fun, pizza, network-ing, and learning.

Dogwood officers and mem-bers raised funds and participat-ed in the NKF Kidney Walk atLullwater Park on October 25.

On November 1 a technicianreview course was held atNorthside Hospital. Thank you tospeakers: Stacey Lane, LisaKeith, Norma Heard, Alicia

Carson, Marlene Currier, andBruce Farrow.

The chapter hosted the CDN,CNN, CNN-NP, and CCHT examsat Gwinnett Medical Center onNovember 15. Thank you toMichelle Johnson for volunteer-ing to proctor the exams and toSandy Gandee and DeborahBriese for assisting the chapterwith finding a facility. Thank youto Northside Hospital andGwinnett Medical Center for pro-viding meeting space at theirfacilities.

Dogwood officers attendedthe SKC 2008 Annual Meeting inColumbia, SC, on November 19.The chapter collaborated withSKC and the ANNA CardinalChapter on the preparation forthis successful event.

The chapter will arrange foran educational event in Decemberand also will collect toys for theToys for Tots program in collabo-ration with the U.S. MarineCorps. Next year we are planninganother certification test site andall-day workshop.

News about upcoming eventscan be found on our Web site atwww.annadogwoodchapter224.com.E-mail us at annadogwood@annadogwoodchapter224.com formore information or to request abrochure.

The chapter would like tothank Angela Taylor-Smith, chap-ter president, for joining thePeritoneal Dialysis SpecialInterest Group. Congratulations toElipidia Reason and MoriamOketade on obtaining CDN certi-fication. Congratulations toMichelle Johnson and BethTaylor for obtaining CNN certifi-cation. Congratulations to SheilaWaltrip for recruiting three newmembers and winning a free 1-year ANNA membership.Congratulations to Debbie Trudellfor creating an award-winningprogram at Harbin DialysisClinic. The clinic participated inthe Baxter Healthcare EducationPursuit of Excellence Programand is the first Georgia dialysisclinic to receive the Star Award.

We are sad to see SandraHutcherson, state surveyor andlongtime ANNA member, leaveour chapter.

El Paso #232The chapter is involved in

the planning stages of the 11thANNA Texas CollaborativeMeeting – A World of Changes:Keys to Surviving – to be held atthe Marriott Riverwalk Hotel inSan Antonio, TX, on January 9-10. We are inviting all to attend.

The chapter hosted the FallAudio Conference at SierraMedical Center on October 7. Ourchapter also hosted the CNN,CDN, CCHT exams in El Paso,TX, on November 16.

Masters City #233Kidney Disease Awareness

and Education (KDAE) Week wasa huge success for our chapter.We were able to get a mayoraland gubernatorial (Georgia)proclamation! We held a presen-tation, tour, and interviews withpatients and staff for federal,state, and local legislators andhospital board members.Lieutenant Governor Casey Caglealso visited in June. Both eventswere covered by the local televi-sion networks and newspapers.

On September 16 the chapterhosted our second educationalevent, Effective PatientCommunication, at Shogun’s.Nephrology Nurses Week wasalso a success. We gave away bas-kets, cards, penlights, a freeANNA membership, and a certifi-cation scholarship. Our nurseswent to Walmart and providedfree blood pressure screeningsand patient education.

Tidewater #241The chapter had good atten-

dance at the Fall AudioConference that was held atSentara Norfolk General onOctober 7. A chapter meeting washeld before the commencement ofthe audio conference. PresidentBeverly Grier-Smith, Secretary/Treasurer Andra Grantum,Health Policy RepresentativeCharlotte Collins, and otherchapter members were present.Sentara Norfolk General HospitalRenal Transplant/Renal DialysisCenter has been named one ofAmericas’s best hospitals in theexclusive rankings of kidney dis-ease in the U.S. News and WorldReport for 2008.

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 6 23

A dinner meeting and educa-tional session on Cath Care waspresented by Kendall inNovember. The program was wellreceived.

Plans are underway for theannual Christmas outing andfinal educational program for thecalendar year. The chapter hasexpanded its membership thisyear and welcomes each newmember.

Acadiana #252The July 2008 International

Nursing Research Conference inJerusalem, Israel, had 32 coun-tries represented; 600 paperswere submitted for the meetingwith 190 papers accepted for pre-sentation. Acadiana President-Elect Kandace Landreneau wasselected to present her researchstudy on Perception of Choice ofRenal Replacement Therapies inAdult Patients Undergoing

Hemodialysis. The followingmonth Dr. Landreneau attendedthe 33rd Annual Meeting of theNorth American TransplantCoordinators Organization inBoston, MA, and was awardedthe 2008 Research Grant Awardto do a research project entitledPerception Concerning Access toRenal Transplantation in PatientsUndergoing Hemodialysis.

