DPC Education Center to Bestow Willem J. Kolff Award

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The DPC Education Center will present the "Willem J. Kolff Award for Innovation and Exceptional Patient Care" at its Inaugural Gala on March 11, 2014.  The award is named for the inventor of the first artificial kidney, Willem J. Kolff, M.D., Ph.D.  Dr. Kolff was a Dutch physician who initially used sausage casings and orange juice cans for his life-saving invention and did so despite living under Nazi occupation.  His creative ideas evolved into the modern dialysis machine that cleanses the blood of people whose kidneys have failed.  In 1947, he sent one of his "artificial kidneys" to the United States and began talking to American physicians about the possibilities of his machine.  He immigrated to the United States in 1950 and continued to research and develop artificial organs.

Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) originally honored Dr. Willem Kolff in 2006 at its gala in Washington, D.C.  Dr. Kolff's son, Dr. Jacob Kolff, will present the award to this year's winner.  He states, "It is inspiring to think of the millions of kidney failure patients who have been saved due to my father's invention of the first artificial kidney, which later evolved into modern dialysis machines.  It will be a privilege to present this award in his name at the DPC Education Center Inaugural Gala on March 11." The Willem J. Kolff Award for Innovation and Exceptional Patient Care will recognize a leading healthcare professional within the dialysis community. 

The Inaugural Gala of DPC Education Center will be held in Washington, D.C. at 101 Constitution Avenue's Rooftop Terrace. The evening promises to be educational, informative and celebratory, with the presentation of the Willem J. Kolff Award as well as a dialysis patient honoree award. 

For tickets, please contact Kristy Lukaszewski at 202-789-6931 or [email protected].  Individual tickets are $500 and sponsored tables are available. 

About DPC Education Center
DPC Education Center is an affiliate of Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) and is dedicated to improving kidney patients' quality of life and reducing the occurrence of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) through education and by developing awareness of dialysis and kidney disease issues, improving the partnership between patients and caregivers, and developing favorable public policy solutions.

The DPC Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization governed by kidney disease patients.  It is an affiliate of Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC). All donations to DPC Education Center are tax-deductible to the full extent of applicable laws.  EIN 37-1698796

http://www.DPCEdCenter.org

Contact

Hrant Jamgochian, JD, LL.M.
Executive Director
DPC Education Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC  20001
Phone:  202-789-6933
Toll free:  866-877-4242
FAX:  202-789-6935

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens