2026 Adult Program
46th Annual Dialysis Conference
Kansas City, February 26-March 1
Thursday, February 26
Session 1: PD Fundamentals
1:00-3:00 pm
1:00 Membrane Physiology 101 – Isaac Teitelbaum
1:20 The Role of PET in Clinical Practice – Megha Salani
1:40 ABC’s of PD Prescriptions – Anjali Saxena
2:00 Tidal PD – What and Why? TBD
2:20 Urgent Start PD–Osama El Shamy
2:40 Discussion
Session 2: HD Fundamentals
1:00-3:00 pm
1:00 Hemodialysis Machines and Dialyzers -TBD
1:30 Writing the HD Prescription – Basics and Beyond –Michelle Hwang, MD
2:00 Anticoagulation in HD – TBD
2:30 Dialyzer and HD Machine-related Complications – Abdul Hannan Rasheed, MD
Session 3: Remote Monitoring in Peritoneal Dialysis: Harnessing Technology to Enhance PD Outcomes
1:00-3:00 pm
Moderator: Vikram Aggarwal, MD, DNB, FASN
1:00 Setting RPM Parameters, Alert Thresholds and Overview of RPM features – Nishant Jalandhara
1:30 Remote Monitoring in Action: Case-Based Applications in PD -Vesh Srivatana
2:00 Current Evidence and Future Directions in PD Remote Monitoring – Jeff Perl
2:30 Implementing RPM and Management in Your Program – Vikram Aggarwal, MD, DNB, FASN
2:50 Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling RPM in PD
3:00 Break
Session 4: PD Fundamentals
3:30-5:00 pm
Moderator: Stephen Haggerty, MD
3:30 Maintaining Optimal PD Catheter Function (placement, mechanics) – Stephen Haggerty, MD
3:55 Exit Site Care, Assessment and Complications –Joanna Neumann
4:20 Fluid Management in PD- Isaac Teitelbaum-
4:45 Discussion
Session 5: HD Fundamentals: Hemodialysis
3:30-5:00 pm
Moderator:
3:30 Common HD Complications (elevated BP, IDH, intradialytic symptoms, fever) Kunal Malhotra, MD
4:00 Effective Rounding in the HD Unit (high yield areas, what matters to patients, involving the IDT) – Amy Mosman, PA
4:30 How to Manage Common Symptoms in HD (Insomnia, Restless Legs, Itching and Depression) – TBD
Session 6: Wearable and Implantable Artificial Kidneys: Updates and Progress
3:30-5:00 pm
3:30 Current Status of Clinical Trials and Regulatory Pathways – David Humes
3:55 Technological Hurdles and Solutions – TBD
4:20 Ethical and Accessibility Considerations for Future Technologies – Peter Kotanko
4:45 Discussion
Friday, February 27
Session 7: General Session and Keynote Presentations
8:30-10:00 am
8:30 Welcome – Richard Barohn, MD. Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs/Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean, School of Medicine, University of Missouri. Ramesh Khanna, MD; Anjay Rastogi, MD
8:45 Award Presentations
Keynote Presentations
9:00 Rising Tides or Perfect Storm? Critical Lessons from the ETC Model for the Future of Dialysis Care – Suzanne Watnick
9:30 Home Again: The Resurgence of Peritoneal Dialysis –Joanne Bargman, MD
10:00-10:30 am Break
Session 8: Non-Infectious PD Complications
10:30-12:00 pm
Speakers: Vikram Aggarwal, Joanna Neumann
PD nurses play a crucial role in providing support to patients after they complete training. This multidisciplinary session looks at how PD nurses collaborate with nephrologists to trouble shoot common complications.