Secretary Mary MichaelBogues was invited to join theNephrology Nursing CertificationCommission in Chicago August16-19 to review and rewrite ques-tions for the CDN certificationexam. Charla Litton, chapterhealth policy representative, waselected to the Board of Directorsfor the NKF of Louisiana. Charlaalso will continue to serve on theESRD Network 13 GrievanceSubcommittee and MedicalReview Board for the next 2years.

President Linda Bethea hasput in hundreds of hours writing,calling, and meeting with staterepresentatives, senators, legisla-tors, and the governor to educateand encourage their support forthe renal community, patients,nurses, and technicians. Lindaaddressed concerns over thenursing shortage, the need forincreasing funds for treatmentand educating patients, profes-sionals, and the public on chron-ic kidney disease (CKD). In addi-

Tidewater Chapter President Beverly Grier-Smith welcomes new ANNAmember Tanya Banks.

Acadiana Chapter President-ElectKandace Landreneau (right)attended the InternationalNursing Research Conference inJerusalem, Israel, in July. She pre-sented her research study entitled“Perception of Choice of RenalReplacement Therapies in AdultPatients UndergoingHemodialysis.”

Acadiana chapter member Trudy Saldana assisted with the chapter’s dis-play table during the LSUHSC-S Annual Health Fair at Mall St. Vincentin Shreveport, LA.

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tion, she wrote articles on CKDthat were published in theShreveport Times and the localForum Magazine. Linda was fea-tured on local television channelKTAL during the 5:00 pm newsbroadcast, during which shespoke about CKD and home dial-ysis.

During KDAE Week Lindaopened her clinic’s door to sever-al government representatives:Linda Wright; Federal Louisiana4th District Representative JimMcCrery; Louisiana State SenatorBuddy Shaw; Leslie Quinn,Senator David Vitter’s assistant;Louisiana State Senator RoyBurrell; Louisiana StateRepresentative Patrick Williams;and Jeff Everson, assistant toSenator Mary Landrieu. Throughe-mails and phone calls, thechapter was able to obtain procla-mations for KDAE Week from thestate of Louisiana as well as thecities of Shreveport, Bossier City,and Greenwood. In addition, aletter of greeting was receivedfrom President George W. Bushand First Lady Laura Bush com-memorating KDAE Week.

All of these accomplishmentson the political scene demon-strate why Linda Bethea was cho-sen to be the Louisiana StateHealth Policy Director. We arevery proud of Linda and hertenacity to move and shake thepowers and policies that be.

The chapter celebratedNephrology Nurses Week bysending each member a card bothby e-mail and snail mail. Thesnail mail cards included aStarbucks gift card.

Charla Litton, Kathy Ballard,and Mary Zapcyznski attendedthe Fall Meeting in Chicago inSeptember. Each spoke highlyabout the excellent speakers andthe variety of presentations avail-able for them to attend.

On October 1 forms were sentto all members to elicit nomina-tions for chapter officers. Returnnominations were plentiful andprovided a good list of candidatesfor the elections.

On October 3-4 we held ourannual CNN/CDN Review Courseand Vendor Fair at the WillisKnighton Education Center inShreveport, LA, for the nephrolo-

gy nurses in the tri-state area.During the same weekend weoffered our first CCHT ReviewCourse. Linda Bethea and MaryMichael Bogues presented theworkshop for the technicians onOctober 4 with 6 PCTs in atten-dance. Acadiana then hosted theCNN, CDN, and CCHT exams atWillis Knighton Medical Centeron October 18.

The Shreveport/BossierPolycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)Walk scheduled for September 13was postponed due to HurricaneIke and rescheduled for October18. Several Acadiana membersjoined the walk. Besides personalmember donations, our chaptermade a $500 donation.

Acadiana members are notnew to emergency preparednessand disasters, especially duringhurricane season. Several mem-bers volunteered to work evacueeshelters for Hurricanes Gustavand Ike. Acadiana members andarea dialysis managers reported amuch smoother transition fromdialysis units in South Louisianato North Louisiana since theKatrina disaster a few years ago.Thanks to all the volunteers fortheir time and donations.

On November 13 Mike Fidlerwith Amgen hosted an education-al opportunity at Mabry House;the program provided 1 contacthour.

The chapter will host aChristmas Party and AwardsBanquet in the Arkansas Room atSam’s Town Hotel and Casino inShreveport, LA, at 6:00 pm onDecember 5. Plans include festivedecorations, door prizes, greatfood, and wonderful people tohelp you celebrate the holidayseason. Newly elected chapterofficers will be announced at thattime. For more information, con-tact Linda Bethea at lbeth68@hotmail.com, KandaceLandreneau at kandaceL@msn.com, or Mary MichaelBogues at Mary.Bogues@fmc-na.com.

