IKCA Member Spotlight: Jacqueline Burgess-Bishop, FACHE, CEO, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
Jacqueline Burgess-Bishop, FACHE, is the CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI).
Name of the organization you represent.
National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI)
Tell us about your organization and the work you do there.
The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of people at risk for or affected by kidney disease through prevention, education, and empowerment. I am honored to serve as the CEO of NKFI, responsible for leading the strategic operations of the organization with a phenomenal Board, our staff Team NKFI and partners to achieve results within a framework of equity and inclusivity.
What communities do you serve?
We serve communities within the state of Illinois.
What populations do you serve?
We serve persons at high risk and those directly affected by kidney disease. It is important to note that 1 in 3 persons are at risk for kidney disease and 1 in 7 adults are estimated to have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)and not be aware they have the condition. We provide education on kidney disease across the care continuum and promote kidney health to all populations. We target our KidneyMobile screenings in communities at higher risk for kidney disease which includes persons with diabetes, hypertension, a family history of kidney disease, and persons impacted by obesity. Our goal is to support earlier diagnosis to slow the progression of kidney disease. For persons diagnosed with advanced-stage kidney disease, we provide education and information on treatment options inclusive of receiving a kidney transplant to improve, sustain and extend lives. We know there are great challenges in achieving health equity. We also understand the impact that social determinants play here and why communities of color experience higher rates of kidney disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Blacks (African Americans) are nearly 4x more likely to have kidney failure, Latinos (Hispanics) are 1.3 times more likely Native Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are nearly twice as likely to have kidney failure as Caucasian populations. NKFI works to address disparities and strives to achieve health equity for those impacted by kidney disease through ou