Session 9: Advances in Vascular Access Management
10:30-12:00 pm
Moderator: Vandana Dua Niyyar-
10:30 Fistula First to Catheter Last – Patient Selection for Optimal Access – Gopa Green –
10:50 Reducing Central Venous Catheter-related Infections –TBD
11:10 Percutaneous AV Fistula Creation: Innovation or Overhype? Arsh Jain
11:30 Emerging Technologies for Vascular Access Dysfunction DCBs/Stents/New Anastomotic Devices – Sean Kalloo –
11:50 Discussion
Session 10: Workshop: Writing a Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Prescription: A Comprehensive Approach
10:30-12:00 pm
Speaker: Ramesh Khanna, MD
Writing a PD prescription involves far more than simply specifying the number of exchanges per day and the dextrose concentration of the dialysate. It is a dynamic, individualized process that requires careful consideration of multiple patient-specific factors. These include but are not limited to the patient’s blood pressure, daily weight changes, peritoneal membrane transport characteristics, and the types of PD solutions available—whether dextrose-based or icodextrin.
This workshop is designed to explore the essential elements in depth, focusing on the principles and practicalities of tailoring and refining PD prescriptions to optimize outcomes for each individual patient.
Session 11: What’s Right and Wrong with Health System Value-based Kidney Care?
Speakers: Suzanne Watnick, MD, FASN; Leslie Wong, MD, MBA, FACP, FASN
10:30-12:00
12-1:15 PM Lunch symposium- Doors open at 12, program starts at 12:15 pm
Session 12: Medicare (Dis)Advantage? How the Increase in MA Enrollment Is Impacting the ESRD Population
2:00-4:00 pm
Moderator: Ankur Shah
The dialysis payment landscape has seen a drastic shift since the implementation of the 21st century cures act, with Medicare Advantage soon to become the predominant payer. This session will focus on the effect of MA plans on ESKD patient care.
2:00 Why Has MA Become So Popular in the Population with ESKD? Ankur Shah
2:25 What Is the Impact of MA on Dialysis Patients? Kevin Erickson
2:50 What Is the Impact of MA on the Dialysis Ecosystem? Nishant Jalandhara
3:15 How Will MA Impact the Transition to VBC, Equity Implication of the Growth of MA – Thao Truong Pascual, MD, FASN
3:40 Discussion
Session 13: CRRT Across the Spectrum: From Fundamentals to Complex Clinical Scenarios
2:00-4:00
2:00 CRRT Fundamentals (Rx, technology) Michelle Hwang MD
2:30 Anticoagulation for CRRT – Javier Neyra
3:00 CRRT in Liver Failure– Lili Chan
3:30 CRRT in Drug Overdose Javier Neyra
Session 14: Updates on Newer Pharmaceuticals in CKD/ESRD
2:00-4:00 pm
Moderator: LaVonne Burrows
2:00 HIF-PHIs: -TBD
2:25 GLP-1s/SGLT2i – Henry Zelada
2:50 What’s New in Phosphorus Management – TBD
3:15 What’s New in Potassium Management – Connie Rhee
3:40 Discussion
Session 15: Dialysis Access/POCUS Workshop Hands-on Course: Multidisciplinary
2:00-4:00 pm
Arsh Jain; Vandana Dua Niyyar; Nupur Gupta
This session is a hands-on multidisciplinary course designed to enhance participants’ clinical skills in evaluating and managing dialysis access (HD vascular access and PD catheters). The session combines focused didactic instruction with practical training, offering an immersive experience in both physical examination and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) techniques for evaluation of dialysis access. Attendees will learn to perform comprehensive physical examinations of dialysis access, use ultrasound to evaluate access maturation and mark areas for cannulation, and address common troubleshooting scenarios encountered in the dialysis unit. This workshop aims to equip clinicians and providers with the knowledge and technical proficiency necessary for optimizing dialysis access care.
