ISPD.org

Election Statement

Firstly, I wanted to thank the nominating committee for asking me to stand for this position.

Peritoneal dialysis therapy is at an interesting crossroad. We are witnessing impressive growth of this modality in some parts of the world. In contrast, in the United States, for example, it has fallen to just 7 percent and is in danger of becoming a “niche” or “boutique” therapy. It will be fascinating to see what happens to PD therapy with the increasing governmental recognition that PD offers the same outcomes for less money. Incentives such as bundling in the United States, and sponsored visits by home nurses in Canada and some European countries, may lead to increased use. However, the overarching influence of large dialysis organizations in the United States only adds to the complexity of the situation.

I hope that that ISPD, in concert with the home dialysis providers, can play a role in helping to promote home therapy to our patients through education and advocacy. We have to spread the word that what seems like a "no brainer" to us is indeed an optimal choice for a large proportion of the dialysis population.

Biography

Joanne Bargman is a staff nephrologist at the University Health Network and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She received her MD cum laude from the University of Toronto. She was an exchange fellow in Melbourne for her senior medical residency year, and then pursued nephrology training at Stanford University. Her research focused on renal physiology and micropuncture. Upon returning to Toronto, she was recruited to the Toronto Western Hospital where she trained in peritoneal dialysis under Dimitrios Oreopoulos. She has more than 400 invited lectures internationally, on subjects as diverse as peritoneal dialysis, calciphylaxis, and management of systemic lupus erythematosus. She is Director of Peritoneal Dialysis for the University Health Network in Toronto, and co-director of the Combined Renal-Rheumatology Lupus Clinic for the University Health Network.

She has won the "Silver Shovel", given by the graduating medical class of the University of Toronto to the best lecturer in the undergraduate years. She has also won the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Teaching Award, given to the best teacher in the postgraduate program. Recently she was chosen as the 12th Robert Collins Visiting Lecturer in dialysis at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Bargman is co-author of the chapter “Chronic Kidney Disease” in the 17th edition of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.