East Texas #255The chapter participated in a

collaborative educational eventwith the Acadiana Chapter inShreveport in October and had alot of fun. In September we cele-

brated Nephrology Nurses Weekby giving candy and “Carry theTorch” buttons to staff at severaldialysis clinics. We participatedin the Fall Audio Conference inOctober.

In January we will participatein the ANNA Texas CollaborativeMeeting in San Antonio. We stillneed poster applications. If youare doing a project that wouldbenefit us all, please share it.Visit the meeting Web site atwww.annatexasmeeting.org todownload the poster applicationand to register for the meeting.We hope to see you there!

Northeast Oklahoma #256Chapter members enjoyed a

very informative meeting onSensipar and Management ofSecondary Hyperparathyroidismin August. There was a greatturnout for this program providedby Amgen. In October we hostedthe Fall Audio Conference at twosites: St. John Health System andJane Philips Medical Center. Wehope that providing alternatelocations was helpful for ourmembers and hope to continuethis for future audio conferences.

We plan to host the CNN,CDN, and CCHT exams in Tulsain April 2009. Please let yourcoworkers know that they can sitfor the exams here in Tulsa, espe-cially technicians who are not yetcertified. Contact Katie Colpitts at918-744-3536 or kcolpitts@sjmc.org for more information.

Central Virginia #258The chapter hosted visits by

several legislative aides duringKDAE Week. Beth McAdam(Delegate for Jennifer McClellan)and Linda Gross (Delegate forManoli Loupassi) toured VirginiaCommonwealth UniversityHealth System (VCUHS) onAugust 14. They began their tourwith a breakfast hosted by DonnaGeorge, Director of TransplantService, and Avis Allen, NurseManager of the AcuteHemodialysis Unit. LindaThomas, Nurse Clinician, wel-comed the group to the AcuteHemodialysis Unit. AnnCompton, Nephrology NursePractitioner, educated the groupon adult kidney disease, and

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 6 25

Diane Kraynak, PediatricNephrology Nurse Practitionerand Chapter Health PolicyRepresentative, educated thegroup on pediatric nephrologyand kidney disease. After touringthe dialysis unit, the grouptoured the VCUHS TransplantClinic. Karen Huber, KidneyTransplant Coordinator, educatedthe legislators on transplant ser-vices and also shared concernsand needs for transplant patientsregarding anti-rejection medica-tion. The group concluded theirtour at the Pediatric Children’sPavilion at VCUHS. DianeKraynak led the tour of the chil-dren’s facility. She also did anawesome job sending out over 30invitations to legislators. Shecoordinated the events of the day,and ensured that the legislativeaides were informed of the agen-da for the tour. Thank you, Diane!

Chapter officers got busyplanning the next special activity.The chapter surprised over 30dialysis centers in the Richmondarea with candy-filled pumpkinsand a card stating: “This is NOT aTRICK but a TREAT . . . wishingyou a Happy Nephrology NursesWeek!”

On September 18 the chapterand the Mid-Atlantic RenalCoalition (MARC) collaborated ona program entitled ESRDConditions for Coverage Review.Nancy Gregory and Renee Bova-Collins did an outstanding jobpresenting and identifying the

basic changes in the newConditions for Coverage. The pro-gram was well attended, and par-ticipants found the informationrelevant to practice. Thank you,Nancy and Renee!

On October 7 the chapterhosted the Fall AudioConference. Thank you to ClaraNeyhart and Patricia Weiskittel.Our group really enjoyed the pro-gram.

Keep informed of upcomingprograms and events by visitingthe chapter’s Web site atwww.annacentralva.org.

Blue Ridge #262Election of officers needs to

be completed by the end ofDecember. Let a current officerknow if you are interested in get-ting more involved and serving inthis capacity.

Plans are underway for a hol-iday get-together. Watch for flyersor e-mails regarding details. Markyour calendars for a statewidesymposium, which is tentativelyset for May 20 (certificationreview) and May 21 (symposium)at Grandover Resort.

Fleur-de-Lis #263During Hurricane Gustav

many of our nurses worked tire-lessly to care for their patients aswell as an influx of transientpatients. Patients, some withoutorders or medications, literallyshowed up at the doors at someclinics. Many nurses worked atclinics other than their own dueto building damages, power out-ages, and changes in treatmentschedules, while their ownhomes were without power. Thetheme for Nephrology NursesWeek – “We Carry the Torch” –took on special meaning for us!Chapter officers applaud theteamwork and professional dedi-cation shown during the storm.

Chapter members attendedseveral educational events: theANNA Fall Meeting in Chicago;the Fall Audio Conference onOctober 7, which was hosted atthe regional sites of Covington,New Orleans, and Baton Rouge;and a Certification Review onOctober 11 in New Orleans. OnNovember 13 at Ochsner MedicalCenter in Baton Rouge, Hiko

Miyagi, a lawyer who is also anassociate member of ANNA,spoke on How to Avoid LegalIssues in Nephrology NursingCare.

More educational activitiesare being planned. February 3 isthe Winter Audio Conference.Watch your e-mail for furtherinformation. March 5 will be therenal collaborative meeting withthe theme of Carry the Torch . . .Lighting the Way into the Future.For more information on upcom-ing events, contact President-Elect Janice Johnson at jjohnson@ochsner.org.

National and chapter activi-ties are shared with members reg-ularly via e-mail. If you are notreceiving these e-mails, contactSecretary Cathy Groeger atcgroeger@cox.net to update yourcontact information.

Treasure Coast #266The chapter hosted two edu-

cational events this fall. A dinnermeeting sponsored by FreseniusMedical Care was heldSeptember 18 at FMC of Port St.Lucie. Kimberlee Tollie presentedPD 101: The Basics. We hostedthe Fall Audio Conference at twosites on October 7: FMC WPB45th Street as well as HolmesRegional in Melbourne.

Members once again partici-pated as a team to help raisemoney and awareness for patientswith PKD by joining the AnnualPKD Walk held at Abacoa TownCenter in Jupiter, FL, onSeptember 20. It was a greatevent and always wonderful tosee so many of our fellow nurses,families, patients, and friends.

Chapter members also attend-ed the Fall Meeting in Chicago inSeptember. They enjoyed a timeof learning, connection, and fun.

The above events are listedon our chapter Web site as wellas other important updates andinformation. Visit us online athttp://communitylink.palmbeach-post.com/groups/ANNA. If youcan’t find the Web site, need toupdate your e-mail address, orjust want to become involved,contact President Diane HubertzHauge at dhubertz@aol.com orSecretary Robin Tupper at jetplumb@bellsouth.net.

The Central Virginia Chapterhosted a tour of VirginiaCommonwealth University HealthSystem during Kidney DiseaseAwareness and Education Week.Pictured are: (standing) JayneDavey, Linda Thomas, DianeKraynak, Ann Compton, andDonna George; (sitting) BethMcAdam (Delegate for JenniferMcClellan) and Linda Gross(Delegate for Manoli Loupassi).

ANNA Update—November/December 2008-Vol. 38/No. 626

Palm Valley #271Amgen sponsored a terrific

dinner/presentation on August 7.Dr. Salil Mangi presented EpogenDynamic Anemia Management atthe Renaissance Casa de PalmasHotel in McAllen, TX. There wasan excellent turnout of acute andchronic nephrology nurses whotraveled from all locations of theValley. Thank you to NoemiSandoval-Bagstad, our Amgenrepresentative, for making thispossible!

The Fall Audio Conferencewas held at the McAllen Unit ofUS Renal Care on October 7. Weenjoyed the presentation, food,and networking opportunity. Weare looking forward to the WinterAudio Conference in February.

Plans are being made for theCNN-NP, CNN, CDN, and CCHTexaminations to be offered atMission Regional Medical Centerin Mission, TX, on December 7.Flyers with details will be distrib-uted throughout the Valley.Remember, all PCTs will need tobe state certified, so take advan-tage of this opportunity; no oneneeds to travel long distances.

Save the dates: January 9-10,2009. The 10 ANNA Texas chap-ters will be holding their annualcollaborative meeting at theMarriott Riverwalk Hotel in SanAntonio, TX. Don’t miss thisexciting event entitled A World ofChange: Keys to Surviving. Flyerswith meeting details will be sentto all members. Represent thePalm Valley Chapter at the collab-orative meeting! For more infor-mation and registration details, goto www.annatexasmeeting.org.We need your support in order tohave more events in the future.

Welcome to our most recentchapter members: Samuel Ostreaand Lorellei Vergara both fromValley Baptist Medical Center inHarlingen, TX.

North Central

Windy City #305We served as host chapter for

ANNA’s 2008 Fall Meeting at theHyatt Regency Chicago inSeptember. Chapter PresidentSusan Kuester welcomed partici-pants to the Windy City and

introduced ANNA President SueCary at the opening general ses-sion. The chapter had a displaytable and held a raffle throughoutthe meeting. It was great to seeover 70 chapter members inattendance. Thank you to thechapter members who assisted uswith our chapter activities at themeeting.

The chapter continues tohave success hosting two sites forthe ANNA audio conferences.The Fall Audio Conference washeld October 7 at ShermanHospital in Elgin, IL (our north-ern site) and the Loyola Centerfor Health on Roosevelt (ourwestern site). While attendancewas down slightly at both sites(most likely due to the fact thatthe ANNA Fall Meeting was inChicago less than 2 weeks prior),we are still planning to host twosites for the Winter AudioConference in February 2009.Watch our Web site for details.

Chapter officers will be meet-ing in December to wrap up 2008business and plan for the 2009year. Chapter members may sub-mit suggestions for future activi-ties, events, and meeting loca-tions via our Web site athttp://home.comcast.net/~anna-windycitychapter305/annawindycity.html. The Web site is also agreat way to keep informed onchapter activities as well as theindividual accomplishments ofyour colleagues. If you have notreceived an e-mail from the chap-ter within the last few months,we may not have your correct e-mail address (or any e-mailaddress at all). Please go to theWeb site, click on “Contact Us,”and send us your e-mail address.

We are always looking fornew ideas, new members, andnew officers. Remember, ourchapter is only as educational,informative, and fun as our mostactive members. So “Contact Us”today and help keep our chapterthriving into the New Year!

Heart of America #313We changed the date for our

CNN/CDN review course toOctober 5 and had a good turnoutas we had several memberspreparing for the certificationexams on October 11 here in

Kansas City.With a large geographic area

in our chapter, we like to offereducational opportunities in dif-ferent areas so we hosted fivesites for the Fall AudioConference on October 7. Eachsite had a good turnout.

Members participated in sev-eral walks this fall to raise moneyfor PKD, diabetes, and NKF.Members also participated inAbby’s Run in honor of thedaughter of Dr. Max Glaser, alocal nephrologist.

We were thrilled to have theopportunity to host a dinner andCNE opportunity at Plaza IIISteakhouse on November 6.Suzann Van Buskirk presented ACQI Approach to IV Iron andAnemia Management. Thank youto Watson Pharma for the gener-ous grant.

We will be having a socialmeeting the first week ofDecember, and once again MollyCahill has invited us to herhouse. We will be electing offi-cers, and we plan to adopt sever-al families for Christmas. Watchyour e-mail for more informationon this event.

If you haven’t heard from uslately, send your e-mail addressto Sharon Bunnell at sbunnell5@comcast.net.

Southeast Minnesota #316This summer chapter mem-

bers participated in and spon-sored the Gift of Life GolfTournament and Kidney Walk.The money raised during theKidney Walk provided supportfor the Kidney Early EvaluationProgram (KEEP) screening heldon November 13 in Rochester,MN. This program coordinated bythe NKF provides free kidneyhealth screening for people withrisk factors for kidney disease.The screening process allows vol-unteers to meet community mem-bers and provide a service thatpromotes education, awareness,and intervention as well asdemonstrates the vital role nursesplay in the care of nephrologypatients.

The chapter conducted its2008 membership drive onSeptember 23 in Rochester, MN.In addition to promoting the orga-

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nization, the event provided thespring conference planning com-mittee an opportunity toexchange ideas. President-ElectTina Olan has begun coordinat-ing the 2009 conference.

Tri-State #317Our spring business meeting

was held in March. Current chap-ter officers met with incomingofficers to collaborate on upcom-ing events. The Fall AudioConference was held, and thereare plans to hold a mixer at alocal restaurant to draw inactivemembers to future events.

The chapter would like tointroduce the new officers for theupcoming year: President LouannElliott, Secretary Karen Washa-baugh, and Treasurer GailBuscher. These individuals areexperienced nephrology nursesand will bring many new andinteresting ideas to the chapter.

Central Missouri #318Chapter members participat-

ed in the Fall Audio Conferenceon October 7. A certificationreview course was offered onOctober 9. The chapter also offer-ing the CCHT, CDN, and CNNexams on November 1.

Centennial #320The fall brought a flurry of

activity for our chapter. We beganwith our celebration ofNephrology Nurses Week bydrawing for two free ANNAmemberships. Congratulations toSue Ackerman for her ANNAmembership renewal and JodiRichter for her new membershipto ANNA. A letter of appreciationwas sent to all members alongwith an invitation to attend ourupcoming events.

Many chapter membersattended the Nephrology,Dialysis, and TransplantSymposium, which was held inFargo, ND, on September 17-18and hosted by Merit Care KidneyServices. It was exciting to meetand socialize with other chaptermembers from distant units.

The Fall Audio Conferencewas held at the Medcenter OneFrancis Leach Dialysis Center inBismarck, ND, on October 7. Theconference was a success with

great attendance. Chapter officersmet after the presentation to planfuture events.

It is hard to believe that theholidays are fast approaching. Wehope to get together to celebrateand to plan ahead for anotherexciting and productive year.

