Daniels – Director Of Minority Intervention & Kidney Education @ American Kidney Fund.

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) has named Forrest A. Daniels, FACHE as National Director of Minority Intervention and Kidney Education (MIKE). Daniels was Executive Director of the Loretto Hospital Foundation in Chicago. A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, he is board certified in healthcare management.

AKF Executive Director Karen Sendelback noted, “As we begin a key chapter in kidney health awareness, the new MIKE program will make significant strides toward engaging minority communities in the fight against kidney disease. The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is much greater in African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians in the U.S. than it is in Caucasians. Forrest is committed to providing kidney education and disease prevention strategies to at-risk communities and we are confident that Forrest will direct the MIKE effort with distinction.”

Daniels stated, “In terms of kidney disease, the stakes are so much higher for minority communities that we have to enlist every viable means at our disposal to combat it. Education and prevention strategies are powerful weapons, and so too, is identifying individuals who are at risk; people who may develop Type II diabetes, and people who have borderline hypertension — the leading causes of kidney failure. That is why one of the focal points of the MIKE program is to intervene, before diabetes and high blood pressure intersect to cause kidney disease and (ultimately) kidney failure. I am proud to be with the American Kidney Fund, an organization that understands this imperative.”

Currently, about 400,000 Americans have kidney failure, for which there is no cure. The only treatments are kidney dialysis and kidney transplantation. Nearly 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with kidney failure this year.

The American Kidney Fund is our nation’s leading voluntary health organization serving people with and at risk for kidney disease through direct financial assistance, comprehensive education, clinical research and community service programs.