Educational Events: Kidney Connections
join us for kidney connections
making kidney connections
We invite you to be a part of Kidney Connections, where each year you have four chances to learn from experts, patient ambassadors, and connect with each other. These events are a great way to meet people affected by kidney disease, share your stories, and learn together. In 2025, we will host a series of webinars in March, May, and November, and one in-person event in September. Each session will bring together healthcare professionals and patients to share helpful information and personal experiences.
meet the ambassadors
making kidney connections
Kidney Ambassadors play an important role in Kidney Connections. They are people affected by kidney disease who help support and encourage others going through similar experiences. Ambassadors tell their stories during webinars and attend in-person events to answer questions, share their experiences, and help create meaningful connections.
Meet Jerry
Jerry Taylor is the Deputy Chief of Talent at Chicago Public Schools. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, spending time with loved ones, and going to the gym. In 2005, he was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare disease that affects the filters in the kidneys. At age 25, a loss of insurance coverage forced him to discontinue his medications. The lapse in treatment caused further damage to his kidneys, and in 2008, he began dialysis. He remained on dialysis for eight years until he received the gift of life: a new kidney on February 1, 2017
Meet Kimberly
Kimberly Gosell is a four-time kidney transplant recipient, brain cancer survivor, and advocate. Inspired by her own journey with lupus nephritis and CKD, she now mentors others with kidney disease. She lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband (one of her kidney donors), two kids, and three rescue dogs.
Meet Terry
Terry Calhoun is a three-time stroke survivor, both a former peritoneal (7 years) and hemodialysis patient and a kidney transplant recipient - celebrating 7 years kidney strong. He is currently back on the kidney transplant list to procure a successful kidney transplant. Terry resides in the Chicago Loop area – close to urban kidney transplant centers.
location & details
DATE
Thursday, May 15, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm
LOCATION
Virtually via Zoom
AGENDA:
Coming Soon
kidney health resources
empowering through education
program sponsors
you make the difference
The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois is able to support patients and families, conduct free educational seminars, and offer community screening days through the generosity of our passionate supporters, and a remarkable team of dedicated sponsors. Interested in sponsoring this program? Contact Rachel DePauw at rdepauw@nkfi.org.
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