Black Swamp #323We celebrated National

Nephrology Nurses Week onSeptember 16 with a CNE presen-tation by Dr. Shobba Ratnam atUTMC. The topic was TheHistory of Dialysis. The eveningincluded a pasta buffet and prizesfor all attendees.

On October 7 we hosted theFall Audio Conference at twosites: Toledo, OH, and Fremont,OH. On October 9 Dr. DeepakMalhotra gave a CNE presenta-tion on chronic renal failure atthe Maumee Bay BrewingCompany. The Fall KidneyFoundation Symposium was heldat the Holiday Inn in Perrysburg,OH, on October 23. This day-longconference was very well attend-ed by nurses, technicians, dieti-cians, and social workers. OnNovember 4 Teleflex Medicalsponsored a CE presentation onCatheter Use for Dialysis.

Platte River #324The chapter hosted a few

sites for the Fall AudioConference and was pleased withparticipation.

It is time to start thinkingabout the election of new officersfor next year and planning toattend the spring Volunteer

Leaders Workshop. Serving as achapter officer does not involvetoo much time, and we welcomeany new help on committees.

We are continuing to work onplanning a nephrology nursingcertification review program.

We also would like to apolo-gize to those who are having diffi-culty accessing our Web site. It iscurrently down for service, butwe hope to be back up soon.

Remember to visit the ANNAWeb site at www.annanurse.orgfor educational opportunities.Contact Sheila O’Day atsoday@unmc.edu or any chapterofficer with questions.

Greater Minnesota #329On September 20 chapter

members participated in the NKFKidney Walk in St. Cloud, MN.Volunteers from our chapterhelped with blood pressurescreenings.

Anthony Wayne #335Chapter members met at the

Oyster Bar in Fort Wayne onAugust 21 for a dinner meetingsponsored by Amgen. Theyenjoyed dinner while learningabout Sensipar and ImprovedManagement of SecondaryHyperparathyroidism in DialysisPatients.

On October 16 the chapterwas proud to present a Back toBasics Day of Learning.Participants were educated onvarious topics and are lookingforward to incorporating the pro-gram’s content into their practice.

The Anthony Wayne Chapter hosted an educational dinner meeting inAugust. Pictured are the 2008-2009 chapter officers along with AmgenRepresentative Jason Eaton, who sponsored the event. Pictured (from left)are Cheryl Williams, Margie Read, Marie Shook, Phil Gill, Jason Eaton,Renee Nicholson, and Gretchen Whitham.

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Western

Desert Vista #501Successful Transplant from A

to Z programs were held inTucson and Phoenix onNovember 6-7. Both classes werefilled to capacity. We are plan-ning to hold classes in Tucsonand Phoenix in March.

Northern California #504On August 21 Chapter

President-Elect Lauretta Williamscoordinated a Congressional visitto FMC Petaluma with Represent-ative Lynn Woolsey and her staffin attendance. The event was asuccess with the special surpriseof Representative Woolsey con-necting with a patient she knewfrom prior engagements.

Chapter President Ann Levysent chapter members special e-cards thanking and honoringtheir achievements as nephrologynurses during Nephrology NursesWeek.

Our NorthBay and Peninsula/San Jose nurses attended the FallAudio Conference held atWellBound Santa Rosa andSatellite Healthcare’s CorporateOffices in Mountain View.

Four new members joinedANNA and our chapter sinceApril. Please help us promote thebenefits of belonging to our pro-fessional organization and intripling this number by the end ofthe year. Members who sign up 3new members are eligible for a 1-year free ANNA membership.

Nephros South #506Chapter officers met at

Humphrey’s By the Bay for abusiness meeting on September 7.Over a champagne brunch wereviewed our successful meetingsthis past year, renewed our com-mitment to each other and thechapter, and planned the celebra-tion for the 30th anniversary ofNephros South.

On September 18 San DiegoAccess Care sponsored an educa-tional program at Napa ValleyGrill located atop Horton Plaza indowntown San Diego. AnnRattner and Dr. Zachary Rattnerpresented Current Concepts inDialysis Access Management.

Nephros South hosted theFall Audio Conference at the SanDiego VA Healthcare Center in LaJolla on October 14. We also areplanning a November educationaldinner event in a local restaurant.

On December 4 NephrosSouth will host a very specialholiday dinner for our 30thanniversary. We have much tocelebrate as we honor past andpresent officers and members.Besides an educational offering,we will celebrate with dinner,gifts, and a silent auction. Therewill be poster displays depictingthe history of Nephros South anda pictural story on DVD, not tomention stories and tales of thepast and best wishes for thefuture of Nephros South andnephrology nursing.

Pacific Island #507The chapter finished up the

year with a CNN/CDN review ses-sion which technicians wereinvited to attend to help thempass the certification exams. Wewish them luck! Diana Hlebovyof Hemametrics provided an out-standing overview of fluid man-agement; this educational presen-tation offered 4.8 CNE credits.The use of a hematocrit and O2saturation monitoring device tohelp stabilize patients while max-imizing fluid removal was veryinformative.

Elections will be held inDecember. We are always lookingfor new volunteer officers. Themajor requirement of living inHawaii is being rethought at thispoint.

Chapter officers and memberswill be taking a much neededbreak to watch the whales andtheir babies over the winter herein chilly Hawaii. Spring willbring more educational offeringsand opportunities.

Sacramento Valley #509State Senator Jeff Denham (R-

Merced) held a news conferenceat DaVita University inSacramento on September 1 tochallenge Senate Democrats tovote for AB 207, which wouldallow the state to make paymentsto nursing homes, health clinics,and other vital facilities duringthis record-breaking budgetimpasse. Two local channelsaired the news conference, duringwhich he interviewed RichTurner, Western Vice Presidentfor DaVita, a patient, and a trans-portation company driver. StateSenator Denham stated that41,000 Californians have ESRDand depend on lifesaving dialysistreatments and that 85% are pri-mary Medicare/Medi-Cal patientswho rely on government pro-grams for their health care cover-age. Let’s hope that knowledge ofESRD was gained in our commu-nity and the longest delayedCalifornia budget passes!

We have enjoyed dynamiceducational offerings this year.On August 14 we were privilegedto have Anne Harty present I’mJust a Bill. We celebratedNephrology Nurses Week bysending ANNA Celebrate cards toeach chapter member and gaveANNA lapel pins to each nursewho attended our educationaloffering on September 17. Theoffering featured a presentationon Dialysis Access by Dr. NaveenAtray, interventional nephrologistwith Capital Nephrology, atPiati’s Restaurant, which we dec-orated with ANNA balloons. Wealso sponsored the Fall AudioConference on October 14.

Please e-mail the chapterwith any ideas, suggestions, com-ments or questions at anna509@comcast.net. Visit our Web site atwww.anna509.org for informationon our chapter.

Northern California ChapterPresident-Elect Lauretta Williamscoordinated a Congressional visitby Representative Lynn Woolsey toFMC Petaluma in August.

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Cascades #518We had a fun and educational

meeting in Salem, OR. JackieChandler of Gambro presentedTherapeutic Plasma Exchange.Thank you to Paul Johnson ofGambro for offering this dinnermeeting at Kwan’s Restaurant.

The Fall Audio Conferencewas offered at Peace Health andGSRMC. The CNN, CDN, andCCHT exams were held at PPMCon November 1. Anne Rasmussenspoke on Clinical Management ofSecondary Hyperparathryoidismin Portland, OR, on November 13.Thank you to Nori Bates ofGenzyme for offering this pro-gram to our chapter.

On December 10 SvetlanaShubina will present HomeHemodialysis in Salem, OR. KeepMarch 13, 2009, open for ourAnnual Conference at the ShilohInn in Newport, OR. We willhave three sites for the WinterAudio Conference in February.Watch for flyers in your units

Northern Lights #523American Regent, Inc., spon-

sored an educational program onSeptember 9. The dinner programat ORSO featured a presentationby Donna Nafziger on Anemiaand Iron Balance. This programwas approved for 2.5 contacthours.

Niki Kobes was our represen-tative for the People to PeopleCitizen Ambassador NephrologyDelegation to China in October.

Inland Empire #526A successful Kidney Disease

Awareness and Education (KDAE)event was held at Loma LindaUniversity Medical Center(LLUMC) on August 8. Pressreleases regarding KDAE Weekwere sent to many local newspa-pers prior to the event. Four localpoliticians attended: LarryGrable, Director, Riverside Officeof Governor Arnold Schwarze-negger, and his wife Anna Grable;Mike Trujillo, Public RelationsDirector for Congressman JoeBaca; Alton Garrett, Jr., SeniorAdvisor for Senator BarbaraBoxer’s San Bernardino Office;and Tim Prince, 41st DistrictCongressional Democratic nomi-nee. Reporters from the Sun

A successful Kidney Disease Awareness and Education event was held atLoma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) on August 8. Picturedare the LLUMC management team along with four local representatives.

Jeanne Messinger, Executive Director of Patient Care Services at LomaLinda University Medical Center and ANNA member, welcomes Larryand Anna Grable to tour the dialysis unit.

Inland Empire chapter members Margie Tessner, Marian Wells, andChiung-O Kao led the tour of the pediatric dialysis unit at Loma LindaUniversity Medical Center.

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Newspaper and the PressEnterprise observed the event.