- Didactics
- Hands-on
- Physical Examination of Dialysis Access
- US of Dialysis Access for Maturation Evaluation
- US Dialysis Access for Cannulation
- Troubleshooting in the Dialysis Unit
4:00-Exhibit Reception/Poster Presentations
Saturday, February 28
Session 16: Hemodiafiltration
8:00-10:00 am
8:00 HDF Technology -Tom Golper
8:40 CONVINCE Trial and Hemodiafiltration (HDF) Outcomes Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, MD
9:20 Clinical Implications, Patient Selection and Future Research Avenues – Tom Golper
Session 17: HHD Fundamentals
8:00-10:00 am
Moderator: Brent Miller
8:00 HHD – Where Did We Start and Where Are We Now? Brent Miller
8:25 HHD – Rx and Various Forms (nocturnal, short daily and clearance implications) Nupur Gupta
8:50 HHD Technology – Brent Miller
9:15 Patient Selection for HHD /Role of the Care Partner – Lisa Koester Wiedemann
9:40 Home-Assisted Hemodialysis – Christopher Chan
10:00 Discussion
Session 18: Joint Session with the ISPD North American Chapter (NAC)
8:00-10:00 am
8:00 Presidential Address – Jenny Shen
8:10 Environmental Impact of PD: Facilitating a Path to Green Dialysis
Moderator: Graham Abra
Topic Experts: Megha Salani; M. Camila Bermudez; Ankur Shah
Three small roundtable group discussions will focus on the environmental effect of peritoneal dialysis delivery. Topic experts will lead and facilitate group discussions on 1) the carbon footprint of peritoneal dialysis, 2) potential solutions to help reduce the carbon footprint of peritoneal dialysis, 3) encouraging the different stakeholders to adopt green dialysis.
8:55 Panel Discussion/Concluding Remarks
9:05 Break
9:10 Female Sex & PD Catheter Dysfunction: Theory & Discussion
Moderator: Jenny Shen
Speakers: Joanne Bargman; Rob Quinn; Tina Kim
This case-based session will explore PD catheter dysfunction, including a discussion of the ISPD NAC Research Fellow’s study findings in this topic and gender associations with PD outcomes.
10-10:30 Break
Session 19: ISPD Joint Session with the ISPD North American Chapter (NAC) continued
10:30-12:00 pm
10:30 Debate – Should the United States Adopt a PD-first Policy?
Moderator: Jeff Perl
A spirited debate about the utility of adopting a peritoneal dialysis-first policy in the United State, following in the footsteps of other countries who have taken this approach.
Pro: Anjali Saxena
Con: Kevin Erickson
11:10 Break
11:15 Trivia: Test Your Knowledge of Dialysis
Facilitators: Osama El Shamy; Kunal Malhotra, MD
Session 20: BP and Fluid Management in CKD/ESRD
10:30-12:00 pm
Moderator: Michelle Hwang
10:30 Refractory Hypertension Meets Renal Denervation: A Match Worth Pursuing in CKD/ESRD? Raj Karuparthi, MD
10:55 Fluid Management in Patients with Kidney Disease (Technological Aids for Fluid Assessment, Individualized Fluid Removal Strategies)-Sean Kalloo
11:20 Management of Intradialytic Hypotension: What’s New? – Ramin Sam
11:45 Discussion
Session 21: Emergency Preparedness
10:30-12:00
10:30 Disaster Preparation for Dialysis Patients and Providers Gopa Green
10:55 Lessons Learned from Increased Infection Rate in a HHD Program After Supply Chain Disruptions Rose Faratro, RN, BHScN, CNeph(c)
11:20 Personal Experiences in Caring for Dialysis Patients During Disasters- Don Molony
11:45 Discussion
Session 22: Kidney Transplantation: The Road to Transplant and Back Again
10:30-12:00 pm
Moderator: Preethi Yerram
10:30 Fundamentals of an Effective Dialysis Unit / Transplant Program Partnership – Amy Mosman
10:55 Keeping Dialysis Patients Transplant Ready – Lisa Koester Wiedemann
11:20 What to Do with Those Immunosuppressives After Re-starting Dialysis – Andrew Webb
11:45 Discussion
12:00-2:00 pm Lunch, Posters, and Exhibits
Session 23: Home Dialysis in Special Situations
2:00-4:00 pm
2:00 PD in Patients with Leaks/Hernias/Post Abdominal Surgery- Rob Quinn
2:20 PD in the Setting of LVAD/End-stage Heart Failure- Graham Abra
2:40 PD in AKI – Vesh Srivatana
3:00 Dialysis in (Nursing) Home Patients – Ankur Shah
3:20 HHD in a Patient with Epidermolysis Bullosa – Rose Faratro, RN, BHScN, CNeph(c)
3:40 Discussion
Session 24: Advancements in Home Hemodialysis (HHD) Technologies and Programs
2:00-4:00 pm
2:00 Addressing Barriers to HHD Adoption (patient training, caregiver burden, technical support)-Brent Miller
2:25 The Role of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Telehealth in Supporting HHD Patients – Nupur Gupta
2:50 Retention Strategies for Home Hemodialysis – Christopher Chan
3:15 Outcomes Data for HHD (patient satisfaction, hospitalization rates, survival) – Osama El Shamy
3:40 Discussion
Session 25: Navigating the Dialysis Regulatory Landscape-Foundation Blocks: Compliance and Regulatory Essentials
2:00-4:00 pm
This 2-part session explores key administrative and regulatory components of dialysis care. Topics include CMS Conditions for Coverage, water management standards, involuntary discharges, and the roles of staff and providers within dialysis clinics. The session also covers issues relevant to acute or hospital-based dialysis, including medical directorship. A focused discussion period will address quality improvement metrics, state survey processes, and legal considerations such as Stark Law and joint ventures.
2:00 CMS Conditions for Coverage – Dan Landry
2:20 Dialysis Water Management – Dave Henner
2:40 Involuntary Discharges and Other ESRD Network Roles – Ramin Sam
3:00 Provider/staff Roles in Dialysis Clinic – Don Molony
3:20 Acute or Hospital-Based Dialysis Medical Directorship – Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
3:40 Discussion
Session 26: Fellows Forum
2:00-4:00 pm
Moderator: Kunal Malhotra, MD; Camila Bermudez, MD
This session starts with a brief keynote presentation followed by an interactive educational forum where nephrology fellows present challenging and intriguing clinical cases to their peers and faculty members. In this session, fellows demonstrate their diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making and knowledge of nephrology. Each case presentation typically includes patient history, examination, findings, diagnostic challenges, management strategies and outcomes.
The session encourages discussion and feedback from attendees, fostering a collaborative learning environment where fellow can gain insights from experienced nephrologists, explore different approaches to patient care, and stay updated on best practices. It also provides an opportunity for fellows to enhance their presentation and communication skills, critical for their professional development. A panel of judges evaluates the presentations and selects a winner based on their collective scores.
2:00 Fellows Keynote Presentation – Georgi Abraham
2:30 Presentations of Fellows Submitted Cases
4:00-4:30 pm Break
Session 27: Nurse/APP Networking Event
4:30-5:30
Panelist: Andrew Webb; Catherine Ashbaugh, Cheryl Cress; LaVonne Burrows
Join fellow dialysis nurses and advanced practice providers for an engaging network session designed to foster collaboration, share insights, and build professional connections.
Session 28: Navigating the Dialysis Regulatory Landscape: Growth Strategies: Quality Metrics and Strategic Partnerships
4:30-5:30 pm
This 2-part session explores key administrative and regulatory components of dialysis care. Topics include CMS Conditions for Coverage, water management standards, involuntary discharges, and the roles of staff and providers within dialysis clinics. The session also covers issues relevant to acute or hospital-based dialysis, including medical directorship. A focused discussion period will address quality improvement metrics, state survey processes, and legal considerations such as Stark Law and joint ventures.
4:30 QI Metrics to Consider -Dan Landry
4:50 State Surveys – Dave Henner
5:10 Working with Dialysis Providers, Joint Ventures, Medical Directorship, and Stark Law -Don Molony
Session 29: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning in Dialysis Care
4:30-5:45 pm
4:30 Beyond the Algorithm: Critical Appraisal of AI Applications in Nephrology– Lili Chan
5:00 Early Detection and Prediction of Outcomes with Hands-on Participation – Peter Kotanko
Session 30: Incremental Hemodialysis (iHD)
4:30-5:30 pm
4:30 Criteria for Identifying Suitable Candidates for iHD – Kamyar Kalantar Zadeh, MD-
4:50 Monitoring Residual Kidney Function and Adjusting Dialysis Frequency -TBD
5:10 Operational Challenges and Strategies for Implementing iHD in Dialysis Units – TBD
5:30-7:00 pm Exhibits/Poster Presentation
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Breakfast Symposium
Session 31: Breaking Down Silos: Understanding the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Continuum in
Patients with Kidney Disease
8:30-10:00 am
This groundbreaking session with a multidisciplinary expert panel (Nephrology, Cardiology and Endocrinology) will explore CKM Syndrome—a revolutionary approach that recognizes cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, and metabolic disorders as interconnected conditions requiring coordinated care.
8:00 Evolution of CKM Syndrome – Connie Rhee
8:10 Pathophysiological Interconnections – Raj Karuparthi, MD
8:25 CKM Risk Stratification – Henry Zelada, MD, FACE
8:45 Pharmacological Interventions – Connie Rhee; Raj Karuparthi, MD; Henry Zelada, MD, FACE
9:10 Non-Pharmacological Approaches- Connie Rhee; Raj Karuparthi, MD; Henry Zelada, MD, FACE
9:35 Future Directions – Connie Rhee; Raj Karuparthi, MD; Henry Zelada, MD, FACE
10:00 Break
Session 32: Pathways to Independence: In-Center Self-Care as a Model of Care and a Steppingstone to Home Hemodialysis
8:30-10:00 am
Moderator: Osama El Shamy–
This panel discussion will explore the critical role of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in promoting patient independence and building self-care skills to facilitate a smooth transition from in-center hemodialysis to home hemodialysis (HHD). Through case studies, we will illustrate the importance of patient education, training, and support in developing self-cannulation skills, a key component of HHD. Our expert panel will discuss effective retention strategies and share best practices for promoting patient autonomy, adherence, and overall well-being.
8:00 In-Center Self-Care HD and Beyond: Exploring the Spectrum to Solo Home Hemodialysis - Maria Camila Bermudez
- Overview of In-center Self-care HD and Solo Home Hemodialysis
- Benefits and Challenges of Self-care Models
8:30 From Dependence to Independence: Strategies for Patient Empowerment and Training – Cheryl Cress
- Dialysis Nurse and Educator’s Perspective on Patient Selection, Empowerment, and Training for Self-care Hemodialysis
- Practical Strategies for Promoting Patient Self-sufficiency
9:00 Panel Discussion with Case Studies – Maria Camila Bermudez, MD; Cheryl Cress; Lisa Koester Wiedemann
9:30 Real-life Case Studies and Best Practices for Implementing Self-care Models in Clinical Practice
10:00-10:30 Break
Session 33: Empowering the Patient’s Journey: From Stories to Action
10:30 am-12:00 pm
Don’t miss this transformative closing session combining patient narratives with practical tools for
patient empowerment, navigating healthcare systems, and fostering true partnerships in care.
Moderator: Anjay Rastogi
10:30 Living the Journey – Sonu Bhargava
10:50 Breaking Down Barriers: Navigating Health Care Systems – Insurance, Financial Advocacy, and Resource Navigation -Disha Yadav
11:10 Partnership in Care: Patient Empowerment and Shared Decision-making- Thao Truong Pascual, MD, FASN
11:30 Panel discussion
11:40 Q&A
Closing Remarks: Preethi Yerram, MD; Ramesh Khanna, MD, Anjay Rastogi, MD