Our Communities

We have a responsibility to improve the well-being of the communities we serve and make a positive impact on society. Through the power of our workforce, our position as a healthcare leader, and our partnerships with leading nonprofit organizations, we’re changing the lives of patients, their families, and the broader community. Together, we support the advancement of compassionate, holistic care, and offer support to those in need.

The Fresenius Medical Care Foundation works to ensure every eligible person who needs a kidney receives one. The Foundation educates patients, families, and friends about kidney transplantation, and — in partnership with organizations like the United Network for Organ Sharing, Donate Life America, and National Kidney Foundation — has funded opportunities to create bigger and better ways to find organs. 

We have a corporate responsibility because of who we are and what we do, to take a lead role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) awareness and prevention. Both should start early. 

In 2017, Fresenius Medical Care created the Kidney Kid “edutainment” program in the Asia-Pacific region. The goal was simple: educate children and their carers about their kidneys, in an eye-catching and interactive way through a website, game app, comic books, materials, and activities. The program is designed for children ages 6 to 12 and takes kids on adventures to teach them about kidney health.  

On World Kidney Day 2022, Fresenius Medical Care North America launched our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to fund the Healthy Habits program. In addition, our employees will offer side-by-side support to youth through health and wellness resources and programming, and introduce kids to Fresenius Medical Care’s Kidney Kid Initiative, in 20 select Boys & Girls Clubs.

We foster patient communities through our support of the Renal Support Network (RSN), the Medical Education Institute (MEI), and Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center (DPCEC) with grants totaling $345,000. 

We're working with MEI to empower people living with CKD by funding two program websites — Home Dialysis Central and Life Options — with RSN to deliver high-quality education to CKD patients and their care providers by underwriting their annual essay contest, teen prom, charity bingo event, art contest, magazine articles, and podcast episodes. We’re also working with DPCEC to contribute thought leadership through webinars and magazine articles as well as underwrite the development of resources for their Spanish information page. Together, we're helping people become knowledgeable and proactive about their care and invested in building friendships for a lifetime. We believe support networks such as RSN, MEI, and DPCEC are critical to patient education and holistic care.

The Renal Support Network and Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center continually seek thought leadership from clinical experts. Below is a sampling of the programs that leveraged our leaders for the RSN and DPCEC audiences:

KIDNEY TALK MAGAZINE
You Have Kidney Disease, Now What? by Michael Kraus, MD, Chief Medical Officer

Finding the Courage to Self-Cannulate by Michelle Carver, BSN, RN, CNN, Vice President of Clinical Services Initiatives

KIDNEY TALK PODCAST
Understanding Your Dialysis Labs with Tricia McCarley, RN, Nurse Practitioner

Preparing for a Kidney Transplant with Felicia Speed, PhD, Vice President of Social Work Services

Preparing for a Disaster with Bob Loeper, Vice President of Disaster Response

The Danger of Bloodstream Infections with Crystal Grate, MSN, Director of Infection Prevention

KIDNEY CITIZEN
Travel Lovers, Don’t Let Dialysis Slow You Down by Vanessa Evans, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Communities

DPC EDUCATION CENTER WEBINAR  
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep with Felicia Speed, Vice President of Social Work Services, and Tricia McCarley, RN

Home for the Holidays with Vanessa Evans, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Communities

All sustainability data is from Fresenius Medical Care North America for 2021 unless otherwise noted.