The politicians were wel-comed by the LLUMC administra-tor, physicians, and nursing man-agement team, led by RuthitaFike, Chief Executive Officer/Administrator; Liz Dickinson,Senior Vice President PatientCare Services; Jeanne Messinger,Executive Director, Patient CareServices and ANNA member;Margie Tessner, Director, DialysisApheresis Resource Team (DART)and ANNA member; JanAnderson, Director, Outpatient

Dialysis; Robert Villa, AssistantManager, Outpatient Dialysis; LeoCastillo, Supervisor, DialysisEquipment & Supplies; LarondaAbraham, Clinical Manager,Transplant Unit; and HeatherValentine, Marketing Department.Other LLUMC employees andANNA members who participat-ed in the event included NitayaSoeprono, Chapter President-Elect; Cathy Troia, ChapterHealth Policy Representative;Judy Foose, Dialysis ClinicalEducator; Marian Wells, NursePractitioner, Pediatric

Nephrology; Debbie Stitzinger,Outpatient Dialysis ClinicalSupervisor; Laurie Gold, StaffNurse PD; and Chiung-O Kao,Pediatric Hemodialysis ChargeNurse.

Six physicians participated inthe event, including Dr. SiegmundTeichman, Chief of Nephrologyand Medical Director AdultDialysis; Dr H. Roger Hadley,Dean, School of Medicine andDirector of Transplant Unit; Dr.Shoba Sahney, PediatricNephrologist; Dr. Drew Cutler,Pediatric Nephrologist; Dr. ThanhHoang, Adult Nephrologist; andDr. Eduardo Nam, AdultNephrologist.

The tour included the outpa-tient dialysis unit, adult/pediatricPD and hemodialysis, the trans-plant unit, and then a luncheonat Coleman Pavilion. During thetour the politicians met withpatients and nurses. They learnedabout dialysis, dialysis access, theFistula First Project, water treat-ment, Medicare reimbursement,nursing shortage issues, and theimportance of the technologyused to improve patient out-comes.

Sierra Bogini was one of thepatient guest speakers during theluncheon. She spoke about howdialysis and kidney transplanthas affected her life. Now she isin school pursuing a nursingcareer. She urged the politiciansto support increased funding forthe Nursing WorkforceDevelopment Program. Dr.Teichman, Jan Anderson, and Dr.Hadley also were quest speakersand urged the legislators to sup-port the increased payment forMedicare reimbursement, specifi-cally the education and preven-tion program for kidney disease.

Other chapter events includ-ed a free dinner conference, DoYou Recognize Fabry Disease,offering 1.25 contact hours onSeptember 18. This event wassponsored by Genzyme and heldat Mario’s Place Restaurant. 48ANNA members attended thedinner conference and celebratedNephrology Nurses Week.

A Certification Review Classwas held at LLUMC onSeptember 28. The CNN, CDN,and CCHT exams were held at

Inland Empire chapter members Nitaya Soeprono and Hesri Soepronotalk with Alton L. Garrett, Jr., Senior Advisor to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Inland Empire chapter members Nitaya Soeprono, Jeanne Messinger, andMargie Tessner were key members of the planning committee for theKidney Disease Awareness and Education event at Loma Linda UniversityMedical Center.

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LLUMC on October 5. The FallAudio Conference was held atLoma Linda Kidney Center andMagnolia West Home Dialysis inRiverside on October 14. OnOctober 26 the Dialysis ApheresisResource Team at LLUMC set upthe booth Keep your KidneyHealthy and Happy at the AnnualFamily Health Fair at LLUMC.ANNA chapter members volun-teered at this event, which wasled by Nitaya Soeprono, DARTCharge Nurse, LLUMC, andChapter President-Elect.

Future events include theWinter Audio Conference to beheld at Loma Linda KidneyCenter in February 2009. If youare interested in hosting theWinter Audio Conference, contactNitaya Soeprono at nitaya@mac.com.

Chapter officer election flyerswere e-mailed to members inAugust. If you are interested inapplying for a chapter officerposition for the coming year, sendyour curriculum vitae to nitaya@mac.com.

Save the Dates forANNA’s Winter Audio Conference

February 3, 20096:30 pm ET

Available to ANNA chapters in any region*

February 10, 20096:30 pm PT

Available to ANNA chapters in any region*

The topic for the Winter Audio Conference is Facing theChallenge: Making Sense of the New CMS Regulations. The pre-senters for the audio conference will be Glenda Payne, MS, RN,CNN, and Judith Kari, LMSW, ESRD Technical Advisors for theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Invitations to participate will be distributed to ANNA chaptersin November. The deadline for chapters to register to participate isJanuary 5, 2009.

*Please note that each ANNA audio conference is offered on two separatedates to allow chapters to select the date that best meets the needs of theirmembers; however, the time set for the audio conference on each date is notadjustable.